Sotheby’s has unveiled a $100 million diamond exhibition in Abu Dhabi, marking its first public showcase in the emirate in over 15 years.
The exhibition, hosted in partnership with the Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO) at the Bassam Freiha Art Foundation on Saadiyat Island, features several rare diamonds, including the ‘Mediterranean Blue’ – a 10.03-carat Fancy Vivid Blue diamond expected to fetch $20 million at an auction in Geneva next month.
Sotheby’s diamond showcase
“This is one of the best and most incredible exhibitions dedicated to diamonds of this caliber ever done in the world,” said Katia Nounou Boueiz, Sotheby’s Deputy Chairman for the Middle East, during the launch event.
Quig Bruning, Senior Vice President and Head of Jewelry for the Americas, Europe, and Middle East, emphasised the rarity of the collection: “If you took all of the blue diamonds over 10 carats in the world, you could probably put them in your pocket.”
The ‘Mediterranean Blue‘ is particularly significant as “there was not a single vivid blue diamond over 10 carats that came on the market at all last year,” according to Bruning.
Other pieces include:
- ‘The Red Diamond’: A 5.05-carat Fancy Brown-Red Diamond – the second largest red diamond known to exist
- ‘The Desert Rose’: The world’s largest vivid orangey pink diamond (31.68 carats)
- ‘The Golden Canary Necklace’: The largest internally flawless diamond (303.10 carats)
- ‘The Ultimate Emerald Cut’: A flawless 100.20-carat diamond ring
The decision to launch in Abu Dhabi reflects the region’s growing influence in luxury markets.
“We’ve chosen the Gulf as the location of this global unveiling due to the extensive and deep-rooted relationship we have with clients, collectors, and consigners in the region. This confirms that the region has truly become one of the most dynamic drivers of the luxury industry globally,” Bruning said.
The exhibition is open to the public until April 10, running daily from 10 AM to 8 PM with free admission.
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