Flawless diamond to be auctioned
罕见无暇巨钻即将拍卖
An exceptionally rare 102.39-carat diamond may become one of the most expensive stones ever to sell at auction when it goes under the hammer in Hong Kong next month.
一颗非常罕见的重达102.39克拉的钻石将于下月在香港拍卖,届时它有望成为有史以来被拍卖的最昂贵的宝石之一。
Although auction house Sotheby's declined to provide a pre-sale estimate, diamonds of similar size and quality have previously attracted bids anywhere from $12 million to more than $30 million.
尽管苏富比拍卖行拒绝提供预售估价,但此前拍卖的尺寸和质量相似的钻石的成交价从1200万美元到超过3300万美元不等。
Cut from a 271-carat rough diamond discovered in 2018 in Ontario, Canada, the oval stone has achieved top rankings in each of the "four Cs" - cut, color, clarity and carat weight - by which a diamond is judged, the auction house said.
苏富比称,2018年在加拿大安大略省发现了一颗271克拉的毛坯钻石,从中切割出了这颗椭圆形钻石。在钻石的“四个C”标准中,即切工、颜色、净度和重量四个方面,这颗钻石都获得了最高等级。
It has been classified as "D color," the highest grading for a white diamond, and is considered to be internally and externally "flawless," placing it among the world's most chemically pure, transparent and symmetrical diamonds.
这颗钻石的成色为白钻中的最高等级——D级,被认为内部外部皆无瑕疵,堪称世界上化学成分最纯净、最透明、最对称的钻石之一。
It also belongs to a rare subgroup of diamonds that contain little to no nitrogen.
它也属于稀有的亚类钻石,几乎不含氮气。
Only seven D color flawless (or internally flawless) diamonds weighing more than 100 carats have ever appeared at auction before, according to Sotheby's.
苏富比称,在此之前,拍卖史上一共只出现过7颗超过100克拉的成色D级的无瑕(或内部无瑕)的钻石。
Unusually, the rare oval diamond is being offered without a reserve, meaning it will be sold regardless of the size of the highest bid.
不同寻常的是,这颗罕见的椭圆形钻石将以无底价形式拍卖,这意味着意味着不论金额多少,只要是最高出价即可拍得这枚巨钻。
Bidding will open online from Sept 15, with the sale concluding at a live auction in Hong Kong on Oct 5.
网上竞拍将从9月15日开始,10月5日在香港的现场拍卖会上落槌。