subject: Large Blue Diamonds [print this page] A recent auction in Geneva, Switzerland saw the sale of a large blue fancy intense colour diamond weighing 13.39 carats. The stone was the largest diamond of this grade to be placed for auction and was sold for over $8 million dollars. This only proves the high demand for fancy coloured diamonds across the world. Large blue diamonds are considered to be one of the rarest colours to come across. The rarity of these jewels makes them priceless and all the more coveted. Two of the most famed blue diamonds in history are the Hope Diamond and the 30.82 carats Blue Heart Diamond. The Hope Diamond, a one of a kind jewel, is also known as Le Bleu de France or Le Bijou du Rio and weighs 45.52 carats. The deep blue diamond has been surrounded by myth for centuries, and is presently a part of the Smithsonian Natural History Museum in Washington, D.C.
The more recent large blue diamonds to take note of are cut by the Steinmetz Group. These world class cutters have in their possession two of the worlds most beautiful blue diamonds. These are the Blue Empress and the Heart of Eternity. The Blue Empress is a rare pear shaped diamond of 14 carats. This fancy vivid blue diamond was first unveiled at the Harrods Department Store in London. Set in an 18K white gold necklace with smaller round brilliant cut white diamonds; the necklace has been designed by Christian Tse, the Los Angeles based designer. The Heart of Eternity diamond is a 27.64 carat, fancy vivid blue stone. The heart shaped stone was discovered in the Premier Diamond Mine of South Africa. The blue type IIb diamond was first unveiled to the general public in January 2000 by De Beers, as part of the De Beers Millennium Jewels Exhibition at the Millennium Dome in London.
The presence of any other chemical or gas at the time of formation of the diamond brings about the hues. Boron is the chemical that turns the diamond blue in the process of creation of the rough. For this reason the intensity of colour in coloured diamonds varies greatly. In fact, the skills of expert cutters are put to the test while cutting such stones, as colour in the stone is rarely uniformly spread throughout. It is common to find parts of the rough that are colourless. This observable fact presents quite a challenge for cutters who are responsible for the beauty and splendour of the diamond.
Large blue diamonds, especially ones that are cut finely and graded fancy, command the top prices at auctions. The carat size matters a great deal too in coloured diamonds, as such diamonds are very rare and pretty exceptional in greater carat weights.
