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A rare pink diamond sold at auction today for a record £14.86 million.
The 14.23-carat rectangular gem, known as the Perfect Pink, went under the hammer at British art auction house Christie's Hong Kong saleroom, where it was bought by an anonymous bidder.
It was a record price for a jewel sold at auction in Asia. Another record was broken by the total raised by the Jewels: The Hong Kong Sale, which at £50,601,648 was the highest amount Christie's had yet raised at a jewellery sale worldwide.
Vickie Sek, director of the jewellery and jadeite department for Christie's Asia, said: "The strength of the jewellery market was once again demonstrated in Hong Kong with a record 78.9 million dollars (£50.6m) auction making it the highest total ever for a jewellery auction in Asia and the largest at Christie's worldwide.
"At 23.2 million dollars (£14.86m), the Perfect Pink became the most expensive jewel ever sold at auction in Asia.
"Exceptional Burmese rubies and Kashmir sapphire also fetched top prices, as did jadeite which remains in great demand with Asian collectors."
Christie's said only 18 pink diamonds over 10 carats had appeared for sale in the auction house's 244-year history, with the Perfect Pink the first to be graded a "fancy intense pink".
A spokesman added: "Large, polished pink diamonds with this intensity of colour are virtually unheard of - in fact, fewer than 10% of pink diamonds weigh more than 0.20 carats."
The diamond's previous owner also wished to remain anonymous.
Prices included the buyers' premium.
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