#AuctionJewels Once in a...Blue Moon Diamond Leads Sotheby's Geneva Sale

Sotheby's Magnificent Jewels and Noble Jewels in Geneva, is currently on view from Saturday 7 November until the sale on Wednesday 11 November. The sale will be headlined by the spectacular 'Blue Moon', a sensational 12.03-carat fancy vivid blue internally flawless diamond.

The Blue Moon Diamond is a true marvel, proof of the powerful beauty that is created when nature and human ingenuity work together harmoniously. Internally flawless, the Blue Moon has been christened “one of the rarest gems in the world,” and the GIA has declared that its Fancy Vivid hue might be so unique as to be indescribable. This spectacular gem will be offered as a major highlight of Sotheby’s  Magnificent Jewels and Noble Jewels sale in Geneva on 11 November 2015. 

Sotheby's Hong Kong Unveils the World's Greatest Jadeite Bead Necklace - Wedding Present to Barbara Hutton from Her Father

SOTHEBY’S HONG KONG UNVEILS

THE WORLD’S GREATEST JADEITE BEAD NECKLACE

The Hutton-Mdivani Necklace

– With Qing Jadeite Beads reputedly from the Imperial Court –

Is Expected to Fetch in Excess of HK$100 million / US$12.8 million

GIVEN TO HEIRESS BARBARA HUTTON BY HER FATHER,

ON THE OCCASION OF HER WEDDING TO PRINCE MDIVANI

Sotheby’s Hong Kong is honoured to present The Hutton-Mdivani Necklace, the Greatest Jadeite Bead Necklace of Historical Importance (Expected to fetch in excess of HK$100 million / US$12.8 million*at its Magnificent Jewels and Jadeite Spring Sale to take place on 7 April at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre. The Hutton-Mdivani Necklace has the most illustrious provenance spanning   members of Western nobility and Imperial China since the turn of last century, and is widely recognised as the most important piece of jadeite jewellery known to the world. This jadeite bead necklace, with an innovative clasp by Cartier, comprises 27 gigantic jadeite beads of magnificent green colour, excellent translucency, extremely fine texture and majestic proportions, with diameters ranging from 19.20 mm to 15.40 mm. A fine complement to the prominence of its past owners, this jadeite bead necklace offers a unique collecting opportunity for jewellery and jadeite connoisseurs.

The Cartier archive records the beads being in their possession in 1933 when an innovative clasp was designed especially for the Hutton family. The necklace was then presented as a wedding gift in the same year to Barbara Hutton from her father on the occasion of her marriage to Prince Mdivani. It was first worn publically by Barbara Hutton at her 21st birthday party, and remained in the Mdivani family for over five decades until it was first sold at auction in 1988 for US$2 million / HK$15.6 million and made news headlines as the most expensive piece of jadeite jewellery in the world. Six years later in 1994 it was offered at auction again in Hong Kong, this time doubling its previous price to achieve US$4.2 million / HK$33 million and once again bringing the price of jadeite jewellery to a new level.

QUEK Chin Yeow, Deputy Chairman and Head of Jewellery Department, Sotheby’s Asia, said, “We are most honoured to be entrusted to offer in our upcoming Magnificent Jewels and Jadeite sale The Hutton-Mdivani Necklace, the greatest jadeite bead necklace in the world. Of the finest quality and striking proportions, this jadeite bead necklace with a storied past is an epitome of the mysterious and captivating beauty of jadeite, the most revered oriental gemstone, and evokes the glamour of distinguished style icons of both China and the West at the turn of the last century. It stands as the most important piece of jadeite jewellery known to the world and is set to engage keen competition from jewellery cognoscenti.”

Barbara Hutton (1912 – 1979) – A Fabled Heiress and Iconic Collector

Socialite and heiress Barbara Woolworth Hutton was among the few in the West known for her love for jadeite. Heiress to the retail tycoon Frank Winfield Woolworth, Hutton was one of the wealthiest women in the world when she turned 21, and known for her distinguished taste, lavish lifestyle as well as elegance and beauty. A great patron of the renowned jewellery houses, her collection encompassed unique commissioned pieces by the most celebrated jewellers, as well as important royal and noble jewels, among them a pearl necklace formerly belonging to Marie Antoinette, Queen of France.

