By Erika W.
The Beau Sancy, a 34.98 carat double rose-cut diamond, sold for $9.7 million at Sotheby's Magnificent Jewels and Noble Jewels Sale in Geneva on May 15. The top lot was bought by an anonymous buyer after an eight minute bidding war, selling for almost five times the low pre-sale estimate of $2-4 million. The diamond has passed through four royal families of France, England, Prussia, and the House of Orange and was worn by Marie de Medici at her coronation as Queen Consort of Henri IV in 1610.
