Over $100 Million of Diamonds Presented by Sotheby’s in Abu Dhabi
Abu Dhabi, 2025 – At the Bassam Freiha Art Foundation on Saadiyat Island, Sotheby’s staged one of the most important diamond exhibitions ever presented in the Middle East. Valued at more than $100 million, the collection brought together some of the rarest and most valuable gems in existence.
102.60 carat round diamond, D colour, VVS1 clarity and a 40.29 carat radiant cut Fancy Light Pink Diamond
Among the highlights was The Mediterranean Blue, a 10.03-carat Fancy Vivid Blue diamond making its public debut ahead of auction in Geneva, with an estimate of around $20 million. Alongside it, The Desert Rose, a 31.68-carat Fancy Vivid Orangy Pink pear-shape of VVS1 clarity, radiated with exceptional depth of color.
The exhibition also included monumental stones such as the Golden Canary Necklace, set with a 303.10-carat Fancy Deep Brownish Yellow diamond of Internally Flawless clarity; a 100.20-carat D-color emerald cut, Internally Flawless; and a 102.60-carat D-color round brilliant, VVS1. Adding to the rarity, a 5.05-carat red diamond, cut in a square emerald form, was among the very few red diamonds known to exist.
Collectors flocked to the Bassam Freiha Art Foundation in Abu Dhabi on 9–10 April 2025 to view a once-in-a-generation display of natural diamonds. After its brief run, the exhibition concluded, and the gems moved on to their next chapter — auction previews, sales, or private viewings elsewhere.
Photography courtesy of Sotheby’s.
Gem Exploring Editorial.