The World’s Greatest Jadeite Bead Necklace 

of Supreme Historical Importance

Widely known as the most important piece of jadeite jewellery to date, this necklace comprises 27 highly translucent beads of perfectly matched colour, extremely fine texture and extraordinary majestic proportions ranging from 19.20 to 15.40 mm in diameter, as well as a patina and polish consistent with the fine craftsmanship from the late Qing period. The proportions alone render them highly unusual and impressive, as top-quality jadeite boulders normally yield beads of no more than 5 to 10 mm in diameter due to their extreme scarcity. To fashion a strand of matching jadeite beads, all the beads must be carved from the same boulder and as many as thrice the desired number of beads are often needed from which to select the most suitable ones. With the immense wastage involved, jadeite bead necklaces rank among the most valuable and sought-after forms of jadeite jewellery.

The Hutton-Mdivani Necklace is also remarkable for its design. Jade was incorporated into Western jewellery design in the early 20th century. As Cartier embraced this unique oriental gemstone, carved jade became a notable element in the brand’s signature Art Deco designs and a novel expression of luxury. The jadeite beads on the necklace were set by Cartier to a ruby and diamond clasp of clean and geometrical design. The red colour of rubies, whilst auspicious in Chinese culture, is also a fine example of the colour palette of the Art Deco period against the luminous green colour of the beads.

Qing Jadeite Beads Reputedly from the Imperial Court

Classic and elegant, the jadeite bead necklace is among the most popular forms of jadeite jewellery and favoured by the likes of Empress Dowager Cixi of China, Madame Chiang Kai-Shek and Madame Wellington Koo, wife of the famous Chinese diplomat V.K. Wellington Koo.

As a result of political instability in the late 19th century, Imperial treasures were removed from the palace and many of them redesigned into various forms of jewellery. Like many lost treasures, the precise origin of the jadeite beads on this necklace is unknown. Nonetheless, since the beads were of supreme quality and had already found their way to Europe and been customised into a piece ofhaute joaillerie by Cartier by the early 1930s, they can be dated at least to the late 19th or early 20th century.

The prominence of the original owner of the beads is sufficiently reflected by their supreme quality. Since its introduction as a tribute to the Qing Imperial court in the 18^th century, jadeite of various forms was exclusively worn by the ruling class. Imperial court necklaces in particular were worn only by Qing emperors and senior officials. Considering the impressive size and quality, it is likely the beads on the Hutton- Mdivani Necklace would have been presented to the Imperial court. An Imperial jadeite bead necklace acquired in the early 20th century by Oei Tiong Ham, a successful Chinese businessman in Indonesia, from Beijing’s leading jadeite dealer, Tieh Bao Ting, was sold at Sotheby’s New York in 2010. While the 30 jadeite beads on the Oei Tiong Ham necklace - originally from a Qing Imperial court necklace - measure 13.40 to 13.30 mm in diameter, the beads on the Hutton-Mdivani Necklace currently offered are far superior in colour, texture, translucency and size, which indicates an equally, if not more distinguished original ownership.

Sotheby’s has been uniting collectors with world-class works of art since 1744. Sotheby’s became the first international auction house when it expanded from London to New York (1955), the first to conduct sales in Hong Kong (1973) and France (2001), and the first international fine art auction house in China (2012). Today, Sotheby’s presents auctions in nine different salesrooms, includingNew York, London, Hong Kong and Paris, and Sotheby’s BidNow program allows visitors to view all auctions live online and place bids in real-time from anywhere in the world. Sotheby’s offers collectors the resources of Sotheby’s Financial Services, the world’s only full-service art financing company, as well as private sale opportunities in more than 70 categories, including S|2, the gallery arm of Sotheby’s Contemporary Art department, as well as Sotheby’s Diamonds and Sotheby’s Wine. Sotheby’s has a global network of 90 offices in 40 countries and

is the oldest company listed on the New York Stock Exchange (BID).

