The Golden Canary Diamond – a 303.1-carat fancy deep brownish-yellow gem – is to be sold without reserve at Sotheby’s New York on December 7.
Bidding for the world’s largest internally flawless diamond will start at just $1, “a deliberate move by the auction house to provoke fierce bidding,” according to IDEX Online. However, the auction house expects the gem to reach its high estimate of $15 million.
“Steeped in history, The Golden Canary is one of the most exquisite diamonds to ever be discovered, not only for its sheer size and intensity in color but for its stunning beauty that is sure to captivate collectors around the world,” said Quig Bruning, head of jewelry for Sotheby’s Americas.
The Golden Canary Diamond was re-cut from the shield-shaped 407-carat Incomparable Diamond “into a more traditional pear shape.” The original rough, an 890-carat monstrosity found in the Democratic Republic of Congo in the 1980s, was initially discarded as rubble by miners. It was later “‘rescued’ by a young girl playing with her friends,” according to the report.
