16/04/2025
This 23.24-Carat Blue Diamond Will Be the Largest of Its Kind Ever Offered at Auction
A breathtaking 23.24-carat fancy vivid blue diamond — believed to be the largest of its calibre ever brought to auction — is set to dazzle collectors as it heads to the block at Christie’s Magnificent Jewels sale in Geneva on 14 May. Estimated at $35 million to $50 million, this historic gem combines royal provenance, impeccable craftsmanship, and a legacy that spans generations.
A Royal Legacy: The Storied Journey of the Golconda Blue Diamond
The awe-inspiring 23.24-carat Golconda Blue diamond boasts a regal provenance as dazzling as its hue. Once the prized possession of Yeshwant Rao Holkar, the dashing Maharaja of Indore, and his equally glamorous consort, Krishna Bai Holkar, this gem was a hallmark of their impeccable taste and modern flair during the vibrant 1920s and ’30s.
In 1923, the Maharaja transported the stone to Paris, where the renowned maison Chaumet first set it into a diamond bracelet — a testament to early 20th-century haute joaillerie. By the 1930s, his patronage shifted to Mauboussin, whom he named his official jeweller. The blue diamond was remounted into an exquisite necklace, worn by the Maharani herself and immortalised in a celebrated portrait that endures as a symbol of timeless elegance.
In 1947, the legendary jeweller Harry Winston, dubbed “The King of Diamonds,” acquired the stone. True to his visionary approach, Winston reimagined it once more — this time within a brooch, paired with a matching 23-carat white diamond. This breathtaking creation was sold to the Maharaja of Baroda, another figure of immense wealth and prestige.
Winston later reacquired the brooch and eventually sold it to its current owner, where it remained a closely guarded treasure — until now, as it prepares to make history on the auction block once again.
