Christie’s has announced THE ROCK (estimate: US$ 20,000,000-30,000,000), a 228.31 carat pear-shaped diamond, will lead the Geneva Magnificent Jewels sale on May 11, 2022, as part of Christie’s Luxury Week. This exceptionally rare gemstone was mined and polished in South Africa over two decades ago and is the largest white diamond ever to appear for sale at auction.

Rahul Kadakia, Christie’s International Head of Jewellery, said: “The Rock will join the very best of legendary gemstones which have passed through Christie’s global salerooms since 1766. The market for diamonds is particularly vibrant and we are confident that this sensational gemstone will capture the attention of collectors across the globe this Spring season.”

Graded by the Gemmological Institute of America as G colour, VS1 clarity, The Rock is also accompanied by a letter from the GIA stating that it is the largest existing D-Z colour pearshaped diamond ever graded by the laboratory. The previous auction record for the largest white diamond was a 163.41 carat gem, which sold at Christie’s Geneva in November 2017 for US$ 33,701,000.

The Rock will be revealed at Christie’s Dubai from March 26-29, before touring to Taipei and Rockefeller Plaza in New York from April 29 to May 1. It will then be on public display during Christie’s Luxury Week at the Four Seasons Hotel des Bergues Geneva from May 6-11. 

Another headliner at Christie's this spring is a 1964 Andy Warhol silkscreen of Marilyn Monroe. “Shot Sage Blue Marilyn” hits the market in May and is estimated to fetch around $200 million, which would make it the most expensive 20th-century artwork ever to sell at auction, notes The New York Times.