The Rock is the world's largest white diamond ever auctioned. It is a nearly colorless 228.31 carat pear-shaped diamond mined in South Africa c. 2000. The diamond is described as larger than a golf ball, and it was auctioned in 2022 for 21.9 million USD.
Classification
The Rock is a 228.31-carat white diamond which has been graded by the Gemological Institute of America. It has G color, VS1 clarity.[1] The color of white diamonds can range from D to Z: D-color is the highest grade for white diamonds, and it is the rarest and most expensive. The Rock is G-color, which is the fourth whitest level of white diamonds.[2] It is the highest grade in the near-colorless color range and only professionals can see a slight tint of color in a G-colored diamond.[3] The diamond is 61.3 grams (2.2 oz) and it has dimensions of 5.4 centimetres (2.1 in) by 3.1 centimetres (1.2 in).[2] It is described as "larger than a golf ball.[4]
On May 11, 2022 Christie's Geneva auctioned the diamond and it was sold for 21.9 million USD.[6] It was the largest white diamond ever auctioned.[5] Previously the largest white diamond ever auctioned had a mass of 163.41 carats and realized a price of 33.7 million USD.[8]
The owner was from North America and was anonymous.[9] The New York Post described the sellers as a family of jewelry collectors who had the diamond made into a necklace at Cartier.[10] The buyer who purchased the diamond at Christie's Geneva was an unnamed private collector.[9]