"Evening Star" Diamond, 39-Carat Jewel, Up For Auction

NEW YORK — A 39-carat pear-shaped diamond called the Evening Star is going on the auction block in New York City.

Its pre-sale estimate is between $3.6 million and $5.5 million.

It comes from the same ancient mine in India as the celebrated Hope and Wittelsbach diamonds, known for their luminescent quality.

The Evening Star is one of 10 jewels belonging to a single owner that Christie's is offering in a special sale on Dec. 10. It has not identified the collector.

Christie's says the Wittelsbach diamond holds the record for a jewel sold at auction – more than $24 million at its 2008 London sale.