CTF Pink Diamond Sets New World Auction Record at Sotheby’s:

April 5, 2017

By Katerina Perez

2 min read

Sotheby’s set a new world auction record for any diamond or jewel on the evening of 4 April 2017 with the $71.2 million sale of the Pink Star, a 59.60-carat oval mixed-cut Fancy Vivid Pink Internally Flawless diamond. The sale of the Pink Star more than doubled the previous record for the Fancy Vivid Pink Diamond ‘Unique Pink’ and what is even more remarkable is that it marks the highest price for any jewel ever sold at auction in Asia.

The Pink Star has been renamed the CTF Pink after its acquirer, the Chinese jewellery giant Chow Tai Fook, in memory of Dr. Cheng Yu-Tung, who was the founder of the brand and father of the current chairman Dr. Henry Cheng Kar-Shun. Chow Tai Fook is one of the most popular jewellery brands in the Mandarin and Cantonese-speaking world, with over 2,000 outlets in mainland China alone.

«CTF Pink» - 59.60-carat oval mixed-cut diamond

«CTF Pink» - 59.60-carat oval mixed-cut diamond

 «CTF Pink» - 59.60-carat oval mixed-cut diamond

«CTF Pink» - 59.60-carat oval mixed-cut diamond

“It is fitting that the owner of the most prestigious jeweller in Greater China should today break the record for the most valuable item ever sold in Asia as well as the most valuable diamond ever sold at auction – now appropriately named the CTF Pink,” said Sotheby’s President and CEO Tad Smith. David Bennett, Worldwide Chairman of Sotheby’s Jewellery Division, added: “I am delighted that this magnificently beautiful diamond has been rightfully crowned the most valuable gemstone ever sold at auction. The price has more than doubled the record for a Fancy Vivid Pink diamond that we set just last year in Geneva.”

The “CTF” Pink was mined by De Beers in Africa in 1999. Originally a 132.50-carat rough diamond, it transformed over two years into this fastidiously cut and polished stunning gemstone. Specialists of Gemological Institute of America (GIA) have never graded an Internally Flawless Fancy Vivid Pink diamond of such significant size as the 59.60-carat oval mixed-cut gem. In the end, not only was its carat weight set to impress everyone around, but also its high clarity and colour was to belong to Type IIa – an exceptionally rare subgroup of less than 2% of all gem diamonds. Stones in Type IIa are the purest diamond crystals chemically, with an astonishing optical transparency.

«CTF Pink» - 59.60-carat oval mixed-cut diamond

«CTF Pink» - 59.60-carat oval mixed-cut diamond

In 2010, Chow Tai Fook set a new record for the highest price paid for a rough diamond when the company purchased the Cullinan Heritage, an outstandingly rare 507-carat diamond, for $35.3 million. In commemoration of the esteemed brand’s 88th anniversary, the “CTF” Pink joined other extraordinary stones in Chow Tai Fook collection, including the Aurora Green, a 5.03-carat vivid green diamond acquired last year for $16.8 million, and “A Heritage in Bloom”, the unrivalled masterpiece of diamond jewellery created from the Cullinan Heritage.

The Grand Phoenix: A Necklace That Made A Lot Of Noise At Baselworld

continue reading

Semi-Precious vs Precious Gemstones: Why the Old Labels No Longer Work

I can’t count the number of times I’ve asked myself: what really sets so-called precious and semi-precious stonesapart? Is it their rarity? Colour? Durability? Value? Or is it simply tradition—an outdated hierarchy we’ve inherited without question

by Katerina Perez

Larger than Life: New Mineral Masterpieces and Global Adventures with Margot McKinney 

Let’s take a closer look at the pieces and places that have helped to shape the Margot McKinney brand over the last 12 months, including the rather sensational Marina, Aurora and Bloem necklaces

by Katerina Perez

Male Adornment: The Evolution of Men’s Jewellery from the 1400s Until Today

Men's jewellery is often overlooked, yet its history is both rich and cyclical. Over the past six centuries, the popularity of male adornments has fluctuated, reflecting shifts in fashion, status, and cultural values. Here, Amanda Triossi examines the reasons behind male jewellery, along with its periods of abundance and decline.