*Estimates do not include buyer’s premium and prices achieved include the hammer price plus buyer’s premium.

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Dec 11th - Sotheby's Magnificent Jewels New York

MAGNIFICENT JEWELS AT SOTHEBY’S NEW YORK 

  December 11, 2013, Featuring:

RARE EGYPTIAN-REVIVAL JEWELS BY CARTIER 

JEWELS FROM DISTINGUISHED FAMILY AND PRIVATE COLLECTIONS 

December 11th, Sotheby’s will hold their auction of Magnificent Jewels in New York, with a public exhibition beginning December 7th in Sotheby’s York Avenue galleries. 

Lisa Hubbard, Chairman, North & South America, Sotheby’s International Jewelry Division, said: 

“Sotheby’s has broken world auction record after world auction record in our jewelry sales this fall in both Hong Kong and Geneva, establishing new benchmark prices for any diamond, any jewel and any jewelry auction. Our December sale in New York is distinguished by a number of true masterpieces, including five extremely rare Art Deco Egyptian-revival jewels designed by Cartier, and an iconic Boucheron bracelet of African inspiration that was first exhibited at the 1931 Exposition Coloniale Internationale in Paris. We also are offering two important private collections: one from the family of an American heiress, whose jewels have spent most of the last 60 years secreted in a bank vault and testify to a glamorous lifestyle in the first half of the 20th century, and the other a contemporary collection of sensational emerald jewels and fancy vivid yellow diamonds."

MAGNIFICENT JEWELS FROM A DISTINGUISHED FAMILY COLLECTION 

More than 30 jewels from a Distinguished Family Collection provide a fascinating look at the taste of an American heiress who lived in Europe in the 1930s–50s. She favored Cartier, 

Boucheron and Van Cleef & Arpels for her own jewels, and refashioned others inherited from her mother. The group offered in December represents only a portion of the original collection, as Sotheby’s previously sold jewels from the collection in 2009 and 2011. 

The group is led by a Magnificent Platinum and Diamond Ring, set with a 24.48 carat D-color, VS1 clarity emerald-cut diamond (left, est. $1.5/2.5 million), as well as an Indian inspired Important 18 Karat Gold, Emerald and Diamond Necklace, Cartier, London, special ordered in 1947 and set with more than 100 carats of Colombian emeralds (above, est. $600/800,000). 

Also from Cartier, London is a Pair of 18 Karat Gold, Emerald, Ruby and Diamond Earclips, circa 1940 (est. $75/100,000), inspired by the lush flora and fauna of India. Complementing the Cartier jewels is a Gold, Emerald, Diamond and Ruby Brooch, circa 1945, encasing a 41.20 carat Colombian emerald in an ornate diamond frame . A selection of Art Deco evening bags, fine gemstone rings and decorative jewels complete the collection. 

RARE EGYPTIAN-REVIVAL JEWELS 

The discovery of King Tutankhamun’s tomb in 1922 ignited a blaze of Egypt-mania and the 

instantaneous introduction of decorative elements from Egyptian culture into fine arts, interior design, fashion and jewelry. At this time, Louis Cartier, a collector of Egyptian antiquities, had the novel idea of reincarnating some of his ancient Egyptian faience fragments by mounting them into modern settings using platinum, diamonds and colored stones. 

It is believed that Cartier produced only 150 such Egyptian-revival jewels in the mid-to-late 1920s, and several very rare examples are featured in the December auction. The Magnificent and Rare Egyptian-revival Faience and Jeweled Brooch, Cartier, London, circa 1923 (right, est. $300/500,000) is designed as an Egyptian fan centering an ancient green glazed bust of the goddess Sekhmet, set against the lapis lazuli sky twinkling with diamond stars – one of only two fan-shaped brooches ever made by Cartier, London. This particular brooch was exhibited in 1924 at the French Industrial Exposition, Grand Central Palace, New York. 

