Friday, May 20, 2011

New World Record Prices at Christie's Geneva

CHRISTIE’S GENEVA

SETS NEW WORLD RECORD PRICES

FOR A HEART-SHAPED DIAMOND

FOR ANY SAPPHIRE

FOR ANY INDIAN JEWEL

SOLD AT AUCTION

Christie's sale of magnificent jewels in Geneva achieved a total of more than $78M, the highest result for any jewellery auction ever held by the auction house in Switzerland. The top lot was a 56 ct heart-shaped diamond, which sold for more than $10M becoming the most expensive heart-shaped diamond ever sold at auction.

François Curiel, President of Christie's Switzerland :

“The jewellery sale in Geneva was marked by strong bidding with moments of passionate enthusiasm, exemplified by an antique Imperial Mughal spinel necklace realising more than $5M. While the ‘blue chip’ diamonds and coloured diamonds were in great demand, a 130 ct Burmese sapphire stole the show at $7.1M. Forty-two years after our first sale in Switzerland, Geneva remains a vital, specialised auction centre in today’s global market.”

The TOP LOT of the sale was a

heart-shaped D colour, internally flawless, type IIa diamond

of 56.15 cts which sold for US$ 10,946,422,

becoming a world auction record for any heart-shaped diamond.

Previous record for a heart-shaped diamond:
Heart of the Desert Diamond
A heart-shaped D, internally flawless, diamond of 64.42 cts
Sold on 16 November 1994 at Sotheby’s Geneva for US$ 5,248,846

A cushion-cut Burmese sapphire of 130.50 cts sold for US$7,122,742, achieving a new world record price for a sapphire at auction (illustrated right).

Previous record for a sapphire:
A cushion-cut Kashmir sapphire ring
of 42.48 cts
Sold on 28 November 2008 at Christie's Geneva for US$ 3,475,210

An Imperial Mughal spinel necklace sold for US$ 5,210,902 setting a world record price for any Indian jewel at auction (illustrated left).

Previous record for an Indian jewel:
A Mughal ruby, emerald and jade covered flask
North India, first half of 17th Century
The Clive of India Treasure
Sold on 27 April 2004 at Christie’s London for US$ 5,210,209

About Christie’s
Christie’s, the world's leading art business had global auction and private sales in 2010 that totaled £3.3 billion/$5.0 billion. Christie’s is a name and place that speaks of extraordinary art, unparalleled service and expertise, as well as international glamour. Founded in 1766 by James Christie, Christie's conducted the greatest auctions of the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries, and today remains a popular showcase for the unique and the beautiful. Christie’s offers over 450 sales annually in over 80 categories, including all areas of fine and decorative arts, jewellery, photographs, collectibles, wine, and more. Prices range from $200 to over $100 million. Christie’s has 53 offices in 32 countries and 10 sale rooms around the world including in London, New York, Paris, Geneva, Milan, Amsterdam, Zurich, Dubai and Hong Kong. More recently, Christie’s has led the market with expanded initiatives in emerging and new markets such as Russia, China, India and the United Arab Emirates, with successful sales and exhibitions in Beijing, Mumbai and Dubai.

*Estimates do not include buyer’s premium. Sales totals are hammer price plus buyer’s premium and do not reflect costs, financing fees or application of buyer’s or seller’s credits.

Photo Credit: Denis Hayoun - Diode SA

Thursday, May 19, 2011

Celebrity Jewel: Tamera Mowry Weds in Erica Courtney's Diamond & Platinum Jewels!

How many hours did you spend growing up watching the hilarious antics of the adorable twin sisters Tia & Tamera Mowry on the popular TV Sitcom "Sister Sister"?

OK - maybe you aren't as old as I am...there are several episodes on YouTube if you are interested.

Last weekend Tamera Mowry, now 32, married fiancée Adam Housley, 39 year old FOX News correspondent, in a rustic Wine Country Wedding in the garden at the Villagio Inn & Spa in Napa Valley among 300 or their friends and family.

Housley proposed to to Tamera on a trip to Venice last January - how romantic is that!

Tamera says she relied heavily on her twin sister and matron of honor Tia, who is expecting her first child in July. "She's had her little bridezilla moments, but she's been pretty cool,"
via PEOPLE Magazine.

