UK to Auction Largest White Diamond in a Decade, Estimated at $1.3 Million

A spectacular 26.36-carat round brilliant-cut diamond, set in a simple platinum ring, is poised to be the highlight of Elmwood’s Fine Jewellery sale in London on March 17. This exceptional stone is the largest white diamond solitaire to appear at auction in the UK in the last ten years, with a pre-sale estimate of £800,000 to £1,000,000 (approximately $1.07 million to $1.34 million).

A Rare Combination of Size and Quality

The diamond boasts an impressive I color and VVS1 clarity, along with the coveted ‘triple excellent’ grade – signifying the highest possible standards for cut, polish, and symmetry. Its lack of fluorescence further ensures that its brilliance and fire remain crisp under all lighting conditions. This combination of size, exceptional clarity, and top-tier cut is exceedingly rare in the UK market.

Joe Kendrick, head of sale at Elmwood’s, described the stone as an ‘extraordinarily rare diamond’. He stated, “Its combination of size, VVS1 clarity, and triple excellent cut is something you simply do not see in the U.K. market. Stones of this calibre come along perhaps once in a decade, and this solitaire is a spectacular example of what makes white diamonds so prized by collectors worldwide.”

A Decade's Opportunity for Collectors

The rarity of such a significant gem on the British auction scene cannot be overstated. The last comparable white diamond offered in the UK was a 26.27-carat stone sold by Sotheby’s in 2017. That particular diamond, known as the Tenner, gained notoriety after its owner reportedly purchased it for a mere £10 at a car boot sale.

The upcoming auction presents collectors with a unique, once-in-a-decade opportunity to acquire a gem that embodies both perfection and rarity. The inclusion of such a high-calibre stone is a significant achievement for Elmwood’s, a London-based auction house founded in 2017, and for the broader British secondary market, as diamonds of this magnitude are more typically seen in auctions in Geneva or New York.

Elmwood’s, located in Notting Hill, has been making waves in the industry by offering zero seller fees, a strategy that has successfully attracted high-value consignments traditionally handled by larger, international auction houses.