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The Magnificent Jewels and Noble Jewels auction will be headlined by the Beau Sancy, which has been passed down through the royal families of France, England, Prussia and the House of Orange.
The stone, which weighs 34.98 carats, is a modified double rose cut diamond and comes to auction with an estimated value of between $2 and $4 million (£1.3 to £2.5 million).
The Beau Sancy will be showcased on an international tour before its auction on the 15 May, including stops at Hong Kong, Rome, New York, Paris and London.
David Bennett, chairman of Sotheby’s jewellery department in Europe and the Middle East and co-chairman of Sotheby’s Switzerland, said: “The Beau Sancy is one of the most fascinating and romantic gems ever to appear at auction, and it is an immense privilege for Sotheby’s to handle the sale.”
The Beau Sancy was the largest gemstone in the House of Prussia’s collection and is thought to have been mined in south-central India near the city of Golconda, from where a large number of other famous diamonds have come, including the Hope and the Regent.
