Light of Peace Diamond Sells for $13.6m
June 11, 23
(IDEX Online) - The Light of Peace, a 126.76-carat D-color, internally flawless diamond, sold for $13.6m at Christie's New York.
It led the Magnificent Jewels auction (on Wednesday 7 June) which realized a total of $50.7m.
The Light of Peace (pictured) was offered without reserve, with an estimate of $10m to $15m.
The Type IIa, pear brilliant-cut diamond started life as a 434.6-carat rough gem from Sierra Leone.
It was bought by the Zale Corporation of Dallas in 1969 and cut into the Zale Light of Peace and 12 smaller gems.
Funds raised from showing the diamond were donated to peace-supporting missions until the stone was sold in 1980.
Christie's said the auction was 112 per cent sold by its low estimate, and 96 per cent sold by value.
A separate Christie's sale, of jewelry owned by philanthropist and interior designer Anne Eisenhower, granddaughter of former US president Dwight D. Eisenhower, realized $11.5m.
The top lot was a ruby and diamond bracelet made by Van Cleef and Arpels for screen icon Marlene Dietrich, which hit its high estimate of $4.5m.