Manila—A rare pink diamond was found in the jewelry collection of former first lady Imelda Marcos.
The rare gemstone is a 25-carat, barrel-shaped pink diamond, said Christie’s, an international auction house commissioned by the government to appraise the Marcos’ jewellery collection.
“We had an extremely exciting find. We found an old briolette-cut diamond, which is 25 carats. It has a distinct pink color. Pink diamonds are exceedingly rare,” David Warren, Senior International Jewellery Director of Christie told the Philippine Star.
The rare pink diamond has an appraisal value of $5 million and may increase the value of Marcos’ jewellery collection if it will be auctioned as whole. The jewellery collection of Marcos was seized thirty years ago when his husband, Ferdinand Marcos was ousted from power.
To date, only 3 pure pink diamonds of more than 10 carats have surfaced in the last two and a half centuries of auction history, said Christie’s.
“This will significantly open the way for determining a final resolution on the said assets, including possible auction,” Commissioner Andrew de Castro of the Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG) told the Philippine Star.
The jewellery collection of Marcos, dubbed as the Hawaii Collection is believed to be part of the ill-gotten wealth of the family.