The Apollo Blue diamond and The Artemis Pink diamond were sold at Sotheby’s for a combined price of 57 million Swiss Francs (£44.9 million). Read more on the recent sale of the Apollo and Artemis diamonds right here.
The mismatched pair is made up of two colored pear-shaped diamonds; one Fancy Vivid blue diamond named Apollo, which sold for 41.9 million Swiss Francs (£32.9 million, including buyer’s premium) and one Fancy Intense pink diamond named Artemis, which sold for 15.3 million Swiss Francs (£12 million, including buyer’s premium) to the same telephone bidder. They will remain together as a pair.
The 14.54-carat Fancy Vivid blue diamond, Apollo, was undoubtedly the star of the show, described before the auction as is the “truly exceptional”. An “infinitesimally” low percentage of stones are graded Fancy Vivid Blue like this. The world’s most expensive blue diamond, the 14.62-carat Oppenheimer Blue, is a Fancy Vivid – it sold for £40 million at Christie’s in Geneva last May.
When considered as a pair with Artemis, a 16-carat Fancy Intense pink diamond, the set was described as being in “a class of its own“.
Apollo and Artemis diamonds
Named Apollo and Artemis after the brother and sister Ancient Greek gods of power and beauty, the earrings were auctioned in Geneva as part of Sotheby’s Magnificent Jewels & Noble Jewels sale.
“The divine diamond twins – one pink and the other blue – are perfectly matched in size, cut and tonality,” Sotheby’s says of the lots on its website. “The stones are currently mounted as a spectacular pair of earrings, but are being offered separately, on account of their extreme rarity, power and presence.”
“The Apollo and Artemis Diamonds “These exquisite colored diamonds are enormously rare and each is a wonderful stone in its own right. Together, as a pair of earrings, they are breathtaking. We have named them after Apollo and Artemis, a twin brother and sister of great power and beauty who were among the most widely venerated of the Ancient Greek deities. These are diamonds of great distinction, with extraordinary presence, and we are honored that Sotheby’s has been chosen to bring them to auction.” In case you feel sorry for having missed attending this Sotheby’s auction, let me remind you that we had announced the sale of these exquisite items in an earlier article on this website. Also, you can remain informed on the Sotheby’s website of all upcoming sales. Keep an eye out for more fascinating diamonds or jewels, such as these Apollo and Artemis diamonds, to go on sale in the future.
