On December 3 Heritage Auctions conducted a Signature jewelry auction that was led by a record-breaking 9.26-carat unmounted, emerald-cut diamond that sold at $902,500, including the buyer’s premium. Setting a new house record for jewelry, the totally colorless and internally flawless diamond is classified as Type IIa, very rare in nature and found in less than two percent of the world’s diamonds.

Sold to an unidentified private individual bidding by phone, the diamond “is about as perfect as a diamond can get,” said Jill Burgum, director of fine jewelry at Heritage.

The Type IIa diamond marks the second time this year a gem has set a house record at Heritage: an 8.99-carat Kashmir sapphire ring brought $527,500 in April.

The December 3 auction presented a broad range of jewelry highlights, and a complete review will appear a future issue.