The World’s Most Expensive Necklace Goes on Sale in Singapore

October 8th, 2013 by Noam Flint

Many of the colored diamonds found around the world are considered to be among the most valuable gems on the market. However, only one is special enough to be given a title of the “Incomparable Diamond.” This stunning piece is expected to bring in a record-breaking price tag when it goes up for sale as part of the Singapore JewelFest, which is slated for October 2013. Although the event is scheduled to include a variety of amazing items, the highly touted Incomparable Diamond is predicted to steal the show.

Watch the Incomparable’s picture

Up for sale

The Incomparable Diamond, also known as L’Incomparable, is an internally flawless yellow diamond. It features a modified shield step-cut and a deep yellow color, according to Mouawad, the luxury jeweler selling the gem. The Gemological Institute of America classified the Incomparable Diamond as the world’s largest internally flawless colored diamond, The Jewelry Editor reported.

The yellow diamond weighs in at an astonishing 407.48 carats and is complemented by a rose gold setting and 90 smaller white diamonds found on the chain. Those additional gems weigh about 230 carats in total.

All of the precious stones, combined with the show-stopping yellow diamond, is expected to sell for approximately $55 million. Guinness World Records 2013 has already designated the item as the Most Valuable Necklace in the World, and anyone interested in purchasing the piece must be ready to make a serious commitment to this one-of-a-kind necklace.

“People who will get something like this are looking at it from a different perspective, because this is definitely an investment piece,” Jean Nasr, managing director of Mouawad, told Reuters.

Watch the Incomparable Video

The origins

Part of the allure of the necklace can undoubtedly be traced back to its unusual beginnings. The rough stone that the diamond was created from was found more than 30 years ago by a young girl in the Democratic Republic of Congo. She picked up a egg-sized rock from a pile of kimberlite, a by-product of diamond mining where diamonds are frequently lodged, that had accumulated near the MIBA Diamond Mine in the town of Mbuji Mayi. The rock had initially been thought to be too big to contain any gems, but further inspection found a rough yellow diamond weighing 890 carats.

Unfortunately, not much else is known about the discovery of the rough stone, as the identity of the young girl remains a mystery to this day. After her uncle saw the gem, he sold it to African diamond dealers for an unknown amount, and the yellow gem changed hands multiple times in the years that followed.

It may have taken decades to cut and polish the stone to perfection, but the end result is well worth the wait. Fans of precious gems had a chance to view the yellow diamond when it went on display at the Smithsonian Institute in Washington, D.C., but Mouawad has upped the ante with the gorgeous setting and accent diamonds. The luxury jeweler completed final touches on the piece in late 2012 and unveiled the necklace at the Doha Jewelry and Watch Exhibition in February 2013.

At the Singapore show

There are many unique and valuable pieces on display at Singapore JewelFest. In fact, early estimates predict that more than $200 million worth of diamonds and jewelry will be on hand for the festival, including some of the most stunning creations from the U.S., Africa, South America and Asia that go beyond just stunning yellow diamonds.

Officials are on high alert as the launch of the festival approaches, especially following a string of high-profile jewelry heists at similar shows, such as the $136 million theft at Cannes earlier this year. Security is high, with armed guards, undercover officers, cameras, motion detectors, bulletproof display cases and other measures employed for the duration of the event. The Ferrari Group, an Italian logistics company, is in charge of guarding the goods, and it is taking every precaution to ensure the gems remain safe – especially when they are shown to potential buyers.

“This is the moment that the stones are under risk because they can be passed hand-by-hand; they can be exchanged,” Filippo Melchionni, CEO for the Asia-Pacific division at the Ferrari Group, told Reuters. “Every night it is going back to our vault. We have an armored truck to move the stones.”

Several serious buyers have already shown an interest in purchasing the Incomparable Diamond. Singapore does have the world’s highest concentration of millionaires, so there is a good chance a local could take home this amazing necklace. There is a growing demand for colored diamond spurred on by Asian buyers, so even if no one from Singapore submits the winning bid, interested buyers from surrounding nations may be the lucky enthusiasts instead.