Sotheby’s also will offer property formerly from the Estate of Iya, Lady Abdy, which includes four Egyptian-Revival jewels – two signed by Cartier. Lady Abdy was a leading light of Parisian society in the 1920s-30s, a friend of Coco Chanel and Jean Cocteau, and a style icon in her own right. She was much photographed by Man Ray and Cecil Beaton, and for Vogue by George Hoyningen Huene. Her remarkable collection at Sotheby’s includes the Rare and Important 18 Karat Gold, Platinum, Faience, Diamond, Colored Stone and Enamel ‘Sekhmet’ Brooch, Cartier, Paris, circa 1925 (left, est. $200/300,000) and the Platinum, Gold, Diamond, Faience and Colored Stone ‘Pylon’ Brooch, Cartier, London, circa 1923 (est. 

$50/70,000). Lady Abdy was photographed wearing the latter jewel for American Vogue in 1928. 

THE COLLECTION OF MARIA MONET MARKOWITZ 

The Collection of Maria Monet Markowitz comprises 40 elegant pieces dating from the 19th to mid-20th centuries. Markowitz is actively involved in the acclaimed Jewelry Arts Institute in New York, which teaches the ancient technique of granulation and more modern approaches to jewelry-making. Her curated collection focuses on period timepieces and the chronological progression of jewelry design.  Highlights on offer include the Platinum, Colored Stone and Diamond Lapel Watch, Udall & Ballou, circa 1930 (est. $20/30,000), and a Pair of Platinum, Colored Stone and Diamond Clips by Tiffany & Co., late 1920s (right, est. $30/50,000) – purported to be the only known example of Tiffany & working in the ‘Tutti Frutti’ style. 

CUSTOM BULGARI EARRINGS 

BENEFITTING THE ELIZABETH TAYLOR AIDS FOUNDATION 

Bulgari will offer a custom-designed exclusive Pair of 18 Karat Gold, Spinel, Turquoise and Diamond Earrings (left, est. $18/22,000) inspired by Elizabeth Taylor and her film CLEOPATRA, which celebrates its 50th anniversary this year. In tribute to Ms. Taylor, Bulgari will donate 100% of the proceeds of the sale of the earrings to The Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation in support of her courageous life’s work in raising awareness and providing care for those affected by HIV/AIDS around the world. 

ADDITIONAL AUCTION HIGHLIGHTS 

Seminal designs by Jean Schlumberger for Tiffany & Co. from a Distinguished American Collector include the 18 Karat Gold, Platinum, Sapphire and Diamond ‘Morning Glory’ Necklace (detail right, est. $100/150,000), an example of which was most recently presented in Vivienne Becker’s book The Impossible Collection: The 100 Most Important Jewels of the Twentieth Century. 

Also featured in Becker’s book is the 18 Karat Gold, Malachite, Purpurine and Ivory Bracelet, Boucheron, Paris, circa 1931 (est. $150/250,000). An iconic modernist jewel which exemplifies the influence of African art and artifacts on jewelry design, this bracelet 

was exhibited by Boucheron at the 1931 Exposition Coloniale Internationale in Paris. 

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Sotheby’s has been uniting collectors with world-class works of art since 1744. Sotheby’s became the first international auction house when it expanded from London to New York (1955), the first to conduct sales in Hong Kong (1973) and France (2001), and the first international fine art auction house in China (2012). Today, Sotheby’s presents auctions in nine different salesrooms, including New York, London, Hong Kong and Paris, and Sotheby’s BidNow program allows visitors to view all auctions live online and place bids in real-time from anywhere in the world. Sotheby’s offers collectors the resources of Sotheby’s Financial Services, the world’s only full-service art financing company, as well as private sale opportunities in more than 70 categories, including S|2, the gallery arm of Sotheby’s Contemporary Art department, as well as Sotheby’s Diamonds and Sotheby’s Wine. Sotheby’s has a global network of 90 offices in 40 countries and is the oldest company listed 

on the New York Stock Exchange (BID). 

