Some diamonds carry their birthplace like a signature. The Pragnell Kimberley Sunshine, a 22.09-carat fancy yellow stone from South Africa’s most famous mine, goes under the hammer in Dallas on September 28.
At a glance
- The stone: 22.09-carat cushion-cut fancy yellow diamond, Internally Flawless.
- Origin: the Kimberley Mine, South Africa, with a certificate of origin.
- Maker: set by Pragnell in platinum with 18-karat yellow gold prongs.
- Sale: Heritage Auctions Fall Fine Jewelry Signature Auction, Dallas, September 28, 2026.
- Auction estimate: $200,000–250,000.
What is the Pragnell Kimberley Sunshine diamond?
It is a 22.09-carat cushion-cut diamond graded fancy yellow and Internally Flawless, mined at the Kimberley Mine and set by the British jeweler Pragnell in a platinum ring with tapered shoulders of French- and carré-cut diamonds, according to National Jeweler. It is offered with a GIA Natural Colored Diamond report, Pragnell boxes, a certificate of origin and the original hand-drawn design rendering.
“At more than 22 carats, this diamond’s size alone is extraordinary,” said Jill Burgum, Heritage’s executive director of fine jewelry, in the auction house’s announcement, pointing also to its color, clarity, documented origin and craftsmanship.
What else is in Heritage’s fall jewelry auction?
Yellow diamonds are a theme. National Jeweler lists an Oscar Heyman ring with a 14.11-carat fancy yellow diamond and 4.33 carats of white triangular diamonds, estimated at $100,000–150,000, and a Tiffany & Co. ring with a 5.76-carat fancy yellow diamond at $50,000–70,000. A 22.06-carat round brilliant diamond necklace, K color and I1 clarity, is estimated at $80,000–120,000.
The history: Kimberley and the yellow diamond
The Kimberley Mine is the birthplace of the modern diamond trade. Discovered in 1871, it was dug largely by hand into the vast crater known as the Big Hole before closing in 1914. South Africa’s pipes became known for yellow stones, colored by traces of nitrogen, and the most famous of them all came from the Kimberley mines: the Tiffany Diamond, a 287-carat rough found in 1877 and cut to 128.54 carats. A documented Kimberley origin therefore links a modern stone to one of the richest chapters in diamond history.
Provenance turns a stone into a story, and a story is what collectors remember.
For the Collector
- How to bid: online bidding is open on the Heritage Auctions sale page ahead of the live sale on September 28, 2026.
- Price per carat: the estimate works out to roughly $9,000–11,300 per carat before the buyer’s premium, which is added to the hammer price.
- What drives value: size, color intensity (fancy versus fancy intense or vivid), clarity and documented mine origin; Internally Flawless is rare at this size.
- Keep the paperwork: the GIA report, certificate of origin, boxes and design drawing all support the stone’s story at resale, though past prices don’t predict future value.
- Compare carefully: yellow diamonds are priced very differently from pinks or blues; benchmark only against yellows of similar grade.
Frequently asked questions
What is the auction estimate for the Kimberley Sunshine diamond?
Heritage Auctions estimates the 22.09-carat ring at $200,000–250,000.
Where and when is the sale?
At Heritage Auctions’ Fall Fine Jewelry Signature Auction in Dallas on September 28, 2026, with online bidding already open.
Why are yellow diamonds yellow?
Most natural yellow diamonds owe their color to nitrogen atoms in the crystal lattice, which absorb blue light.
Sources: National Jeweler · Artdaily · Heritage Auctions
