The Archduke Joseph Diamond, one of the most famous diamonds in the world, is coming to auction with Christie's in November.
The 76.02 carat beauty, which boasts internally flawless clarity and perfect colour, will auction in Geneva on November 13.
 Matching beauty and history |
Yet its appeal goes beyond simply the impressive figures - its fascinating history will also attract several major players.
Originating from India's ancient Golconda mines, it is named after Archduke Joseph August of Austria (1872-1962), the Palatine of Hungary - its first documented owner.
Passed to his son Archduke Joseph Francis (1895-1957), it was sold to an anonymous buyer in 1936, who left it in a French safe during the second world war, where it remained undetected by the Nazis.
It sold at Christie's in 1961, before last changing hands for $6.5m in 1993.
It is now expected to achieve far in excess of $15m, considering its previous sale history and the booming market for rare gems.
The international head of Christie's jewellery department, François Curiel, explains: "The magic of auctions sometimes brings back great gems to our salerooms more than once.
"The Archduke Joseph Diamond created a sensation when Christie's Geneva offered it for sale the first time in November 1993 where it realized $6.5m - the equivalent of $10.5m today.
"This November we have the privilege to give both new and established collectors the opportunity to own a piece of history once again."
We will bring you full details of the auction later in the year.
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