£1m blue diamond ring the highlight of Bonhams sale

The ring, believed to have been made around 1965, has an estimated value of £1 million to £1.5 million. Set horizontally within a mount pavé-set with brilliant cut diamonds, the ring’s centrepiece is a cushion-shaped fancy deep-blue diamond that weights 5.30 carats. Blue diamonds are very rarely seen on the market and are among the most coveted

of fancy-coloured diamonds. Structurally pure, they account for less than one per cent of all diamonds mined.

In September 2011, Bonhams sold a fancy vivid-blue diamond ring for £1.9 million, more than doubling its pre-sale estimate.

Bonhams’ director of the jewellery department for the UK and Europe Jean Ghika commented: “Blue diamonds, especially those over 5.00 carats, are extremely rare to see on the market and continue to be highly sought-after. This ring epitomises a golden era of elegant simplicity and we are honoured to be handling the sale of such a unique gem.”