SA 110.03-carat yellow gem may fetch R100m

King has been in the diamond grading industry for more than 30 years and, despite the GIA analysing and grading over two million diamonds a year, described the South African gem as a highlight of his career. "The rarity of a naturally occurring diamond like the Sun-Drop is just astronomical ... it has been graded Fancy Vivid Yellow, the highest colour grading for a yellow diamond," said King.

The Sun-Drop will be auctioned by Sotheby's in Geneva in November. Spokesman Marie-Beatrice Morin said the diamond was cut and polished by Cora International in New York, one of the world's leading manufacturers and diamond dealers. The Sun-Drop, she said, "comes to the market with an estimate of between $11-million and $15-million".

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