The value of rare, large and high-quality diamonds and other gemstones remains high. At auction house Christie's in December 2008, the legendary 35.52-carat Wittelsbach diamond, at one time ensconced in the Bavarian Crown Jewels, was put on the block, with expectations of a sale in the $15 million range. It sold for a record-shattering $24.3 million.
The massive 478-carat diamond recently discovered at the Leseng mine in the African kingdom of Lesotho, once it is cut and polished, is projected to sell for far more. Its large soon-to-be-cut size—expected to be bigger than the famed 105-carat round-cut Koh-i-Noor diamond nestled in the British Crown Jewels—should bring close to $50 million at auction, reports indicate.
But sales of more modest jewels are also projected to increase this year, and with them the need for proper protection through security and insurance.
Enter, Stage Left, the Pink Panthers
