The Pink Star: Inside the World's Most Expensive Diamond Sale

On April 4, 2017, the 59.60-carat oval mixed-cut CTF Pink Star sold at Sotheby's Hong Kong for HK$553 million, or US$71.2 million. Sotheby's records it as the auction record for any diamond or jewel. The auction house's official Pink Star result identifies the buyer as Chow Tai Fook.

From a 132.5-Carat Rough to a Two-Year Cut

The Pink Star originated as a 132.5-carat rough diamond mined by De Beers in Africa in 1999. Cutting and polishing took about two years, producing a 59.60-carat oval mixed-cut diamond. It was graded Fancy Vivid Pink and Internally Flawless.

2017: A New Record in Hong Kong

The sale established a public result for one exceptionally large stone with a specific color and clarity grade. Chow Tai Fook renamed it the CTF Pink Star. The result remains historically significant, but it does not create a price-per-carat formula for smaller pink diamonds with different characteristics.

What the Pink Star Tells B2B Buyers

The Pink Star is useful as a documented piece of auction history. Buyers assessing another pink diamond should compare its complete color description, weight, measurements, clarity, cut, provenance, report type, and face-up appearance rather than treating this record as a direct comparable. Explore our pink diamond guide, or submit a wholesale enquiry and state your preferred laboratory-report requirements.