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Diamond Fetches Record $21.5M

76-carat Archduke Joseph gem sells at Christie's

By the Associated Press

Posted Nov 13, 2012 4:30 PM CST

(AP) – 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.

The Archduke Joseph Diamond.
The Archduke Joseph Diamond.   (Laurent Gillieron)
A model holds the Archduke Joseph Diamond.
A model holds the Archduke Joseph Diamond.   (AP Photo/Keystone, Laurent Gillieron, File)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 8 comments
Max67
Feb 15, 2013 7:41 AM CST
On this website I saw description of this gem... People are crazy. It's just a piece of stone.
Bosda
Nov 14, 2012 11:22 AM CST
Crystallized coal. 
contractman
Nov 13, 2012 8:45 PM CST
Stupid???   I don't think so.  The guy that bought it obviously has plenty of money to invest in something that will always appreciate over the long run; whereas the "stupid" ones just spend all their money, until someday the dollar becomes worthless; they loose their jobs, and their only option is to rob from those who have had the forsight to be prepared.  Take your chances and live for the day, but don't complain when someday you don't have a pot, and you're living in a cardboard box.

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Christie's • auction • diamond • Luxury Living

 
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