On May 14, Christie’s is set to make history when the Golconda Blue, the largest fancy vivid blue diamond ever to appear at auction, headlines the Magnificent Jewels sale at the Four Seasons Hotel des Bergues in Geneva. The 23.24 ct. pear-shape gem carries an estimate of $35 million to $50 million.
Beyond its impressive size and captivating color, the Golconda Blue boasts a distinguished provenance recently uncovered by Christie’s specialists. It was found in the Golconda mines of India, the source of some of history’s most legendary diamonds, and entered the collection of Yeshwant Rao Holkar, maharaja of the Indian state Indore, who was a renowned connoisseur of Western art and jewels, in the 1920s and ’30s.
Initially acquired by the maharaja’s father from Chaumet, the blue diamond was later set in a bracelet. Subsequently, under Holkar’s commission, the Parisian maison Mauboussin incorporated the Golconda Blue into an exceptional art deco sautoir, famously worn by Holkar’s wife, Sanyogitabai Devi.
Jeweler Harry Winston acquired the blue diamond in 1947. After it was set in a brooch and sold to the maharaja of Baroda, Winston reacquired the gem before it reached its current owner.
For the Christie’s sale, the Golconda Blue is presented in a striking contemporary ring designed by the celebrated Parisian jeweler JAR—a piece that represents a confluence of natural marvel, noble lineage, and artistic mastery. As Rahul Kadakia, Christie’s international head of jewelry, said in a statement, “Exceptional noble gems of this caliber come to market once in a lifetime…. With its royal heritage, extraordinary color, and exceptional size, the Golconda Blue is truly one of the rarest blue diamonds in the world.”
(Photos courtesy of Christie’s Images Ltd. 2025)
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