A round Fancy Intense Pink diamond of 12.04 carats, an extremely rare diamond, will be a highlight at Christie’s sale of Hong Kong Magnificent Jewels on 29 May 2012. This is the largest round Fancy Intense Pink diamond to ever appear at auction, according to the auction house.

The property of a prominent Private collector, this pink stone was purchased from Harry Winston in 1976 the very same year, the United States launched its first satellite on a mission to Mars. The Viking landers were the pioneering spacecrafts to first land on Mars, carrying with them the American flag across millions of miles of interplanetary space. Ronald Winston was inspired by the intense pink colour of the diamond and named it Martian Pink to honour and celebrate this historic event.

Christie’s sale of Hong Kong Magnificent Jewels will be held at the Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Centre Hong Kong.