The Wittelbach diamond

The Wittelbach diamond, a rare 35.56 carat blue diamond

The Wittelbach diamond next to a first class stamp
Becky Markley holds the Wittelbach diamond a rare 35.56 carat blue diamond, next to a British first class stamp, at Christie's auction house in London, Friday, Dec. 5, 2008. The rare blue diamond which was handed down through generations of German royalty has sold for a record-breaking 16.4 million pounds ($24.3 million) at auction Wednesday, Dec. 10, 2008, Christie's said. The Wittelsbach Diamond, a 35.56 carat cushion-shaped gem, has often had its color and clarity compared to the famed Hope Diamond, now on display at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington. The rare gem was snapped up by billionaire diamond-dealer Laurence Graff for about 16.4 million pounds ($24.3 million), including buyer's premium, Christie's spokeswoman Alexandra Kindermann said.

Becky Markley holds the Wittelbach diamond a rare 35.56 carat blue diamond

Since the first diamonds were discovered in the Gauteng province of Transvaal in South Africa over a century ago, the Cullinan mine has yielded some of the most spectacular diamonds ever to be unearthed. Last year, a 26,58 ct blue diamond rough was uncovered there, which has now been transformed into a cushion-shaped 7,03 ct internally flawless fancy vivid blue gem, the highest colour grading. Published in Jewellery, Geneva May 2009