Photo by Robert Weldon, Courtesy of Treasured Gems and Jewels LLC/Benjamin Zucker

Vincent Van Gogh’s “Starry Night,” with its vivid blues and hypnotic swirls, has captivated art lovers for more than a century. This 112ct Burmese "Starry Night" Sapphire, has a magnificent star that dances across its surface, evoking Van Gogh’s enchanting masterpiece. Gemstones that display this optical effect – asterism – are referred to as “phenomenal” gemstones.

Christie’s sale sets new record

The sale of “The Winston Blue” helped bring Christie’s auction held Wednesday in Geneva to the status of highest total ever for a jewelry auction. The diamond sold for more than $23 million.

"The Winston Blue"

 

 

The largest fancy vivid blue diamond in the world sold for $23.8 million at Christie’s Wednesday, pushing the auction total past $150 million and setting a new world auction record for a jewelry sale.

A record-setter in its own right, the 13.22-carat blue diamond went for $1.8 million per carat, which is now the highest price per carat paid for a blue diamond. 

Nearly 1,000 ounces of gold was recovered from the first diving expedition to the Ship of Gold, the legendary 150-year-old shipwreck that may hold millions in buried treasure.

Among the excavated pieces were five gold ingots and two $20 Double Eagle coins. The gold ingots weigh from 96.5 to 313.5 troy ounces. 

The SS Central America was nicknamed the Ship of Gold, because it carried one of the largest cargoes of gold ever lost at sea. The steamship sank on Sept. 12, 1857 off the coast of South Carolina, during a hurricane.  The huge amount of gold lost in the accident was believed to have been worth more than $1 million in 1857.

Gold Ingots recovered for SS Central America