Sotheby’s didn’t sell a 72.22-carat, “D” flawless white diamond at its Asian diamond sale last week. The large diamond which had a pre-sale estimate of $10-12 million, attracted a final bid of HK$73 million ($9.24million).

But never fear the diamond was later sold to a private buyer for an undisclosed sum.

The stone (pictured left) was the third largest “pear-shaped” diamond ever auctioned globally, and was of exceptional quality.

The next big test could be a massive 101-carat, “near-flawless”, squash-ball sized diamond which will be sold by rival auction Christie’s next month in Hong Kong, in what’s being dubbed the largest diamond ever auctioned in Asia and could fetch $6 million.

(Photo and info from Reuters)