Winston Pink Legacy: A Century-Old Stone's 2018 Record Sale

On November 13, 2018, Christie's Geneva sold the 18.96-carat Fancy Vivid Pink diamond for CHF 50.375 million (US$50.375 million), or US$2,656,909 per carat. According to Christie's official sale results, the result set a world auction record price per carat for a pink diamond at the time, and the stone entered the Harry Winston collection.

A Century-Old Stone from the Oppenheimer Family

The diamond, known at auction as the Pink Legacy, was mined in South Africa around 1918, nearly a century before it went under the hammer. Its documented provenance includes the Oppenheimer family, as recorded in Christie's lot record.

A Rare Combination: Fancy Vivid Pink at VS1

The accompanying GIA report graded the cut-cornered rectangular stone Fancy Vivid Pink with VS1 clarity. On the GIA clarity scale, Internally Flawless and the VVS grades rank above VS1. VS1 nevertheless indicates minor inclusions that range from difficult to somewhat easy for a skilled grader to see under 10× magnification. The verified combination here is therefore Fancy Vivid Pink color, VS1 clarity and an exceptional 18.96-carat weight.

What Buyers Can Verify from This Sale

This auction documents one buyer's price for a specific stone with exceptional size, Fancy Vivid Pink color, VS1 clarity and Oppenheimer-family provenance. It does not by itself establish a general premium, a consistent investment return or protection from market fluctuations. Buyers comparing colored diamonds should review current results for stones with similar laboratory grades, weight, provenance and sale terms rather than extrapolating from a single record. Contact us via our wholesale enquiry form to discuss sourcing Fancy Vivid Pink inventory.