NEW YORK, NY.- Thursday night at Sotheby’s New York headquarters, a Magnificent and Rare 9.75-Carat Fancy Vivid Blue Diamond from the celebrated collection of Mrs Paul Mellon (Est. US$10 – 15 million) sold for a staggering US$32,645,000 / HK$254,631,000 (US$3,348,205 / HK$26,115,999 per carat) – a new world auction record total price for any blue diamond^ and a new world auction record for price-per-carat for any diamond^^. The 9.75-carat, pear-shaped diamond was eagerly sought after by seven bidders who competed for 20 minutes for the extraordinary stone, ultimately selling to a Hong Kong private collector who has named the stone The Zoe Diamond.

Gary Schuler, Head of Sotheby’s Jewelry Department in New York, commented: “From the moment I saw this diamond, I knew that it would be one of the most important stones that I will ever have the privilege of presenting at auction. It was incredible to see each of my colleagues experience the diamond for the first time, watching as the blue hue warmed and intensified in front of them with every minute in natural light. Mrs Mellon’s diamond absolutely deserves the place in the record books that it achieved tonight.”

• The previous auction record for any blue diamond was US$24,311,191, set by the Wittelsbach Diamond at Christie’s London in December 2008.

• The previous per-carat auction record for any diamond was US$2,398,152, set by a 14.82 carat Fancy Vivid Orange Diamond at Christie’s in Geneva in November 2013.

Sotheby’s New York auctions of the Mellon Collection continues through Sunday.