Rare coloured diamonds once again demonstrated their extraordinary appeal, with two exceptional blue diamonds selling for more than $8 million each at Christie’s Magnificent Jewels auction in New York.

The highlight was the Azure Blue, a remarkable 31.62 carat pear modified brilliant cut blue diamond. Graded internally flawless, VVS1 clarity and classified as a Type IIb diamond, the exceptional stone achieved $8.4 million, selling within its pre sale estimate.

Another standout was a 5.04 carat fancy vivid blue diamond ring, a marquise modified brilliant cut stone with VVS2 clarity and Type IIb classification, which sold for $8.1 million, exceeding expectations and highlighting the continued demand for the world’s rarest coloured diamonds.

The auction generated a total of $49.7 million, with all 143 lots finding buyers. Alongside the blue diamonds, exceptional sapphires, rubies, emeralds and signed jewellery from renowned houses including Graff, Cartier and Bulgari attracted strong international interest.

“From rare blue diamonds to extraordinary sapphires and rubies, the strength of demand across categories, particularly coloured stones, underscores the global enthusiasm for jewels of beauty, rarity, and provenance,” said Claibourne Poindexter, head of jewellery for the Americas at Christie’s.

Other notable results included:

• A 41.29 carat Ceylon sapphire ring, which achieved $2.3 million against a $600,000 to $800,000 estimate.

• A 15.40 carat Kashmir sapphire ring, selling for $2.2 million.

• A Graff ring featuring a 30 carat Ceylon sapphire, which achieved $1.8 million.

• A pair of David Morris earrings featuring Burmese rubies and exceptional diamonds, selling for $1.4 million.

• A historic circa 1900 brooch featuring an 18.27 carat D colour diamond and natural saltwater pearls, achieving $1.2 million.

The results reinforce the enduring strength of the luxury gemstone market, where rarity, exceptional quality, and provenance continue to drive demand. As collectors compete for truly unique natural gems, exceptional coloured diamonds remain among the most sought after treasures in the world of fine jewellery.