Auctioneer Sotheby's has unveiled what is thought to be the most expensive pair of earrings in the world, valued at a staggering £55 million ($100m).
The mismatched pair is made up of two odd-coloured diamonds; one named Apollo and one named Artemis, cut and polished into pear shapes.
The star of the show is the "truly exceptional" Apollo, a 14.54 ct Fancy Vivid blue diamond. An "infinitesimally" low percentage of stones are graded Fancy Vivid Blue like this, causing the value of this stone alone to hit £40 million.
When considered as a pair with Artemis, a 16 ct Fancy Intense pink diamond worth £14.5 million, the set has been described as being in "a class of its own".
Named Apollo and Artemis after the brother and sister Ancient Greek gods of power and beauty, the earrings will be auctioned on May 16 in Geneva as part of Sotheby’s Magnificent Jewels & Noble Jewels selection.
"The divine diamond twins - one pink and the other blue - are perfectly matched in size, cut and tonality,” Sotheby’s says of the lot on its website. “The stones are currently mounted as a spectacular pair of earrings, but are being offered separately, on account of their extreme rarity, power and presence."
"'The Apollo and Artemis Diamonds’ will be the stars of our May sale in Geneva - by far the most important pair of earrings ever offered at auction,” said David Bennett, worldwide chairman of Sotheby's International Jewellery Division.
"These exquisite coloured diamonds are enormously rare and each is a wonderful stone in its own right. Together, as a pair of earrings, they are breathtaking. We have named them after Apollo and Artemis, a twin brother and sister of great power and beauty who were among the most widely venerated of the Ancient Greek deities. These are diamonds of great distinction, with extraordinary presence, and we are honoured that Sotheby’s has been chosen to bring them to auction in May."
- Telegraph
