The largest white diamond ever put up for auction in Dubai
Eva Deschamps / March 26, 2022
A 228.31-carat white diamond was unveiled to the public for the first time Friday in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, before being auctioned in mid-May in Switzerland, where its price could reach $30 million.
Dubbed The Rock, the stone, mined and polished in South Africa more than 20 years ago, is the largest D-Z (shades of white) pear-shaped diamond ever classified by the American Gemological Institute, Christie's said in a statement.
After its debut at Christie's Dubai, March 26-29, the diamond will be presented in Taipei, New York and Geneva, where it will go on sale May 11.
The auction record for a colorless diamond is held by a 163.41-carat stone sold for $33.7 million in November 2017, according to the release.
Last February, Sotheby's in London sold a 555.55-carat black diamond, the largest natural black diamond in the world, for $4.3 million.