DUBAI, UAE: A giant diamond, nicknamed, The Rock, went on display for the first time in Dubai, prior to an auction where it is expected to fetch up to $30 million.

Auction house Christie’s said the pear-shaped diamond, weighing 228.31-carat and mined and polished in South Africa more than 20 years ago, is the largest white diamond ever to come to auction.

On display from 26th to 29th March at Christie’s Dubai, The Rock will travel to Taipei, New York and Geneva, where it will be auctioned on 11th May.

Rahul Kadakia, international head of jewelry at Christie’s, told the AFP, “The Middle East has always had such a great appreciation for important jewels and gemstones. We thought it would be nice for us to launch the diamond in an area where there are so many great collectors for important gems of this nature.”

In a statement, Christie’s said the diamond is “G color, VS1 clarity” and is the “largest existing D-Z color pear-shaped diamond ever graded by the Gemological Institute of America.”

The previous auction record for the largest colorless diamond, weighing 163.41 carat and sold in November 2017, was $33.7 million, Christie’s added.

Earlier this year, Sotheby’s in London sold The Enigma, the largest cut diamond to be auctioned at 555.55 carats for $4.3 million.