One of the most beautiful and rare diamonds in the world is up for auction tomorrow on November 13, 2012 in Switzerland. The Archduke Joseph, a 76.02 carat cushion cut diamond that features D color was found in an Indian mine. The diamond is approximately the size of a domino and is more than half an inch in thickness.
The famed jewel borrows its name from its once owner, Archduke Joseph of Austria (1872-1962). The diamond was last seen at auction at Christie’s Geneva in 1993 where it fetched a cool $6,480,000. When it goes under the hammer tomorrow, it will fetch an estimated $15 million.
“The Archduke Joseph Diamond is the finest and largest perfect Golconda diamond ever to appear at auction. It is comparable in its noble lineage and superb quality to the legendary Koh-i-Noor diamond that forms part of the crown jewelry of Great Britain. It is particularly fortuitous to bring this historic gem back to the market in the year of her Majesty the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee,” explained Rahul Kadakia. Kadakia is the Head of Jewellery, Christie’s Americas and Switzerland.