A cheap-looking family heirloom turned out to be a rare diamond worth £1m.
The owner, named Laura, thought the gem was just a rose quartz.
She was left the stone by her late grandmother.
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Even though it was set in a platinum Bulgari ‘Trombino’ ring, she wore it for years, thinking the stone was just quartz.
She said it reminded her of her beloved gran.
Laura recently had the ring evaluated by experts at the Aste Bolaffi auction house in Turin, Italy.
To her amazement, she learned it held one of the rarest gems in the world: a 3.18-carat natural pink diamond set in the platinum Bulgari ring from the early 1970s.
She was left in shock when they told her it is valued at between £697,625 (€800,000) and £1m (€1.2m).
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The diamond, a rectangular step cut, is GIA certified as Natural Fancy Intense Pink, VS2, Type IIa, characteristics that make it unique on the international collector’s scene.
It is surrounded by 64 brilliant-cut and baguette-cut diamonds, for a total of 1.93 carats, as reported by What’s The Jam.
It will be the star of the Aste Bolaffi jewellery auction taking place on 7 October and online the following day.
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Aste Bolaffi specialist Matteo Armandi said: “A natural pink diamond is already a highly sought-after piece, but anything over three carats becomes an absolute rarity.
“If it’s then set in a Bulgari creation, it becomes one of a kind.
“Whoever is lucky enough to win the lot will not only own an incredible gem, but also a one-of-a-kind piece.”
The auction catalogue includes around 530 lots, dating from the early 19th century to the 2000s.
It will include bid items from esteemed jewellery houses such as Cartier, Van Cleef & Arpels, and Pomellato.
Other lots include a floral-motif brooch in platinum and diamonds by Frascarolo, a gold clutch bag by Massoni Rome, and a 1951 Diorama bracelet by Christian Dior in white gold and pavé diamonds.
But the Bulgari Trombino with the 3.18-carat pink diamond is destined to steal the show.
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