PodcastsJan 12, 2026
The latest poscasttest
AuctionsOct 06, 2020
The ‘Perfect’ 102-Carat Oval Diamond Sold for About $16M
Offered without reserve as a “gauge of the market,” the stone’s hammer price fell well short of similar stones.
This 102.39-carat oval-shaped D flawless diamond went up for auction Monday without reserve or a pre-sale estimate. It ended up selling for $15.7 million.
Hong Kong—The results of a Sotheby’s auction described as a true “gauge of the market” are in.
On Monday, Sotheby’s Hong Kong put a 102.39-carat D flawless oval diamond up on the auction block with no reserve price and no pre-sale estimate in a single-lot sale.
This meant the highest bid was the winning bid.
The stone ended up selling for about $15.7 million to a private buyer, falling well short of what similar stones have garnered at auction in recent years.
A 118.28-carat D color flawless oval diamond, for example, sold for $30.8 million at Sotheby’s Hong Kong in October 2013, while a pear-shaped 101.73-carat D color flawless diamond sold to Harry Winston for $26.7 million at Christie’s Geneva earlier that year.
When Sotheby’s announced the sale in September, Quig Bruning, head of the auction house’s jewelry department in New York, called the diamond “an extraordinary stone” that is “a beautiful example of a diamond.”
Sotheby’s did not reveal the name of the company that consigned the diamond for sale but did say Diacore cut and polished the stone over the course of a year from a rough diamond weighing 271 carats mined in 2018 at De Beers’ now-closed Victor Mine in Canada.
The auction house said it is one of only eight diamonds of “regular shape” (meaning modern cuts, not old mine, old European, etc.) that is over 100 carats, D color and flawless/internally flawless ever offered at auction.
View this post on InstagramA post shared by Sotheby's Jewels (@sothebysjewels) on Sep 23, 2020 at 7:49pm PDT
Though the auction featured a live component Monday in Hong Kong, Sotheby’s had been taking online bids for the stone since mid-September.
It confirmed the highest online bid for the oval diamond was nearly $11 million, which it said is the largest bid ever placed for a jewel online.
But the winning bid ended up coming over the phone from a private collector in Japan, who renamed the diamond the “Maiko Star” after his second daughter, continuing a family tradition of sorts.
The same buyer also purchased an 88.22-carat oval diamond for nearly $14 million in April 2019 that he named the “Manami Star,” after his eldest daughter.
Editors' Picks
Sponsored by
More on Auctions
The Latest
Weekly QuizOct 03, 2024
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
PodcastsJan 12, 2026
Introducing My Next Question, the PodcastA monthly podcast series for jewelry professionals
Brought to you by
Navigating Cybersecurity: Essential Guidance for JewelersFrom protecting customer data to safeguarding inventory records, it's crucial to learn how to tackle cybersecurity challenges.
PodcastsNov 27, 2025
Test Podcast With VideoTest Podcast With Video. New interview with Ada Lovelace.
PodcastsNov 25, 2025
Test New Podcast PostAbstract for tests. New Podcast interview with John Lennon, Jimi Hendrix and Jim Morison.
ColumnistsOct 09, 2024
Peter Smith: 7 Things to Know When Selling LuxuryAhead of the holiday season, Smith delves into the often subconscious reasons people buy luxury products for themselves or their loved ones.
MajorsOct 09, 2024
New Simon Campaign Invites Gen Z to ‘Meet Me At The Mall’The ads celebrate the mall culture of the ‘80s and ‘90s.
MajorsOct 09, 2024
PGI Launches New Virtual Sales TrainingRetail sales associates can access the video series on mobile to refresh their selling skills.
Policies & IssuesOct 09, 2024
GJNRF: Reaching Out, Rebuilding Futures For 25 years, India’s Gem & Jewellery National Relief Foundation has provided aid in the wake of war, natural disasters, and global crises.
SourcingOct 08, 2024
Rio Tinto Begins New Phase of Production That Will Extend Diavik’s LifeCommercial production has begun underground at the Canadian diamond mine’s A21 pipe.
SurveysOct 08, 2024
What to Know About Online Shopping This Holiday SeasonDeloitte and Adobe Analytics shared their insights on the season, from the retail sales forecast to the role of generative AI.
CollectionsOct 08, 2024
Sylvie Adds New Men’s BandsThe Texas-based jeweler collaborated with luxury clothing brand Uncommon Man on men’s bands designed with European influences.
SourcingOct 08, 2024
Is Current Diamond Industry Turbulence Shaping a ‘New Normal’? Industry players have found ways to cope with market conditions while working to reshape themselves in the face of emerging realities.
SourcingOct 07, 2024
Rio Tinto to Offer 76 Diamonds in 2024 Beyond Rare Tender The sales event, in its second year, features a selection of rare diamonds from the miner’s Argyle and Diavik diamond mines.
CollectionsOct 07, 2024
Olympian Kristi Yamaguchi Partners With Heller Jewelers on New CollectionA portion of the proceeds from the “Always Dream” collection will go to Yamaguchi's foundation, supporting early childhood literacy.
SurveysOct 07, 2024
Hill & Co.’s New ‘Business of Jewelry Report’ Is OutThe first in what is slated to be a series of in-depth reports from the consulting company, it focuses on shortening supply chains.
WatchesOct 04, 2024
Watches of Switzerland Clocks Another Acquisition—HodinkeeThe company said Benjamin Clymer will return to his role as head of the watch news website, which will maintain editorial independence.
