"Ocean Dream," a 5.5-carat fancy vivid blue-green diamond cut from an 11.70-carat rough, sold at Christie's for 13.6 million Swiss francs (about $17.3 million), a new auction record for its color class. Mined in Central Africa in the 1990s and classified as type Ia, the triangular gem was displayed at the Smithsonian's 2003 "Splendor of Diamonds" exhibition. Three bidders competed for the stone; the buyer opted to remain anonymous. The diamond had previously sold in 2014 for $8.5 million.
Rare 'Ocean Dream' Blue-Green Diamond Fetches Record $17M at Christie's
'The Ocean Dream' shown during a press preview at Christie’s auction house in Geneva, on May 7, 2026 (Fabrice COFFRINI)(Fabrice COFFRINI/AFP/AFP)
"Ocean Dream," the largest blue-green diamond on record, sold at Christie's on Wednesday for 13.6 million Swiss francs (about $17.3 million), establishing a new auction record for a blue-green diamond.
The polished gem weighs 5.5 carats and was recovered from a Central African mine in the 1990s. It was cut from an 11.70-carat rough stone and is classified as type Ia, a designation that indicates exceptional natural purity. Christie's described the fancy vivid blue-green diamond as triangular and, in the words of Max Fawcett, Global Head of Christie's Jewellery, "the size of the nail on your smallest finger."
Three bidders from different regions competed for the stone at Wednesday's sale; the successful purchaser chose to remain anonymous. Christie's also noted that the diamond previously sold in 2014 for $8.5 million to a private Asian collector.
After cutting, the gem was exhibited in 2003 at the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of Natural History as part of the "Splendor of Diamonds" exhibition, which showcased an array of rare colored diamonds including the Moussaieff Red and the De Beers Millennium Star.
Why This Sale Matters
The combination of vivid blue-green color, substantial five-carat weight and type Ia purity makes "Ocean Dream" exceptionally rare. Greenish hues are uncommon even in much smaller stones, so a five-carat specimen of this quality attracts strong collector demand and commands record prices at auction.
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