The Largest Vivid Blue Diamond Ever to Be Auctioned

In the past, the mesmerizingly hued and extraordinarily large Golconda Blue diamond was owned by the Maharaja of Indore and then by the Maharaja of Baroda. It will make its auction debut next month, set in an astonishing ring by the celebrated Parisian designer JAR.

The diamond is not just a natural wonder, but also a gem with a storied history. It traveled across continents and was passed down through the centuries. In the early 19th century, the Maharaja of Indore gave two Parisian jewelers commissions to create jewelry with it—Chaumet set it in a bracelet, and a few years later the avant-garde Mauboussin house created an exceptional necklace for the Maharani of Indore. 

In 1947, the Golconda Blue was acquired by the legendary New York jeweler, Harry Winston, who later set it in a brooch next to a matching white diamond that became part of the collection of the Maharaja of Baroda. The blue diamond was later sold to a private owner and will be auctioned for the first time this May. 

“Exceptional noble gems of this caliber come to market once in a lifetime. Over the course of its 259-year history, Christie’s has had the honor of offering some of the world’s most important Golconda diamonds, including the Archduke Joseph, the Princie, and the Wittelsbach. With its Royal heritage, extraordinary color, and exceptional size, The Golconda Blue is truly one of the rarest blue diamonds in the world,” says Christie’s Head of Jewelry Rahul Kadakia.