Christie's Geneva Magnificent Jewels sale announced that the 14.62-carat "Oppenheimer Blue," the largest fancy vivid blue diamond ever offered at auction, set a world auction record, selling for more than $58.2 million, including commission and fees.

It was only a year ago that an extraordinary blue diamond, the "Blue Moon of Josephine," was sold at auction for a record price of $48.4 million.

recently, that record was smashed by the "Oppenheimer Blue: diamond. Certainly its pedigree from the original owner Sir Anthony Oppenheimer added to its desirability, but as described by Alan Bronstein, vice president of NCDIA, "the combination of the flavor of the color and the elegance of the shape and cutting, made it a must-have gem for the ages."