According to the London-based auction house Christie's, only three pink diamonds over 10 carats have been put on sale in the past 250 years. One was found in the jewellery collection once owned by the Philippines' former first lady Imelda Marcos- wife of the late former dictator Ferdinand Marcos.
Reuters reported that David Warren, Christie's director of jewellery, said that the diamond alone could be valued up to $5 million. The pieces include a barrel-shaped diamond that would worth at least $5m and a Cartier diamond tiara that is believed to be about $100,000. Warren said that if he didn't know where the collection came from, he would've probably said that it could have come from a royal person. He also added that the collection is extensive, containing very rare pieces.
In a report by The Guardian , it had been suggested that the pieces shall be put in a museum or exhibits and that the jewels have been kept in a vault at the Philippine Central Bank for nearly 30 years.
Andrew de Castro of the presidential commission on good government (PCGG) who was tasked to recover the lavish jewellery collection stated that the set may have significantly risen in value since it was last appraised in 1988 and 1991. He also added that Christie's and Sotheby's auction houses have been appraising the collection to determine its value. Last Monday, the PCGG and the Bureau of Customs (BOC) have also begun their appraisal.
Robert Sison, Imelda Marcos' lawyer, described the appraisal as a "very obvious political stunt". It is believed that The Marcos collection is a part of the ill-gotten wealth of the Marcos family during Ferdinand Marcos' reign. It is divided into three sets - the Roumeliotes, Hawaii and Malacañang collections.
