Royal diamond from India

Royal diamond from India fetches a dazzling 

$9.7 Million

The 400-year-old "Beau Sancy", one of the world's oldest and most storied diamonds in private hands was sold for 9.7 million dollars at Sotheby's in Geneva. Weighing in at 34.98 carats, the sparkling pear cut gem, which was cut from the famous gem mines in Golconda near Hyderabad.

A diamond coveted by kings, queens and princes for centuries, used to reinforce alliances between nations and pawned to pay off royal debts sold for 9 million Swiss francs at Sotheby's in Geneva on Tuesday night.The auction house called the "Beau Sancy" diamond "one of the most important historic diamonds ever to come to auction", reflecting its role in the fluctuating fortunes of Europe's royal families for more than 400 years.

REUTERS/Jacky Naegelen

"The legendary Beau Sancy is a truly magical stone that has entranced generations of royal owners and continues to exert a powerful influence over all who see it," said David Bennett, Sotheby's chairman of jewellery in Europe and the Middle East, in a statement."Its supreme historical importance was reflected tonight in the strength of the bidding and the remarkable result realized."

REUTERS/Arnd Wiegmann

No fewer than five bidders competed for the stone, driving the price to nearly five times above its pre-sale low estimate of 1.85 million Swiss francs in an eight minute battle before it was bought by an anonymous bidder, Sotheby's said.The stone, a 35-carat modified "pear double rose cut" diamond belonging to Georg Friedrich, Prince of Prussia and head of the former ruling dynasty of the German empire, had been expected to fetch $2 million to $4 million.

REUTERS/Jacky Naegelen ANCE -

The diamond originated from the mines in India near Golconda and was acquired by Nicolas de Harlay, Lord of Sancy, in Constantinople in the 1500s.In 1604 it was bought for 75,000 livres by French king Henry IV as a gift for his wife, 

Marie de Medici.

REUTERS/Arnd Wiegmann

Here’s a look at some other stunning diamonds that have drawn the world’s attention.

Sun-drop diamond

A Sotheby's employee holds a 110.03 carat sun-drop diamond on October 24, 2011 in London, England. The diamond is the largest yellow pear-shaped diamond in the world, and is expected to fetch between $11-15 Million USD when it is sold at auction at Sotheby's Auction house in London.

The Martian Pink 

12.04-carat Fancy Intense pink (Type IIa) diamond, is shown during a media preview at Christie's, in Hong Kong May 8, 2012. According to the company, the diamond is worth an estimated value of $8 to $12 million and will be sold at the auction on May 29 in Hong Kong. REUTERS/Tyrone Siu

The Martian Pink 

A rare 9-carat pink diamond ring, known as "the Clark Pink" and belonging to Huguette Clark is shown in this undated handout photo. Jewels belonging to Clark, who was dubbed the "reluctant heiress" after choosing to spend her final years living in hospitals instead of her lavish homes, sold for $21 million at auction. The rare pink diamond ring that fetched more than $15 million, nearly twice its high pre-sale estimate, was the top item in the sale at Christie's on April 17, 2012, which had been expected to total about $10 million. REUTERS/Christie's/Handout

Argyle Pink Jubilee

Mining group Rio Tinto has unearthed an extremely rare pink diamond, Australia's biggest rough pink diamond weighing 12.76 carats at its Argyle mine.

Argyle Pink Jubilee

More than 90 percent of the world's pink diamonds come from the Argyle mine in the East Kimberley region in the far northeast area of Western Australia.The diamond, discovered in the Argyle open pit, will be known as The Argyle Pink Jubilee, Rio Tinto said in a statement. It is a light pink diamond, similar to The Williamson Pink, the diamond Britain's Queen Elizabeth received as a wedding gift and which was later set into a brooch for her Coronation.

Text Courtesy : REUTERS