April swept in with fanfare, ushering in a dazzling season for the world’s most prestigious auction houses. Among the crown jewels of the spring circuit was a stone destined to captivate collectors and connoisseurs alike—the Golconda Blue diamond. Touted as the largest Fancy Vivid Blue diamond ever to grace the auction stage, the 23.24-carat gem was slated to headline Christie’s Geneva Magnificent Jewels sale on May 14, carrying an eye-watering estimate of $35 to $50 million.
Set in a sculptural ring by the legendary JAR, the Golconda Blue wasn’t just another blue diamond; it was an icon in the making. Its appeal went beyond carats and color grades. With origins traced back to India’s storied Golconda mines and a provenance linking it to Sanyogitabai Devi, the Maharani of Indore, the gem shimmered with history and aristocratic mystique.
However, in a surprising twist, the much-anticipated sale will no longer take place. According to Forbes, the diamond has been withdrawn from the auction. While Christie’s confirmed that the stone had “generated considerable market interest and much excitement globally,” the owners ultimately made the decision to sell it privately—to a family member.
At the time the decision was made, the stone was midway through its global preview tour and on display in Hong Kong, dazzling potential bidders and dreamers alike. And just like that, the Golconda Blue slipped out of the public arena, adding another layer to its already mythical allure.
A Diamond’s Odyssey: The Storied Past of the Golconda Blue
Golconda diamonds carry the weight of legend. Mined from the ancient alluvial soils of southern India, they were the first diamonds known to the world—revered as early as the 4th century. Among these storied stones, the Golconda Blue has long stood as a beacon of rarity and royal glamour.
In the 1920s and 1930s, this extraordinary gem was held by Yeshwant Rao Holkar II, the progressive and stylish Maharaja of Indore. Yet the journey of the Golconda Blue was just beginning.
In time, the French jewelry house Mauboussin set the stone into a sumptuous sautoir, flanked by none other than the famed “Indore Pears”—two pear-shaped diamonds each weighing over 40 carats. Then came 1947: a pivotal year. The Golconda Blue entered the collection of Harry Winston, the legendary “King of Diamonds,” who had already acquired the Indore Pears the year before. Winston transformed the blue diamond into a brooch and sold it to the Maharaja of Baroda, marking another chapter in the gem’s regal passage through the hands of power and prestige.
But destiny, it seems, had not finished with either man or stone. According to Christie’s, Winston would later reacquire the Golconda Blue, setting it once more into a fresh jewel, ultimately selling it to its current, now-private owner.
The Auction Goes On
Although the Golconda Blue is no longer slated to dazzle from the Christie’s Geneva auction block, the Magnificent Jewels sale will proceed on May 14. And collectors still have reason to celebrate. Among the highlights is an extraordinary 21-piece collection of works by JAR—one of the most important private collections of the elusive designer’s creations ever to come to auction, Christie’s notes.
Meanwhile, blue diamond fever won’t end there. Across town, Sotheby’s Geneva is gearing up for its own showstopper. On May 13, the auction house will present the Mediterranean Blue—a cushion modified brilliant-cut, 10.03-carat, fancy vivid blue diamond of VS2 clarity and type IIb classification. With an estimate “in the region” of $20 million, insiders believe bidding could reach as high as $30 million.
Even without the Golconda Blue, Geneva’s spring auctions promise high drama, legendary gems, and new chapters in the ever-evolving saga of the world’s most storied stones.
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Featured image: Christie’s
Sewelo is a world where jewelry, watches, and objects come alive in a shimmering dance of fantasy. Through a literary lens, we celebrate the beauty and elegance that make these treasures more than just possessions.
