A bid of $7.8 million was rejected for this 706-carat gem—one of world’s largest diamonds.
Five bids were handed to auctioneers in Sierra Leone. The highest bid, made by Ziad al-Ahmadi on behalf of Belgium diamond dealer Ray Diam, was rejected.
“I regret to inform you however that none of the bids submitted here today matched the government of Sierra Leone’s reserve amount,” said chief auctioneer Sahr Wonday.
Wonday informed the packed room that the government hopes to get higher bids at an international auction in either Antwerp, Belgium, or Tel Aviv, Israel.