A beautifully sentimental moment in the ceremony took place when the bride and groom presented their parents with four long-stemmed roses. "Even though it's our day, we wanted to honor them, because without their love and support we wouldn't be the people we are today,"

More info about the wedding for those of you can never get enough of a great wedding...at People Magazine

OK - now for the real reason for this trip down Memory Lane - the JEWELS!!!

Tamera was resplendent in jewels by Erica Courtney:

Platinum and diamond Flower Basket earrings
Platinum and diamond Cheerio bracelet
Platinum and multi-color diamond Moulin Rose necklace

Platinum jewelry ideas and trends for your Wedding: http://preciousplatinum.com

Photo Credit: Jose Villa

Exotic Gems for Professionals & Consumers...

Exotic Gems, Volume 2:

How to Identify and Buy Alexandrite, Andalusite, Chrysoberyl Cat's-eye, Kyanite, Common Opal, Fire Opal, Dinosaur Gembone, Tsavorite, Rhodolite & Other Garnets

by Renee Newman, GG

With Exotic Gems, Volume 2: How to Identify and Buy Alexandrite, Andalusite, Chrysoberyl Cat's-eye, Kyanite, Common Opal, Fire Opal, Dinosaur Gembone, Tsavorite, Rhodolite & Other Garnets Newman does it again! These Exotic Gems book are fast becoming my favorite series from the large library of reference and consumer books by Gemologist, Renee Newman.

Jewelry Designers are using more and more of these unusual, rare and exotic gems to set their work apart...and Jewelers are hesitant to stock them because their customer doesn't know what they are or are reticent to believe it is a natural gem.

Solution! Exotic Gems Volumes One and Two! Jewelers should not only buy a copy for the shop so their employees are informed, but should stock these in a little reference area for customers to buy! We are dealing with a customer today that is not only researching prices - but also information on the internet - why not support those efforts and offer them a small reference library to purchase?

The best thing about this series is the focus - Newman manages to include enough information and photographs from the likes of John Koivula (of the Gemological Institute of America) interspersed with fun facts, metaphysical properties, history and ancient lore and so many photos that everyone from Gemologists to Jewelry Lovers will relate, understand and treasure these books.

One really outstanding feature of these books is the Master Cuts pictorial. In Volume One Newman looked at Zultanite and in Volume Two it is a gemmy Almandine Garnet, from a piece of rough gem/mineral to the final faceted gem, in the hands of Master Gem Cutter, Clay Zava. I think that professionals and consumers alike will gain a new respect for the amount of man hours and knowledge that goes into the cutting of one faceted gem!

My favorite thing about these books is that Newman is not afraid to cover many of the opaque gems that have so long been overlooked as well as sourcing the latest, newest, and the sometimes controversial, gems in the field.

Thanks for another winner Renee!

Wednesday, May 18, 2011

Sotheby's Shatters Records For Magnificent & Noble Jewels in Geneva

SOTHEBY’S 17 MAY 2011 GENEVA SALE OF

MAGNIFICENT & NOBLE JEWELS

SETS A WORLD AUCTION RECORD FOR A TIARA

A Magnificent and Extremely Rare Emerald and Diamond Tiara

formerly in the Collection of Princess Katharina Henckel von Donnersmarck Achieves

$12,736,927 (Est. $5-10 million)

...also Represents a World Auction Record for a Piece of Emerald Jewelery

A Superb Pink Diamond Sells To International Jewellers Leviev

For $10,840,358

The Third Highest Price for a Pink Diamond at Auction

The Ninth Highest Price for a Diamond at Auction

Auction Sale Totals $89,121,687

Third Highest Total For A Sale of Jewellery At Auction

Last night, Sotheby’s Geneva sold the most important emerald and diamond tiara to have appeared at auction in over 30 years for $12,736,927, the highest price ever achieved for a tiara at auction. Six bidders competed for the magnificent and extremely rare emerald and diamond tiara, circa 1900, which was formerly in the Collection of Princess Katharina Henckel von Donnersmarck (est. $5-10 million [lot 443]); the price it fetched also represented an auction record for a piece of emerald jewelery. The total for the entire sale of Magnificent and Noble Jewels was $89,121,687 (est. $ 47.3 – 77.9 million).

