Diamonds can really be anyone’s best friend.
A flawless, white diamond went for sale for more than $22 million in New York on Tuesday after a three minute 55 second bidding, according to the NY Post.
The recent sale is reportedly one of the biggest auction sales in the jewelry category. The flawless diamond ring is worth every penny, as it reportedly took more than a year to cut, polish and perfect.
“The color is whiter than white, it is free of any internal imperfections and so transparent that I can only compare it to a pool of icy water,” stated Gary Schuler, the head of Sotheby’s jewelry department in New York.
The 100-carat diamond was originally mined by De Beers in South Africa before it was purchased by the anonymous buyer, according to BBC News. It reportedly had a pre-sale estimate of between $19 million and $25 million.
Only six flawless diamonds over 100 carats, like the one sold on Tuesday, have ever been sold at an auction, according to CNN News.
The diamond attracted the attention of many, as online buyers also contributed to the final total, according to Schuler.
“It was encouraging to see the impact of private collectors throughout the day, including at the highest end of our sale: eight of our top 10 pieces were purchased by private individuals,” explained Schuler.
The gem was the star of the night, as more than 350 jewels were expected to sell for a total of more than $50 million.
“People everywhere have been drawn to it from across the room and they are in awe of its size, particularly when they put it on their hand,” stated Schuler.
“They can’t believe there’s a diamond this pure of such an impressive scale.”