*Estimates do not include buyer’s premium and prices achieved include the hammer price plus buyer’s premium. 

White Diamond to Lead Sotheby's Magnificent Jewels April Auction

Sotheby’s to Offer Most Valuable White Diamond Ever to Appear In a New York Auction

LEADING SOTHEBY’S APRIL AUCTION OF

MAGNIFICENT JEWELS

Sotheby’s annual spring auction of Magnificent Jewels on 17 April 2013 will offer 400 lots, together estimated in excess of $35 million. The centerpiece of the sale is an exceptional pear-shaped diamond of nearly 75 carats, estimated at $9/12 million*, which marks the most important white diamond ever to appear at auction in the Americas. The stone is one of very few pear-shaped diamonds of D color over 50 carats to be offered in recent decades – its remarkable size and pure color position it in the company of named diamonds such as the Star of the Season, 100.10 carats, sold by Sotheby’s in 1995 for a then-record-breaking $16.5 million.

Lisa Hubbard, Chairman, North & South America, Sotheby’s International Jewelry Division, commented:
“This truly exceptional stone exemplifies the strength of the white diamond market over the last decade. It was acquired by the present owner in 2001 for $4.3 million, and today we have estimated it conservatively at $120,000 per carat. The stone has universal appeal, and we anticipate that it will draw attention from both the diamond industry and discerning private collectors alike.”

Lisa Hubbard continued: “Recognizing that the strength of the jewelry market at this moment lies in pieces that have emerged from private collections – most recently evidenced by the success of jewels owned by Mrs. Charles Wrightsman and Estée and Evelyn H. Lauder – we have curated the April auction to include a wealth of wonderful, fresh-to-the-market pieces, such as rare colored stones from the Gould family and iconic styles including Cartier’s ‘Tutti Frutti’ bracelet and panther brooch.”

Highlights from the sale will be on view in the Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Center from 3–7 April before returning to New York for exhibition on 13 April, alongside a selection of pieces from the upcoming Geneva auction of Magnificent Jewels & Noble Jewels.

FROM THE GOULD FAMILY COLLECTION

Six jewels from the family of financier and railroad magnate Jay Gould offer a glimpse into the past – a time when diamonds and fine colored stones were integral to fashion, society and one’s family legacy. Acquired in the first half of the 20th century, today it is a rare occasion to find a selection of important jewels at auction that have remained in the same distinguished family for decades.

ADDITIONAL HIGHLIGHTS FROM PROMINENT PRIVATE COLLECTIONS

Sotheby’s has been uniting collectors with world-class works of art since 1744. Sotheby’s became the first international auction house when it expanded from London to New York (1955), the first to conduct sales in Hong Kong (1973) and France (2001), and the first international fine art auction house in China (2012). Today, Sotheby’s presents auctions in 10 different salesrooms, including New York, London, Hong Kong and Paris, and Sotheby’s BidNow program allows visitors to view all auctions live online and place bids in real-time from anywhere in the world. Sotheby’s offers collectors the resources of Sotheby’s Financial Services, the world’s only full-service art financing company, as well as private sale opportunities in more than 70 categories, including S|2, the gallery arm of Sotheby’s Contemporary Art department, as well as Sotheby’s Diamonds and Sotheby’s Wine. Sotheby’s has a global network of 90 offices in 40 countries and is the oldest company listed on the New York Stock Exchange (BID).

*Estimates do not include buyer’s premium and prices achieved include the hammer price plus buyer’s premium.

Histoire Naturelle - Sotheby's Paris!

The Auction Results are in for the Histoire Naturelle at Sotheby's Paris.

"Sotheby's Natural History sale on 2 October achieved €917,050. One of the top lots sold was A Rare and Complete Mammoth (Late Pleistocene, Siberia, Russia), that brought €240,750."

