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3-Carat Blue Diamond Could Fetch $6.3 Million At Sotheby’s Geneva Auction

Live jewelry auctions are returning with the first one being held in Geneva by Sotheby’s on June 23 offering a diverse collection of statement diamonds, colored gems and historic jewels.

Sotheby’s Part II Magnificent Jewels & Nobel Jewels – Geneva sale was originally scheduled for May but was postponed due to the novel coronavirus pandemic. The effects of the worldwide spread of this infectious disease is still being felt as dramatically reduced travel and freight shipments have hampered the efforts of jewelry specialists to assess gems and jewels. Most likely because of this and the scheduling changes the sale consists of only 48 lots, far fewer than usual for a live international auction. However, there will be a strong and varied selection gems and jewels.

The live sale is accompanied by an online auction, Sotheby’s Part I Magnificent Jewels & Nobel Jewels – Geneva, with 178 lots dating from the 19th century through to the present day. It includes jewels from renowned jewelry houses, including Sterlé, Suzanne Belperron, René Boivin and Hemmerle. This sale has begun and will run till June 24.

Not surprisingly colored diamonds are among the top lots in live sale, with blues, pinks and yellows dominating. The auction is led by a 3.01-carat fancy vivid blue step-cut, diamond. The colored gem set on a ring has a clarity grade of VS1 (very small inclusions), according to the Gemological Institute of America report. Its estimate is $4.3 – $6.3 million.Most Popular In: Watches & Jewelry

7-carat fancy intense light pink diamond, estimate: $2.5 – $3.5 million SOTHEBY’S

It’s followed by a 7-carat marquise-shaped fancy intense pink diamond. It received a clarity grade of VVS2 (very, very small inclusions) by the GIA. It is set on a ring flanked by fancy-shaped diamonds and with a shank lined with brilliant-cut diamonds. It’s the first time this diamond has come to auction in more than 30 years, where it has been kept in the same private collection. Its estimate is $2.5 – $3.5 million.

There’s also a selection of large, colorless diamonds led by a 21.56-carat D color, VVS1 clarity diamond by Lorraine Schwartz, an American bespoke high jewelry designer with a large celebrity clientele. The gem has excellent polish and symmetry, according to the GIA report.

The Duchess of Manchester's emerald and diamond necklace, estimate: $300,000 - $400,000 — The Duchess of Manchester’s emerald and diamond necklace, estimate: $300,000 – $400,000 SOTHEBY’S

Among the noble jewels in the sale, the standout is an emerald and diamond necklace owned by Consuelo Montagu (1853-1909), Duchess of Manchester, which was given to her as a wedding gift. Born in New York to parents of Cuban descent, she was known for her match-making skills, inspiring her wealthy friends to find suitable husbands in the United Kingdom, according to the auction house. Her ability to bring together American fortunes with noble titles led to the coining of the phrase “Million Dollar Princesses.” This antique jewel was displayed at the Victoria & Albert Museum in London for 22 years. Its estimate is $300,000 – $400,000.

Cartier diamond bracelet and pair of diamond clips, circa 1930 SOTHEBY’S

In addition, there’s a collection of jewels owned by Baroness Bachofen von Echt (1877 – 1959), a New York native who became German nobility through marriage. Pieces from her collection includes a diamond bracelet (estimate $100,000 – $150,000) and diamond clips (estimate $60,000 – $100,000), both made by Cartier, along with creations by Verdura and Hemmerle.

Two impressive sapphires are included in the sale. The first is a 105.58-carat Ceylon sapphire set on a gold ring. The gem is accompanied by reports from the Swiss Gemmological Institute (SSEF) and from Gübelin that both state that there are no indications of heating, with “a few minor nicks and chips consistent with normal wear.” Its estimate is $500,000 – $700,000.

16.11-carat Kashmir sapphire, estimate: $300,000 - $500,000 — 16.11-carat Kashmir sapphire, estimate: $300,000 – $500,000 SOTHEBY’S

The second is a 16.11-carat Kashmir sapphire set on an 18k gold and diamond ring. The gem is accompanied by two reports from the Swiss Gemmological Institute and from Gübelin that both state that there are no indications of heating and in “very good condition.” Its estimate is $300,000 – $500,000

The continued importance of signed jewels is evident in this sale with pieces from historic and contemporary jewelry houses, including Bulgari, Cartier, Fred, Furst. Harry Winston, Hemmerle, René Bovin, Tiffany & Co. and Van Cleef & Arpels.

Cartier diamond bracelet, Course de Feuillage, 1926, estimate: $200,000 - $300,000 — Cartier diamond bracelet, Course de Feuillage, 1926, estimate: $200,000 – $300,000 SOTHEBY’S

One of the standouts in this group is a Cartier diamond and platinum bracelet, Course de Feuillage, 1926. The entire bracelet is set with circular-, single-cut and baguette diamonds that combines geometric shapes with the stylized representation of leaves. Its estimate is $200,000 – $300,000.

