Josephine and the Diamonds That Bear Her Name

The Diamonds of Josephine are not just sparkling wonders of the earth — they are legendary gems intertwined with a story of familial affection and record-breaking beauty. The Blue Moon of Josephine is a 12.03-carat fancy vivid blue cushion-cut diamond of extraordinary rarity and brilliance, graded internally flawless and shaped in a cushion cut from a rough stone discovered in South Africa. In November 2015 it was sold at Sotheby’s in Geneva for a breathtaking US $48.4 million, setting world records for the most expensive jewel ever sold at auction and the highest price per carat of any diamond — over $4 million per carat. The Hong Kong billionaire Joseph Lau bought it and named it in honour of his daughter Josephine, weaving her name into its legend. Just one day earlier, Lau had also purchased the Sweet Josephine, a 16.08-carat fancy vivid pink cushion-cut diamond at Christie’s in Geneva for US $28.5 million — a record price for a pink diamond of its kind. This gem, with its warm rosy hue, became one of the largest and rarest “fancy” pink diamonds ever to reach auction. Once in his possession, Lau bestowed upon it the affectionate name Sweet Josephine, again celebrating his daughter’s name and spirit. The story of devotion began even earlier with the Star of Josephine. In 2009, Lau acquired , a 7.03-carat fancy vivid blue cushion-cut diamond at a Sotheby’s auction for about US $9.5 million and renamed it in tribute to young Josephine. This stone anchored the beginning of a remarkable trilogy that now stands as both an emotional and historical legacy. Together, these three diamonds — dazzling in blue and pink fire — shine as symbols of extraordinary rarity, record-breaking auctions, and the personal passion of their owner, forever echoing the name Josephine in the world of gemstones.