It is interesting to note that the sell through on these auctions isn't near as good as it is on their Art and Jewelry Auctions.

I wonder if that is due to the information about the goods in these auctions not getting to the right people or a down turn in the number of people following the fossils field?

Personally I choose to believe the former as I have noticed a keen interest in collecting and Jewelry made with Fossils of all kinds!


...with our little Wholly Mammoth friend above selling so briskly - I have to believe that a few museums are seeing funding.

There does seem to be a large following from the Interior Design field and items that are beautifully presented are definite winners!    ...as this "Coffret of Exotic Crabs" can testify!

Sotheby's Important Jewels Brings in Over $16 Million

Today’s auction of Important Jewels at Sotheby’s New York totaled $16,383,856 – well above its $14 million low estimate – and was 79.3% sold by lot. This marks another strong total for our jewelry sales in New York, coming just $100,000 shy of last year’s record for a September jewelry auction at Sotheby’s.

“We were very pleased with the solid results of today’s sale,” commented Gary Schuler, Head of Sotheby’s Jewelry department in New York. “We saw particularly strong prices for unique color diamonds, led by the fancy light pink diamond that soared to $1,426,500 above a high estimate of $700,000. While many of our top ten prices came from American trade buyers, both signed jewels and stones under 10 carats brought spirited bidding from collectors worldwide. Jewels from the estate of Kitty Carlisle Hart, which we were delighted to offer, doubled their overall low estimate and were led by her beautiful art deco diamond sautoir that achieved $146,500 (est. $60/80,000). And in a continuation of a trend we have observed in recent years, natural pearls remain a strong segment of today’s market.”

“We now look forward with great excitement to next week’s sale of Property from the Estate of Brooke Astor, which will offer a wonderful selection of the icon’s personal jewels in the Tuesday afternoon session.”

Lot 490:  Round Brilliant-cut Fancy Light Pink Diamond, 5.08 carats, VVS2 clarity ($280,807 per carat)

Price:  $1,426,500 (£881,971) 

Estimate:  $500,000 - 700,000 

Buyer: American Trade

Lot 471 - Kashmir Sapphire and Diamond Ring, 13.22 carats ($43,759 per carat)

Price: $578,500 (£357,673) 

Estimate: $350,000 - 450,000 
Buyer: American Trade









Lot 466 -  Pear-shaped Diamond Ring, 9.22 carats, F color, VVS2 clarity ($45,824)



Price: $422,500 (£261,222)

Estimate: $350,000 - 450,000

Buyer: American Trade

Lot 487 - Emerald-cut Diamond Ring, J.E. Caldwell, 20.37 carats, L color, VVS2 clarity ($23,687 per carat)

Price: $482,500 (£298,318) 

Estimate: $300,000 - 400,000 

Buyer: Anonymous

Lot 391 - Pear-Shaped Fancy Intense Orangy-Pink Diamond Pendant, 3.09 carats, VS1 clarity ($249,353 per carat)

Price: $770,500 (£476,382) 

Estimate:  $350,000 - 450,000 

Buyer:  Anonymous

Lot 204 -  Pair of Diamond Pendant-Earclips, Harry Winston

Price:  $362,500 (£224,125) 

Estimate: $275,000 - 325,000 

Buyer:  American Trade

Sotheby's Geneva Celebrates a Record Breaking Two Days, Filled With Jewels!

SOTHEBY’S GENEVA BRINGS $108,377,219

A WORLD RECORD FOR A VARIOUS OWNER JEWELLERY SALE

MAGNIFICENT JEWELS AND NOBLE JEWELS SALE

The Private Collection of Suzanne Belperron

Totals $3,459,307 - More Than Tripling the Pre‐Sale Expectation

THE BEAU SANCY

One of the Most Important Royal Diamonds

Ever to Come to Auction Sells For CHF 9,042,500 / $9,699,618

Sotheby’s Geneva, 15 May 2012 – Tonight Sotheby’s Auction House set a new world record of $108,377,219 for a various owner jewellery sale, with the conclusion of its two‐day Magnificent Jewels and Noble Jewels Sale, surpassing the record set by Sotheby’s Geneva in November 2010 of $105 million.

