Full Breakdown
Record Sale of the “Ocean Dream” Sets New Benchmark for Blue-Green Diamonds
5/15/2026, 8:41:46 PM
The Auction Milestone
On May 13 2026 Christie's Magnificent Jewels auction in Geneva sold the 5.50-carat fancy vivid blue-green diamond known as the Ocean Dream for 13.6 million Swiss francs (? US $17 million). The result broke the previous record for any fancy vivid blue-green diamond sold at auction. The stone changed hands in a 20-minute bidding battle among three international collectors, after which the buyer remained anonymous.
History and Rarity of the Stone
The Ocean Dream was extracted from a Central-African mine in the 1990s and cut into a triangular shape. Weighing 5.5 carats (9.4 grams) it is classified as a type Ia diamond, a category regarded as among the purest natural gems. The Smithsonian Institution lists it as one of the world’s eight rarest diamonds, and it was displayed in the museum’s 2003 *Splendor of Diamonds* exhibition. The gem previously sold at Christie's Geneva in May 2014 for US $8.5 million.
Market Context and Auction Results
Christie's reported total sales of US $66.5 million for the Magnificent Jewels event, with 99 % of the 87 lots finding buyers and 84 % exceeding their high estimates. Highlights included a two-row natural-pearl-and-diamond necklace that fetched US $5.3 million—more than three times its estimate—and a 22-carat Kashmir sapphire ring that sold for US $3.5 million. The strong performance underscores growing collector interest in colored diamonds, which represent only a fraction of global diamond production.
Official Statements & Responses
Christie's described the sale as a “new record for a blue-green diamond at auction.” Max Fawcett, Christie's global head of jewelry, noted the rarity of the stone, saying the market for top-quality gems is “exceptionally strong.” Rahul Kadakia, president of Christie's Asia Pacific, confirmed that an “unspecified private client” secured the purchase. Tobias Kormind, managing director of online jeweler 77 Diamonds, called the outcome “a stellar result worthy of the world’s rarest blue-green diamond.”
Verbatim Quotes
- “It was thrilling to see three international collectors participating in a spirited bidding battle for the final lot of the sale, lasting 20 minutes,” — Max Fawcett, Christie's global head of jewelry
- “A stellar result worthy of the world's rarest blue-green diamond,” — Tobias Kormind, 77 Diamonds
- “A stone of this colour and size is extremely scarce, and adding to its rarity the diamond is type Ia, amongst the purest of natural gems,” — Christie's statement
- “It’s very rare to find green diamonds, even over one carat,” — Max Fawcett
- “To find something in five carat of this quality and this colour is truly remarkable.” — Max Fawcett
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Sources differ on the exact sale price: CBS News and National Jeweler list US $17.3 million, CP24 reports US $17 million, while JCK Online cites CHF 13,567,500 (? US $17.4 million). All agree the buyer’s identity remains undisclosed. No independent verification of the buyer’s provenance is provided.
What’s Next
Christie's Jewels Online auction remains open through May 19, offering additional colored gemstones and high-end jewelry. Industry observers anticipate further record-setting sales as demand for rare colored diamonds continues to rise.
