{{The BVLGARI Blue Diamond}} - a stunning two-stone diamond ring is chosen as the lead highlight of Christie’s Jewels: The New York Sale slated for October 20, 2010. The ring was designed by BVLGARI in the 1970s, featuring a triangular-shaped, colorless diamond of 9.87 carats paired with a triangular-shaped Fancy Vivid blue diamond of 10.95 carats. This is the largest Fancy Vivid blue diamond of such cut ever to be offered at auction. %% Rahul Kadakia, Head of Jewelry for Christie’s Americas commented, “The appearance of this sensational jewel on the market is causing a huge stir amongst top jewellery collectors worldwide. This ring’s exceptional quality, rarity and size combined with the coveted imprimatur of the house of BVLGARI make this upcoming sale a truly special event in the world of jewellery and one that is certain to make auction history.”%% The ring is expected to achieve in excess of $12 million. With its even colour depth, balanced saturation, and clear sky-blue hue, The BVLGARI Blue Diamond has been graded as Fancy Vivid by the Gemological Institute of America (GIA). The ring is being offered by a private European collector who held it as family treasure for almost 40 years. It was bought in 1972 for a final sale price of around $1 million US. %% Fancy Vivid blue diamonds of the size as the The BVLGARI Blue Diamond, are among the rarest of colored diamonds — only one in about 10 million will possess a color pure enough to qualify as “Fancy Vivid”. The process of formation of blue diamonds is rare and occurs when a specific set of natural conditions and trace elements of the mineral ‘boron’ are present in the earth. From the natural blue rough so formed, only a miniscule number of the resulting polished diamonds will weigh over 10 carats, characterizing their rarity. Large natural blue diamonds – especially those possessing the Vivid Blue tone and saturation earn exceptional prices of well over $1 million per carat at auction. %% Christie’s has arranged a global preview tour of key sale highlights: September 13-14 Christie’s Geneva, September 16-17 Christie’s Hong Kong, September 27-28 Christie’s London, October 16-19 Christie’s New York.