Taking its name from the legendary ballet "Firebird" (1910 - Grand Opera, Paris), this 20.69 carat asscher-cut diamond now makes its way into the possession of Lawrence Graff, who previously also obtained the 'Lesedi La Rona' diamond (302.37 carat D-color) and had it cut into the world's largest square emerald-cut diamond.



Fancy-colored diamonds have been making headway into the world's auction scene for the past couple of decades, with major color hues including pinks, blues and vivid reds. Yellow diamonds, although traditionally lower in the hierarchy of color values for the diamond species, boasts a widespread appreciation for their 'Canary yellow' saturations. Many of them are now receiving heightened reception from international collectors and connoisseurs.



The choice to create the finished piece in a square-shaped step cut helps to bring out its uniquely stark honey-yellow hues. Many deep bodied fancy-cut shapes are a strategic selection for the final form of such fancy-colored diamonds, as proportions allow for more material (carat weight) to be kept- meaning a greater amount of light can then be selectively absorbed by the diamond's mass. This consequentially results in a stronger color, which is the desired effect for this kind of gemstone (as opposed to the case of colorless-to-near-colorless diamonds).

The well-known auction house Sotheby's will be putting two flawless white diamonds up for auction during the Sotheby’s Magnificent Jewels and Noble Jewels events in Geneva on May 15, 2018.

Each legendary diamond specimen weighs over 50 carats, and both are estimated to fetch a combined price of over 15 million dollars. Apart from Christie's, Sotheby's is most likely one of the most well-known auction names in the world today, managing the sale of world-record diamonds and jewelry owned by famous personalities throughout history.

This follows the company's sale of a 102.34 ct. diamond last February 8 and 9 at the New Bond Street Salon. This particular stone set for sale at Sotheby’s retail store in London is the largest Type IIa, D-color, flawless, round brilliant cut diamond over 100 carats to ever be put on record.



The two-diamond suite was unveiled in London at a preview event on April 6 for the company's clientele. It was also noted as of recent news, that Sotheby's had just sold a 102.34 carat white diamond during one of its private sales, though no names were revealed regarding the final buyer. The current standing record for a white diamond is $260,252 per carat according to their database.

It's no easy feat to find gigantic stones at these quality levels, even for established mining companies, so when news arrives, it spreads like wildfire and the entire connoisseur community starts to buzz with guesses on who would be the eventual owner of such grand natural treasures.

There's often much debate about world records, especially when they come with the prize of bragging rights and branding opportunities. The gemstone world is filled with majestic specimens that can dazzle and bewilder the mind. Some gigantic stones are larger in fact than most people, just like the 'Pearl', a semi-precious gemstone weighing in at 6 tons and measuring 1.6 meters in diameter. It's actually not a pearl though, but rather the mineral known as fluorite. Estimated to be worth over 300 million dollars, the 'Pearl' took three years to be shaped into its current spherical orientation.



When we talk about precious stones however, that's an entirely different ballgame. There was this one piece of rough emerald, known as the 'Bahia Emerald', which was said to weigh short of 2 million carats. It's estimated worth was said to be about 400 million dollars, and yet some observers have noted that the stone was once placed on eBay for a mere 75 million. The 'Bahia Emerald'

Just this year, another large emerald rough, weighing around 360 kg was dug up from the Carnaiba mine in Bahia, Brazil. This piece is estimated to be worth around £242 million. Currently under lock and key at a hidden location, its owner is being very protective of its whereabouts due to security threats in the area.

The world's biggest gemstones, while valued at near-impossible figures, are also historical treasures unearthed from the mysterious depths of our planet.

Large rough stones, no matter how astounding in stature, still exude a sense of raw presence. Being mined straight from the earth, they often contain a multitude of mineral impurities or inclusions, showcasing a very speckled appearance. This isn't always the image that people think of when they hear the word gemstone. Faceted, transparent gems like diamonds are the more commonly associated thought when referencing the word 'gem'.



The Golden Jubilee Diamond, a yellow faceted gemstone weighing about 545.67 carats, is currently the largest faceted diamond in the world. It's followed closely by the famed Cullinan 1 diamond, outweighing it by a little over 15 carats. The latter however is a colorless diamond, which holds more value in the current market.

Discovered in the Premier mine, the Golden Jubilee is valued at 4 to 12 million dollars and was cut by Gabriel Tolkowsky whose ancestor was the father of the modern round brilliant cut used for a majority of gem-quality diamonds.



Other large stones have been found and faceted into historical pieces of jewelry, making their way into the crowns and scepters of monarchs all across the world. Records are broken almost every year, and the contest for who's got the biggest gemstone continues to this day. It's often played by the owners of mining companies or large monopolies that want to further cement their foothold in the industry. Some collectors, seeing these magnificent gems at auction, also make a bid to take them home, paying hundreds of millions of dollars just to do so.