Overview

• The Mediterranean Blue, a 10.3-carat fancy vivid blue diamond, sold for $21.5 million at Sotheby’s Geneva High Jewelry auction on May 13, 2025.
• Bidding started at nine million Swiss francs and concluded with a private U.S. collector purchasing the diamond for 17.9 million Swiss francs, including fees.
• The diamond was cut and polished from a 31.94-carat rough mined in 2023 from South Africa's legendary Cullinan mines, known for producing exceptional blue diamonds.
• Ahead of the auction, the gem was showcased in Sotheby’s debut exhibition in Abu Dhabi and toured globally to generate interest among collectors.
• Sotheby’s described the diamond as the defining stone of the season, though some analysts noted broader market uncertainties may have tempered bidding enthusiasm.