Sotheby’s has unveiled the 31.68-carat ‘Desert Rose’ diamond as the star lot of its upcoming Abu Dhabi jewellery auction, assigning the rare gemstone a presale estimate of $5 million to $7 million. The sale will take place on December 5, 2025, during the auction house’s inaugural Collectors’ Week, a new event bringing together luxury categories including jewellery, watches, automobiles and design.

Graded by the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) as a Fancy Vivid Orangy Pink with VVS1 clarity, the pear-shaped Desert Rose holds the distinction of being the largest diamond of its classification ever recorded by GIA. Its combination of size, intense colour saturation and exceptional clarity has positioned it among the most important pink diamonds to appear at auction in recent years.

Sotheby’s noted that the valuation reflects continued global appetite for top-quality coloured diamonds, a segment that has shown resilience despite broader softening in the white diamond market. Large natural pink diamonds, especially vivid stones above 30 carats, remain exceptionally scarce and highly sought after by collectors.

Industry observers point out that the sale highlights the UAE’s rising profile as a hub for high-value gemstones and luxury collecting. International auction houses have increasingly expanded into Abu Dhabi and Dubai over the past five years, driven by demand from private collectors, family offices and regional wealth centres.

The performance of the Desert Rose diamond is expected to set a benchmark for the coloured-diamond market heading into 2026, offering insight into buyer sentiment for ultra-rare natural stones.