by Amanda Triossi

Perfect Proposal: The Top 10 Engagement Ring Mistakes to Avoid 

The moment you start thinking about proposing, everything shifts. Ordinary things become significant: dinner out, a walk in the park, a glance at their jewellery box. And then comes "the ring": a symbol of love, yes, but also a silent spokesperson for everything you feel and hope for. No pressure, right?

by Claire Roberts

Couture Show 2025: The Top 10 Debutants Heading to Las Vegas 

The much anticipated Couture Show will return to Wynn Las Vegas from June 4-8, 2025, shining a spotlight on established design talent, new creatives, and international brands that are vying for attention on the global stage. Just like in previous years, I am focusing my attention on the debutants

by Katerina Perez

Designing the Future: Revealing the Winners of the Katerina Perez x Osmium Institute Design Contest

What a ride it has been, witnessing such pure creative energy and original thinking, especially with a material as rare and futuristic as osmium

by Katerina Perez

New Icons: The Latest Collections by Italian Micromosaic Master SICIS 

I was presented with two striking new collections – Icon and Colibrì – that offer different interpretations of the SICIS aesthetic. Below, I want to give you a closer look at these capsule suites and tell you more about the inspirations behind them

by Katerina Perez

Fabulous Fabrications: TAOS Presents a Trio of Watches Inspired by Couture Fashion

Occasionally, beautiful timepieces demonstrating exceptional Métiers d’Art will land on our virtual desks and result in a round-robin series of emails. In the hours after we received insights into the emerging Swiss brand TAOS, almost the entire team had seen the fabric-inspired dials of its latest creations, and we all agreed that an article was […]

by Sarah Jordan

A Century of Sparkle: Celebrating 100 Years of Art Deco at GemGenève

From May 8-11, 2025, visitors to GemGenève can immerse themselves in a showcase of antique and modern jewellery while also experiencing the innovative spirit of the 1920s and 1930s through a photographic lens. Here, I'd like to tell you more about this creative collaboration and introduce you to the brands taking part…

by Katerina Perez

Tailored Perfection: The Best Jewellery Looks of the Met Gala 2025

Not since 2003 has a Met Gala theme focused exclusively on menswear, so we had high hopes for this year’s attendees demonstrating the best of tailored suiting adorned with high jewels. Let’s take a closer look at some of the best ensembles of the evening…

by Sarah Jordan

Legacy of Love: The Dreamlike Jewels of Emirati Designer Mariyeh Ghelichkhani

Jewellery is a transmitter of memories and emotions through time, which is something that Dubai-based designer Mariyeh Ghelichkhani knows all too well. During our meeting in Dubai, we spoke about the importance of family, the sweetness of finding joy through creativity, and the ability to translate dreamy visions and deep feelings into wearable pieces…

by Katerina Perez

Celebrating Colour: 20 Uplifting Jewellery Creations by Lisa Nik

Whether you're craving a juicy mandarin garnet or an eye-catching bi-colour tourmaline, here are 20 joyful pieces that exemplify the Lisa Nik approach, as well as the inspiration behind them…

by Sarah Jordan

Latest Stories

Add articles and images to your favourites. Just

Reinventing Royalty:The European-Inspired Luxury Behind Isabel Gemology

I started 2025 with a series of articles titled ‘Jeweller of the Month’ to highlight the true talent among niche designers in the jewellery industry. For May, it is Isabel Delgado, the founder of Isabel Gemology, who I would like to shine the spotlight on.

by Katerina Perez

Jewels Katerina Perez Loves

Continue Reading

Writing Adventures:Co-Authoring the Book

Paraiba: The Legacy of a Color

by Katerina Perez

Jewellery Insights straight to your inbox

Style Guide

By using this website, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. View our Privacy Policy for more information.