Commenting on this evening’s sale, David Bennett, Chairman of Sotheby’s Jewellery Department for Europe and the Middle East, said: “Sotheby’s was honoured to be able to offer perhaps the grandest piece of jewellery to come to sale in over 30 years and the market responded with enthusiasm. This evening’s results, across the board -- in Noble Jewels, diamonds, coloured gemstones, and pieces signed by the world’s greatest jewelers – show the extraordinary appetite among connoisseurs for rarity, quality and provenance.”

International jewellers Leviev outbid four underbidders to purchase a superb fancy intense pink diamond, weighing 10.99 carats, for $10,840,358, the third highest price for a pink diamond (the ninth highest price for a diamond at auction). Pink diamonds have been prized for their rarity and spectacular beauty ever since they were first discovered in the mines of India centuries ago. This superb stone, mounted as a ring, has been graded “fancy intense pink”, natural colour and VS1 clarity by the Gemological Institute of America (GIA). It has been further assessed to be part of a very rare subgroup of diamonds known as type IIa and comprising less than 2% of all of the world’s gem diamonds. Estimated at $9-16 million this stone was offered for sale from a private collection and has not appeared on the market for more than 30 years.

NOBLE JEWELS

Among other highlights of the Noble Jewels section were jewels from the Collection of the Excelentísima Sra. Condesa vda. de Romanones, a Grande de España who was recruited to become an OSS agent in Madrid during World War II before marrying Don Luis de Figueroa y Perez de Guzmán el Bueno, Count of Quintanilla in 1947. From the Countess of Romanones collection was an emerald and diamond demi-parure from the 1960s, which was competed for by six bidders and sold for $409,230 (lot 407, est. $103,000-147,000), a ruby and diamond necklace/brooch combination from the 1970s, which sold for $192,479 (lot 409, est. $81,500-147,000) and a pair of ruby and diamond pendent earrings, 1950s, which sold for $19,756 (lot 410, est.
$15,000-20,000).

Testament to the Countess’ close relationship to the Duke and the Duchess of Windsor was an important “Cadenas” diamond bracelet/watch, gifted to the Countess by the Duchess herself. Dating circa 1936, this exquisite piece signed Van Cleef & Arpels, which sold for five times the high estimate to fetch $409,230 (lot 411, est. $49,900-68,500).

White Diamonds

Among a group of exceptional white diamonds which are D colour were signed pieces, including an attractive
diamond ring by GRAFF, set with a cushion-shaped brilliant-cut internally flawless diamond weighing 16.53 carats, which sold for $2,874,769 (lot 490, est. $1,500,000-2,500,000) and a diamond ring by M. Gerard, featuring a marquise-shaped diamond weighing 15.76 carats, which was competed for by five bidders and sold for $1,483,952 (lot 471, est. $900,000-1,600,000).

Coloured Gemstones

The offering of coloured stones was led by an exceptionally large assortment of Kashmir sapphires, the finest sapphires in the world, including a sapphire and diamond ring, set with an octagonal step-cut sapphire weighing 8.74 carats and dating from circa 1930, which sold for $463,418 (lot 464, est. $250,000-340,000); an attractive sapphire and diamond brooch designed as stylised floral spray, competed for by five bidders and sold for more than three times the estimate to bring $1,610,390 (lot 488, est. $200,000-400,000), and a pair of sapphire and diamond pendent ear clips, suspending a cushion-sapphire weighing 7.30 and 7.07 carats respectively, which sold for $1,222,045 (lot 489, $200,000-400,000.

Completing this selection of coloured gemstones were two impressive Burmese rubies: The first - a spectacular 30.20 carat cushion-shaped ruby, mounted as a ring - sold for $4,265,586 (lot 484, est. $2,000,000–4,000,000); the second – a 29.40 carat oval ruby mounted as a ring by Cartier - sold for $1,483,952 (lot 469, est. $1,000,000-2,000,000).

A superb emerald and diamond ring, set with an octagonal step-cut Colombian emerald weighing 12.03
carats, which has been described by the SSEF laboratory as “a very exceptional treasure”, sold for $625,981 (lot 468, est. $500,000-800,000).

Fine period and signed jewels...

Among the period jewels was a masterpiece of Art Deco jewellery, a fine diamond bracelet created by Boucheron circa 1925, which sold for $625,981 (lot 485, est. $120,000-180,000). Among the other great signatures in the sale was a stunning pair of gem-set and diamond ear clips by JAR, which sold for $382,136 (lot 447, est. $100,000-200,000).