Over the two days 24 lots sold for over $1 million. The Beau Sancy, one of the most important royal diamonds to ever come to auction, sold for CHF 9,042,500 ($9,699,618). The result achieved by the celebrated jewel brought the total for the May Jewellery auctions to an outstanding total of CHF 104,298,625 ($111,836,526), almost doubling the pre‐sale low estimate of CHF 54 ‐85 million*.

Speaking after the sale, David Bennett, Chairman of Sotheby’s Jewellery Department in Europe and the Middle East and Co‐Chairman of Sotheby’s Switzerland commented: “The legendary Beau Sancy is a truly magical stone that has entranced generations of royal owners and continues to exert a powerful influence over all who see it. Its supreme historical importance was reflected tonight in the strength of the bidding and the remarkable result realized. The two days of sales of jewellery at Sotheby’s this week achieved a record total with 94% of lots finding buyers and doubling the pre‐sale estimate: proof that privately sourced jewels, many with noble provenance are highly sought after.”

The Beau Sancy
No less than five bidders competed for The Beau Sancy (lot 595), driving the price to an outstanding CHF 9,042,500 / $9,699,618 almost five times the pre‐sale low estimate of CHF 1,850,000‐3,650,000 ($2‐4 million).

After a battle of nearly eight minutes, the celebrated jewel was finally bought by an anonymous buyer bidding over the telephone.

The Beau Sancy has been the privileged witness of 400 years of European history. Passed down through the Royal Families of France, England, Prussia, and the House of Orange, the celebrated stone was worn by Marie de Medici in 1610 at her coronation as Queen Consort of Henri IV. The 34.98 carat modified pear double rose cut diamond would have come from the area of Golconda in India, the sole source of diamonds until the discoveries in Brazil in the 1720s.

Noble Jewels
Continuing Sotheby’s distinguished history of offering jewels with aristocratic provenance, Sotheby’s Geneva sixth annual sale of Noble Jewels brought a combined total of CHF 23,196,025 ($24,881,680), tripling the presale low estimate of CHF 7,022,500‐11,705,000 ($7.532.825‐12,555,602).

In addition to the Beau Sancy, the Noble Jewels section was highlighted by The Murat Tiara (lot 594) which realized CHF 3,610,500 (3,872,875), in an eleven minute bidding battle between three telephone bidders, more than double its pre‐sale low estimate of CHF 1,375,000‐2,285,000 ($1,500,000‐2,500,000). This impressive pearl and diamond jewel was created in 1920 by Joseph Chaumet for the marriage of Prince Alexandre Murat (1889 – 1926) to Yvonne Gillois (1894 – 1961). The diadem boasts one of the largest natural pearls ever recorded, at 303.37 grains. As stated by the SSEF laboratory, “the main pearl in the center is outstanding in its size and one of the most important pearls certified so far at the SSEF” and “natural pearls of this size, quality and with a documented historic provenance are very rare and thus the described tiara with three large pearls represents a very exceptional treasure”.

Among the other gems of great historical significance which belonged to prestigious European families was a diamond brooch set with a 7.33 carat Fancy deep yellow diamond coming from the collection of Prince Filippo Corsini (lot 589) which fetched CHF 902,500 ($968,085), (est. CHF 275,000‐460,000/ $300,000‐500,000).  The central diamond was offered to the Corsini family by Charles Edward Stuart (1720 – 1788), commonly known as "Bonnie Prince Charlie" in the 1770s, most certainly in gratitude for their support during his years of exile.

From the Estate of the late Prince Kinsky, an Important natural pearl and diamond necklace made circa 1880 (lot 593) achieved CHF 1,142,500 ($1,225,525), quadrupling its pre‐sale low estimate of CHF 275,000–460,000 / $300,000–500,000).


