A stunning 9.51-carat Mellon Blue diamond has captured global attention after selling for $25.6 million at Christie’s Magnificent Jewels auction in Geneva. The internally flawless gemstone, mounted in a serpentine ring, was one of the most anticipated pieces of the event held at the Hotel des Bergues.
The Mellon Blue diamond was sold for 20,525,000 Swiss francs, exceeding expectations as it had been estimated to fetch between 16 and 24 million francs. The exquisite gem once belonged to Rachel Lambert Mellon, famously known as Bunny Mellon — a U.S. art collector and horticulturist.
Bunny Mellon’s elegant taste and vast collection of fine art and jewelry made her one of the most admired figures in high society. Following her death at the age of 103, the Mellon Blue diamond was last sold in 2014 during an auction in New York. Its reappearance in 2025 once again stirred excitement among collectors of rare jewels.
Max Fawcett, head of jewellery at Christie’s Geneva, described the diamond as “a symbol of a lifestyle from a bygone era — the kind only possible with a Gilded Age fortune.” The flawless clarity and rich blue hue of the diamond make it one of the rarest and most valuable gemstones ever sold.
In addition to the Mellon Blue, other historic jewelry pieces are also drawing attention in Geneva this week. Sotheby’s is set to auction a brooch once owned by French Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte, expected to sell for $150,000 to $250,000.
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A naturally pink 10.08-carat diamond will also be on display at Sotheby’s, with experts estimating it could fetch around $20 million. Together, these auctions highlight the timeless allure and enduring value of the world’s rarest jewels.