Source: forbes.com

Sotheby’s Expects $26M for Pink Diamond

A 10.64 carat pink diamond ring worth up to $25.5 million will go under the hammer at Sotheby’s Hong Kong sale.

The fancy vivid purplish pink center stone is internally flawless, the auction house told Rapaport News Friday. Sotheby’s will offer the piece, which is flanked by white diamonds, at its Magnificent Jewels and Jadeite sale on October 7. The ring has a presale estimate of $19.1 to $25.5 million USD.

Pink diamonds have historically done well at auction, with the Pink Promise, a 14.93 carat, fancy vivid pink, fetching $32 million USD at Christie’s Hong Kong sale in 2017. In November, Harry Winston purchased the Pink Legacy, an 18.96 carat, fancy vivid pink diamond, at Christie’s Geneva auction for $50.4 million USD.

Prices of pink fancy color diamonds increased 0.4% in the three months ending June 30, outperforming blues and yellows, the Fancy Color Research Foundation noted. The imminent closure of Rio Tinto’s Argyle mine in Australia has contributed to the price rise, as the deposit produces most of the world’s pinks, explained Alan Bronstein, president of the Natural Color Diamond Association.

Source: Diamonds.net

88 Carat Flawless Diamond Fetches $13.7 Million USD

A flawless 88.22 carat diamond fetched more than $13.7 million at the Hong Kong Sale of Magnificent Jewels and Jadeite held Tuesday.

The total, which includes commissions and fees, surpassed the high estimate of $12.7 million. The D color, type Ila, oval brilliant diamond was the top lot in the sale of 2oo items.

A Japanese private collector purchased the stone and named it the “Manami Star,” after his eldest daughter.

“We were thrilled to handle a diamond of such rarity, which now takes its place in the roster of top white diamonds to have come to the market here at Sotheby’s Asia,” said Patti Wong, Sotheby’s chairman in Asia.

Royal Blue Diamond Surfaces After 300 Years

Sotheby’s will offer the historic Farnese Blue diamond at its Geneva sale in May, the first time it has been on the market.

The pear-shaped, 6.16-carat, fancy dark grey-blue stone — originally given to Queen Elisabeth Farnese of Spain as a wedding gift following her marriage to King Philip V in 1714 — has spent 300 years in the private collection of Europe’s royal families. The diamond will go under the hammer at the Magnificent Jewels and Noble Jewels auction on May 15 with an estimated price of $3.7 million to $5.3 million. Originating in the Golconda mines of India, it has traveled from Spain to France, Italy and Austria over the last three centuries.

The family kept the diamond in a secret royal casket, and, other than family members and the royal jewelers, no one knew of its existence.

“With its incredible pedigree, the Farnese Blue ranks among the most important historic diamonds in the world,” said Philipp Herzog von Württemberg, chairman of Sotheby’s Europe and managing director of Sotheby’s Germany.

Queen Elisabeth passed the Farnese Blue to her son Philip, duke of Parma, whose son Ferdinand inherited it and passed it to his son Louis I, king of Etruria. Louis’s grandson, Charles II, duke of Lucca, passed it to his grandson, Robert I, the last ruling duke of Parma, who took the stone from Italy to Austria. He then mounted the stone on a diadem that had belonged to his mother, Louise Marie Thérèse of Artois. Upon the death of Robert I, the stone passed to his son Elias of Bourbon, duke of Parma. His wife, Maria Anna von Habsburg — who died in 1940 — recorded the stone’s history.

The Farnese Blue will appear at Sotheby’s in Hong Kong, London, New York, Singapore and Taipei, before coming to Geneva for display prior to the sale.

Source: diamonds.net

World’s largest rarest and most valuable D Flawless round diamond

102.34 carat D colour Flawless round diamond

To celebrate its one year anniversary, this morning Sotheby’s Diamonds revealed its most exceptional gem to date: a 102.34 carat, D Flawless, Type IIA round brilliant diamond, which the auction house describes as “the rarest and most valuable white diamond ever to come to market”.

The diamond was cut from a 425-carat rough mined by the De Beers group in Botswana. The cutting process took over six months and required the diamond to be transported between Johannesburg and New York.

37 carat Pink Diamond Up for Sale

Sotheby’s Auctioneers announced the upcoming auction of the Raj Pink diamond.

Weighing 37.30 carats the Pink diamond is the largest Fancy Intense Pink Diamond, according to Sotheby’s.

The Pink Diamond will feature at the auction house’s Magnificent Jewels in Geneva next month, and is estimated to fetch $20 million to $30 million USD.

The Original Rough Diamond was studied for over a year before the master cutter finished the polished Raj Pink Modified Cushion Brilliant cut