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AFP
Published
May 17, 2011
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Rare pink diamond on auction in Switzerland

By
AFP
Published
May 17, 2011

May 17 - A raretranslucent pink diamond worth millions of dollars goes on auction in Switzerland on Tuesday in a highlight of a sale of fine jewellery, Sotheby's auctioneers said.


Photo : Fabrice Coffrini/AFP

The pure colour of the diamond, mounted in a ring, is classified as 'fancy intense pink' by the Gemological Institute of America.

The 10.99-carat, emerald-cut stone has been classed as a type IIa diamond, with the type II category making up less than two percent of gem diamonds, Sotheby's says on its website.

Stones in this categtory are the most chemically pure and often have a rare transparency. They have been found in India and in more recent times in Brazil and Africa.

Valued at between 8.3 and 14.8 million Swiss francs (S$11-20 million), the pink diamond comes from a private collection.

Sotheby's said it was one of the highlights of its 'Magnificent Jewels and Nobel Jewels' auction in Geneva on Tuesday.

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