Rare blue diamond at NY's Natural History Museum
The fancy, deep grayish blue, 31.06-carat Wittelsbach-Graff Diamond was discovered in India in the 17th century and purchased by London-based jeweler Laurence Graff in 2008 for $24.3 million. It's on display at the Museum of Natural History in New York through Jan. 2, 2011. Credit: AP
One of the rarest diamonds in the world is on display at Manhattan's Museum of Natural History through Jan. 2.
The fancy, deep-grayish blue Wittelsbach-Graff Diamond was discovered in India in the 17th century. The gem is 31.06 carats. (It weighed 35.56 carats before it was recut to enhance its clarity and color.)
It was purchased by London-based jeweler Laurence Graff in 2008 for $24.3 million. Christie's says that's a world record for a jewel sold at auction.
The world's largest known deep-blue diamond is the 45.52-carat Hope Diamond, discovered in the 1600s. That's on permanent display at the Smithsonian's Natural History Museum in Washington.
