Diamond Fetches Record $21.5M

76-carat Archduke Joseph gem sells at Christie's
By Newser Editors and Wire Services
Posted Nov 13, 2012 4:30 PM CST
Diamond Fetches Record $21.5M
The Archduke Joseph Diamond.   (Laurent Gillieron)

Christie's has auctioned off the famed Archduke Joseph Diamond for $21,474,525 including commission, a world auction record price per carat for a colorless diamond. The price was well above the expected $15 million and more than triple the price paid for it at auction almost two decades ago. The auction took place in Geneva. The 76.02-carat diamond, with perfect color and internally flawless clarity, came from the ancient Golconda mines in India. It was named for Archduke Joseph August of Austria, the great grandson of both a Holy Roman emperor and a French king. (More diamond stories.)

Get the news faster.
Tap to install our app.
X
Install the Newser News app
in two easy steps:
1. Tap in your navigation bar.
2. Tap to Add to Home Screen.

X