Geneva: Indian diamond fetches 16.9 million euros at auction

London: A 76-carat flawless diamond from India's famous Golconda mines broke world record by fetching a whooping 16.9 million euros (Rs 1,18,16,98,700) at an auction in Geneva. The cushion shaped diamond of perfect D colour from the ancient mines, where the famous Koh-i-Noor and Blue Hope diamond originated, fetched a record price at an auction late last night, Guardian reported quoting an announcement by the Christie's.

"It is a world record for a Golconda diamond and a world record price per carat for a colourless diamond. It is comparable in its noble lineage and superb quality to the legendary Koh-i-noor," Francois Curiel, director of the international jewellery department at Christie's said, adding that it was sold to an anonymous bidder and may apparently be on its way to a museum.

The rare colourless diamond, weighing 76-carat was named after Austria's Archduke Joseph August, a prince of the Hungarian line of the Hapsburgs, who reportedly deposited it in a bank vault in 1933. "Three years later it was sold to a European banker, and kept in France, locked away in a safe deposit box, where fortunately it remained undiscovered during the second world war," the auction house said.

The rare colourless diamond, weighing 76-carat was named after Austria\'s Archduke Joseph August.

It surfaced at auction in 1961 and again at Christie's in November 1993, netting 4 million euros at the time. The stone was subsequently "slightly recut".

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