The rare 100-carat D-colour, internally flawless, Type IIA diamond recently sold at Sotheby’s in New York for $22.1 Million after a whirlwind tour to Los Angeles, Hong Kong, Doha, Dubai and London. This stone has accrued more air miles in 6 weeks than most seasoned travels do in a year or two.
So how large is a 100 carat diamond? Consider wearing a 9 volt battery on your finger. For a moment, let’s imagine that on our hands shall we? It’s currently set as a ring. or should I say RING.
But the ironic thing is that this jaw-dropping engagement ring is not the most expensive engagement ring offered for sale at Sotheby’s this auction season. Oh, it’s the top lot of the Magnificent Jewels auction all right, but there are larger stones this auction season, with no shortage of buyers.
But also offered for sale by Sotheby’s New York was an engagement ring made not of carbon, but of canvas. And strangely (for this diamond merchant) the canvas diamond is estimated at $50 million, twice the value of our 100 carat diamond. We are of course talking about the artwork titled ‘The Ring’ by Roy Lichtenstein.
Yes I acknowledge this is an iconic example of Pop Art, for sure. But how does a canvas diamond command more than the real thing? And it doesn’t even set a record for Lichtenstein: two years ago Christie’s sold Lichtenstein’s ‘Woman With Flowered Hat’ for $56.1 million.
Given the fact that Warhols sell for $100 million, and Lichtenstein’s clearly in the $50 million range, I am now thinking that the 100-carat emerald cut diamond is looking pretty affordable at the moment. Dare I say bargain?!!
In a hundred years, which one will look like the best investment?
I choose the real diamond, hands down, every time!