On Dec. 10, the 52.58 D color internally flawless Golconda diamond garnered an impressive $10.9 million at an auction at Christie’s New York. 

The $207,600 per carat price was in line with its $9.5 million–$12.5 million estimate. The buyer was anonymous.

The mines of Goldconda, India, are known for producing some of the world’s most famous gems, including the Hope, the Koh-i-Noor, and the Regent.

The 495-lot sale overall took in $65.7 million, with 86 percent sold by lot and 92 percent sold by value. Christie’s New York has sold $193.8 million worth of jewelry this year. 

Other auction highlights:

– What Christie’s described as a “superb collection” of diamond jewelry by Leviev fetched $10.2 million. The first lot—a 26.72 ct. D color internally flawless cushion-cut—sold for $4.3 million ($161,200 per carat); a diamond necklace suspending a D color VVS1 22.12 ct. pear-shape sold for $2.79 million ($126,400 per carat) to an Asian private buyer; a pair of pear-shape 10.31 and 9.94 ct. D color VVS1 and VVS2 diamond ear pendants (pictured below) sold for $2.3 million ($117,200 per carat) to an anonymous buyer; and a platinum and 18k white gold diamond bracelet, with 88 rectangular-cut diamonds, weighing approximately 90.81 cts. total, sold for $725,000.

– An Art Deco diamond, jadeite, and gem-set Tutti Frutti bracelet (pictured below) by Cartier sold for $2.045 million. That set a world auction record for an Art Deco Tutti Frutti bracelet by Cartier.

“Beginning with the historic sale of the Princie Diamond this April and culminating with the 52.58 carat D-color internally flawless Golconda diamond sold today, 2013 has been a stellar year for jewelry at Christie’s New York,” Rahul Kadakia, head of jewelry for Christie’s Americas and Switzerland, said in a statement. “From start to finish, prices for superb diamonds, natural pearls, and rare jewels have soared beyond their estimates, driven by intense competition from collectors worldwide.” 

(Photos courtesy Christie’s Images Ltd.)

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