Farnese Blue diamond, with 300-year royal history, fetches $6.7 million

At the auction on May 15, the cynosure of the evening was the Farnese Blue Diamond, a 6.16, pear-shaped rarity in an even rarer blue-grey colour

With wedding bells ringing royally loud in London, there’s a sense of déjà vu when it comes to the interest around royal jewellery. That Prince Harry chose diamonds from his mother’s wedding ring for his fiancée elicited a barrage of emotional commentary from national and international media. But a look at the catalogue of Sotheby’s latest Magnificent & Noble Jewels auction in Switzerland makes it clear that the allure of royal jewellery predates the current frenzied reactions from the paparazzi.

At the auction on May 15, the cynosure of the evening was the Farnese Blue Diamond, a 6.16, pear-shaped rarity