8.03-ct Blue Diamond Could Fetch $2.6m

(IDEX Online) - An exceptionally rare 8.03-carat blue diamond ring is expected to fetch up to £2 million ($2.64m) at auction in London next week.

The center stone is a pear modified brilliant cut fancy light blue diamond graded as VS2 clarity by GIA mounted within concentric borders of round brilliant cut pink and white diamonds. The shoulders are also set with round brilliant cut white diamonds.

Elmwood's the specialist auction house selling the gem, says it's only the third blue diamond weighing more than eight carats ever offered at auction in the UK.

It carries an estimate of £1.5 million to £2 million ($1.98 million to $2.64 million) and is being sold by a collector in Glasgow.

The two previous examples were the 70.21-carat Idol's Eye, sold by Christie's in London in 1865, and the Wittelsbach Diamond, sold by Sotheby's in London in 2008.

At 8.03 carats, the new stone would also rank as the third-largest blue diamond in British auction history, says Elmwood's and the largest pear-brilliant cut blue diamond ever offered at auction in the UK.

Pic courtesy Elmwood's.