Enjoying a similarly illustrious provenance a selection of jewels coming from the collection of a member of the Princely Family of Thurn und Taxis was highlighted by a very fine emerald and diamond demi‐parure (lot 592), composed of a necklace and a pair of earrings, which was purchased by Albert, 8th Prince of Thurn und Taxis around 1890. Estimated at CHF 200,000‐300,000/ $220,000‐330,000, these superb jewels were sold for CHF 962,500 ($1,032,445).  A fine sapphire and diamond brooch/pendant circa 1910 (Lot 588) which belonged to the Italian Countess Adriana Guillichini della Gherardesca was sold for CHF 386,500 ($414,587) (est. CHF 185,000‐370,000/$200,000‐400'000.

Magnificent Jewels
The Magnificent Jewels section was led by two necklaces from a royal collection. The first, a necklace suspending a detachable pear‐shaped D colour diamond weighing 41.40 carats (lot 734) achieved CHF 4,050,000 ($4,344,314) against an estimate of CHF 2,750,000‐4,550,000 ($3,000,000‐5,000,000). The necklace was purchased by Amer Radwan who has named it “Dubai Vision”.

The second, a magnificent emerald and diamond necklace designed by Bulgari circa 1970 (lot 733) sold for CHF 2,200,000 ($2,359,874) against an estimate of CHF 1,400,000‐2,800,000 ($1,500,000‐3,000,000).

The sale comprised a group of white diamonds which were D Colour ‐ the finest colour grading for white diamonds. An exceptional diamond ring by Harry Winston set with a 36.43 carat internally flawless diamond (lot 721) realised CHF 3,834,500 ($4,113,153) (est. CHF 3,200,000‐5,000,000 / $3,550,000‐5,500,000). This stone had been found to be part of the rare Type IIa subgroup comprising less than 2% of all gem diamonds. Diamonds of this group are chemically the purest of all diamond crystals and often have extraordinary optical
transparency.

The offering of coloured diamonds included an important ring centering on a fancy intense purple‐pink brilliant‐cut diamond weighing 3.71 carats, between shoulders set with marquise‐shaped rubies (lot 731) which fetched CHF 5,122,500 ($5,494,752 USD) against an estimate of CHF 1,850,000‐3,650,000/ $ 2,000,000‐ 4,000,000).

A Superb Private Collection of Gems and Jewels
At the core of the sale was also a superb private collection of gems and jewels which brought a combined total of CHF 17,648,325 ($18,889,002) almost doubling the pre‐sale low estimate of CHF 9,059,000‐14,288,500 ($9,695,848‐15,292,982). Comprising over 80 pieces, this exceptional collection has been assembled by two generations of a family, from the mid‐1960s until present day.

Reflecting the passion for gemstones that animated the family for 50 years was a pair of impressive Kashmir sapphire clips (lot 674) which sold for CHF 1,482,500 ($1,586,720) (est. CHF 825,000‐1,370,000/ $900,000‐1,500,000), a ring set with a cabochon Burmese sapphire weighing 58.56 carats (lot 666) which made CHF 1,314,500 ($1,406,909) (est. CHF 730,000‐1,275,000/ $800,000‐1,400,000) and a very rare and highly important multi‐coloured sapphire and diamond suite (lot 663) which surpassed its estimate of CHF 50,000‐910,000 and sold for CHF 1,482,500 ($1,586,720).

“White Glove” Sale for the Personal Collection of Suzanne Belperron
On May 14th all 60 Jewels from the Personal Collection of Suzanne Belperron (1900‐1983), one of the most important jewellers of the 20th Century, sold for the outstanding total of CHF 3,224,950 ($3,459,307), more than tripling the pre‐sale expectation of CHF 902,000‐1,365,000. The sale – the most significant collection of jewels by Suzanne Belperron ever presented at auction ‐ was a “white glove sale”, with 100% sold by lot and value. Demand for seminal pieces from Belperron’s oeuvre was intense with international bidding driving prices
well above estimates.