Desert Rose 31-carat diamond to dazzle at Abu Dhabi auction
Sotheby’s, one of the world’s oldest and most prestigious auction houses, is set to host a high-profile luxury auction and cultural event, “Abu Dhabi Collectors’ Week,” from December 2 to 5 at The St. Regis Saadiyat Island Resort. The event, timed to coincide with major happenings like the Formula 1 Grand Prix, Abu Dhabi Finance Week, and the Milken Institute Middle East and Africa Summit, will feature auctions, masterclasses, panel discussions, and exhibitions, attracting global collectors, luxury enthusiasts, and investors.
The centerpiece of the auction is the “Desert Rose,” a 31.86-carat fancy vivid orangy-pink diamond. This pear-shaped gem, the largest of its kind ever graded, will make its auction debut in Abu Dhabi after being showcased in April 2025. It carries a pre-sale estimate of $5-7 million and is part of a single-owner collection of rare jewels and timepieces valued at over $20 million.
The auction will also feature extraordinary timepieces, including the Star Caliber 2000 four-watch set by Patek Philippe, estimated at over $10 million, and the rare Rolex Oyster “Albino” Daytona (1960s-70s), with a pre-sale estimate of $500,000 to $1 million.
The auction will also feature extraordinary timepieces, including the Star Caliber 2000 four-watch set by Patek Philippe, estimated at over $10 million, and the rare Rolex Oyster “Albino” Daytona (1960s-70s), with a pre-sale estimate of $500,000 to $1 million. Luxury automobiles are another highlight. Sotheby’s, in collaboration with McLaren Racing, will auction three future competition cars in the “Triple Crown Project,” offering buyers VIP experiences including factory tours and race access. Other notable cars include a 2017 Pagani Zonda 760 Riviera (estimated $9.5-10.5 million) and a 2010 Aston Martin One-77 ($1.3-1.6 million).
Collectors’ Week will also offer rare Hermès pieces, including the Le Birkin Voyageur owned by Jane Birkin from 2003 to 2007, estimated at $230,000-$430,000. In real estate, two luxury properties will go under the hammer: a French Riviera waterfront estate listed at €35 million ($40.6 million) and a Zaha Hadid-designed apartment-hotel in Graz, Austria, valued at €19 million ($23.2 million).
The event, organized in partnership with the Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO), underlines the region’s growing influence in global luxury, art, and culture markets. Sotheby’s previous sale in Saudi Arabia this year marked the company’s first major foothold in the Middle East, and Abu Dhabi Collectors’ Week reflects its strategic expansion into the region.
With high-value jewelry, rare automobiles, luxury watches, and iconic real estate, the Abu Dhabi auction is expected to draw significant attention from collectors worldwide, signaling a new era of luxury commerce in the Middle East.