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Few natural wonders embody both rarity and romance as profoundly as a pink diamond. This November, Sotheby’s Geneva unveils one such marvel: The Glowing Rose, a 10.08-carat cushion brilliant-cut Fancy Vivid Pink diamond whose pure, luminous hue and crystalline clarity place it among the most coveted gemstones ever unearthed.
Headlining the auction house’s High Jewellery Sale at the Mandarin Oriental on 12 November 2025, The Glowing Rose marks a historic moment—it is only the third cushion-cut vivid pink diamond over 10 carats to come to auction in the past decade. With an estimated value in the region of $20 million (CHF 16 million), this one-of-a-kind stone continues Sotheby’s remarkable streak following the record-setting sale of The Mediterranean Blue earlier this year.
With the current high global demand for rare coloured diamonds, the chance to offer The Glowing Rose, a superb and extremely rare coloured diamond, makes this auction moment truly exciting.
Jessica Wyndham, Head of High Jewellery, Sotheby’s Geneva
A Colour Beyond Compare
The diamond’s name perfectly captures its essence: a glowing, natural pink of remarkable intensity, untouched by the modifying hues so often present in coloured stones. Its Fancy Vivid classification—the highest colour grade awarded by the Gemological Institute of America—reflects a saturation that is both rich and luminous, the kind of tone that collectors and connoisseurs pursue for decades.
Scientifically, the allure of pink diamonds lies in their mystery. Unlike yellow or blue diamonds, whose colours arise from trace elements, pink diamonds owe their hue to minute distortions in the crystal lattice during formation—an extraordinary geological quirk that bends light to create an inner blush unseen in any other gem. In this case, The Glowing Rose’s optical purity is further enhanced by its classification as a Type IIa diamond, a subgroup representing less than 2% of all gem-quality stones, known for their exceptional transparency and chemical purity.
Such characteristics are vanishingly rare. Of all diamonds graded by the GIA, less than 0.01% are coloured, and of these, only a tiny fraction—less than 0.0001%—exhibit a vivid pink hue. At over 10 carats, The Glowing Rose belongs to an elite lineage of record-breaking pinks, joining the ranks of The Williamson Pink Star (11.15 carats, sold for $57.7 million in 2022) and The Eternal Pink (10.57 carats, sold for $34.8 million in 2023).
Cushion Cut Brilliance and Symbolism
The diamond’s cushion brilliant cut—a style celebrated for its ability to amplify depth and colour—lends The Glowing Rose an unmistakable charm. With cushion shapes recently back in the spotlight, notably through Taylor Swift’s engagement ring, this gem’s contours harmonise tradition and modern allure. Its soft edges and radiant geometry invite light to dance across every facet, illuminating its inner fire and warmth.
Historically favoured for coloured diamonds, the cushion cut represents the perfect balance between optical performance and emotional resonance—a form that enhances saturation while evoking timeless femininity and elegance.
An Ethical Provenance
The story of The Glowing Rose begins deep within the earth in Angola, where a 21-carat rough diamond was discovered in 2023. Responsibly mined and traded under the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme, the gem stands as a testament to both nature’s generosity and modern ethical sourcing standards. In a market increasingly attentive to transparency, such provenance adds a vital layer of integrity to its beauty—one that resonates with today’s most discerning collectors.
The Artistry of Boodles
For its auction debut, Sotheby’s entrusted British heritage jeweller Boodles—renowned for its mastery of pink diamonds—with designing a mount worthy of this treasure. The resulting ring blends geometry and grace: a geometric star collet rises from the finger, echoing the facets of the central stone, while Argyle pink diamonds glimmer within the structure.
The platinum band is adorned with baguette and brilliant-cut white diamonds flowing fluidly around the finger, their cool brilliance contrasting the vivid warmth of the pink centre. A subtle chevron of pinks at each edge pays homage to the collet’s geometry, while Single Mine Origin pink gold enriches the composition with a soft, rosy undertone—a thoughtful detail that reinforces both design coherence and ethical consciousness.
Boodles is delighted to partner with Sotheby’s in bringing our distinctive design and exquisite setting to this most spectacular and important of vivid pink diamonds.
Jody Wainwright, Managing Director, Boodles
A Legacy in the Making
Over the past two decades, pink diamonds have defined the upper echelons of auction history, representing five of the ten most valuable jewels ever sold. With the closure of Australia’s famed Argyle mine—the source of over 90% of the world’s pinks—the appearance of such a stone now feels almost mythic. In The Glowing Rose, collectors witness not just a gemstone, but the convergence of natural wonder, scientific rarity, and artistic excellence.
As Sotheby’s prepares to unveil this exceptional diamond in Singapore, Taipei, and finally Geneva, the world of high jewellery turns its gaze once more to the power of colour—and to the ineffable magic of a single, glowing rose.
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