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Story highlights
- A rare blue diamond has been auctioned in Hong Kong
- The 10.10 carat gem sold for $31.8 million
- It is the most expensive gemstone to be sold at auction in Asia
The 10.10 carat rock, named the De Beers Millennium Jewel 4, is the largest oval-shaped, fancy vivid blue diamond to ever appear at auction world.
Billed by Sotheby's as "yet another wonderful collecting opportunity for connoisseurs worldwide", it has sold for $31.8 million -- which makes it the most expensive gemstone to be sold at an auction in Asia.
Blue Moon
Blue diamonds are considered to be one of the rarest of gems, making up just a small percentage of all diamonds harvested worldwide.
But while this blue beauty has broken all records for sales of the gem in Asia, its value still falls short of the world's most expensive diamond.
Magnificent jewels
The 'De Beers Millennium Jewel 4' went on auction as part of a 270 lot 'Magnificent Jewels and Jadeite', sale by auction house Sotheby's on April 5 in Hong Kong.
The auction included some of the world's rarest colored diamonds.
It currently holds an estimated combined value of over $96 million.