Abu Dhabi is about to get a sparkling treat. On April 8, the city will play host to the grand unveiling of one of the world’s rarest gems — a 10.3-carat vivid blue diamond called The Mediterranean Blue, which is valued at a jaw-dropping $20 million (Dh73.4 million).

Set to be displayed at the stunning Bassam Freiha Art Foundation on Saadiyat Island, home to the Louvre Abu Dhabi and the upcoming Guggenheim, this dazzling beauty is already making waves. Sotheby’s, the world-famous auction house, will later put it up for sale at its Geneva High Jewellery auction on May 13.

So, what makes the Mediterranean Blue so special? For starters, vivid blue diamonds of this size are very rare. This particular gem has the highest colour grading for a blue diamond from the Gemological Institute of America (GIA). The Mediterranean Blue is Type IIb, a classification that represents less than 0.5 per cent of all diamonds.

“Any vivid blue diamond is a discovery worth celebrating, but one of this size and depth of colour is a rare event,” said Quig Bruning, Sotheby’s Head of Jewellery for the Americas & EMEA.

Originally a whopping 31.94-carat rough diamond, The Mediterranean Blue was found in South Africa’s Cullinan mine in 2023. It took an entire year of careful study and another six months of expert cutting and polishing to bring out its breathtaking brilliance.

Sotheby’s hasn’t hosted a public exhibition in Abu Dhabi since 2009, making this unveiling an extra special occasion.

(Source: Instagram, forbes.com)