CHRISTIE'S SELL 32.01 ANNENBERG DIAMOND FOR $7.7 MILLION

A SQUARE, 32.01 CARAT EMERALD-CUT DIAMOND THAT BILLIONAIRE PHILANTHROPIST LEONORE ANNENBERG BOUGHT FOR HER 90th BIRTHDAY HAS BEEN SOLD FOR $7.7 MILLION AT A NEW YORK CITY AUCTION. ABOUT THE SIZE OF A WALNUT, THE FLAWLESS DIAMOND SITS ON A RING, FLANKED ON BOTH SIDES BY SMALLER PEAR-SHAPED DIAMONDS. IT WAS DESIGNED BY MANHATTAN JEWELER DAVID WEBB. CHRISTIE'S HAD ESTIMATED IT WOULD SELL FOR $3 TI $5 MILLION. THE AUCTION HOUSE SAID THE PREVIOUS RECORD FOR A 30 CARAT SQUARE CUT DIAMOND WAS $3.1 MILLION. THE BUYER OF THE STUNNING DIAMOND WAS NOT IMMEDIATELY IDENTIFIED. ANNENBERG DIED IN MARCH AT THE AGE OF 91. SHE WAS THE US CHIEF OF PROTOCOL IN THE REAGAN ADMINISTRATION, HER HUSBAND WAS BILLIONAIRE PUBLISHER WALTER ANNENBERG WHO DIED IN 2002.