The Associated Press

The largest fancy vivid blue diamond to ever come to auction sold Tuesday for more than $44 million, far outstripping the pre-sale estimate, Christie&#8217;s said.<div class="paywall-selector"></div><div class="paywall">



The “Bleu Royal” — a ring featuring a fancy vivid blue pear-shaped diamond of 17.61 carats — was one of the standout pieces to go under the hammer at the auction house for Geneva’s Luxury Week.



Christie’s had estimated the ring would fetch around $35 million.



The auction house said the sale made the “Bleu Royal” the most expensive jewel sold at auction this year.



Christie&#8217;s said the gemstone would be handed over to another private collection for the first time in 40 years.</div>

Christie’s said the sale made the “Bleu Royal” the most expensive jewel of any kind sold at auction this year.

'Bleu Royal,' the biggest vivid blue diamond ever auctioned, sells for $44 million

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‘Bleu Royal,’ the biggest vivid blue diamond ever auctioned, sells for $44 million

'Bleu Royal,' the biggest vivid blue diamond ever auctioned, sells for $44 million | Fortune

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