NEW YORK, NY.- With worldwide sales for the year totalling $551,300,000, Sotheby’s Jewellery division leads the global auction market in this category. As well as strong results for coloured gemstones and signed jewels, major highlights from 2017 include a world auction record for any diamond or gemstone, with “The CTF Pink Star” ($71.2m, Hong Kong, 4 April) and a world auction record for earrings, with “The Memory of Autumn Leaves” and “The Dream of Autumn Leaves” ($57.4m, Geneva, 15 May).

“2017 has been an exceptionally successful year for Jewellery at Sotheby’s, with all four selling centres – Geneva, New York, Hong Kong and London - performing very well. Innovations this year have included the scaling up of our online-only sales, as well as our very successful new Fine Jewels auctions in Geneva, which totalled $8.9 million. We were also very pleased to celebrate the tenth anniversary of our dedicated sales of Noble Jewels in Geneva.” David Bennett, Worldwide Chairman, Sotheby’s Jewellery Division.

SOTHEBY’S JEWELLERY DIVISION 2017 HIGHLIGHTS

WORLD AUCTION RECORD FOR ANY DIAMOND OR GEMSTONE
• “THE CTF PINK STAR” A Fancy Vivid Pink diamond 59.60 carats Internally Flawless Sold on 4 April at Sotheby’s Hong Kong $ 71,175,926 ($1,194,226 per carat)

WORLD AUCTION RECORD FOR EARRINGS $57,425,478
• “The Memory of Autumn Leaves” Fancy Vivid Blue diamond 14.54 carats Internally Flawless Sold on 16 May at Sotheby’s Geneva $42,087,302 ($2,894,587 per carat)

• “The Dream of Autumn Leaves” Fancy Intense Pink diamond 16 carats Sold on 16 May at Sotheby’s Geneva $15,338,176 ($958,636 per carat)

WORLD AUCTION RECORD FOR A FANCY LIGHT PINK DIAMOND
• Fancy Light Pink diamond, Type IIa 33.63 carats Harry Winston Sold on 15 November at Sotheby’s Geneva $12,818,240 ($381,155 per carat)

WORLD AUCTION RECORD FOR A FANCY INTENSE PURPLISH-PINK DIAMOND
• Fancy Intense Purplish-Pink diamond 7.04 carats Piaget Sold on 16 May at Sotheby’s Geneva $13,245,750 ($1,881,499 per carat)

• Fancy Vivid Blue diamond 5.69 carats Sold on 5 December at Sotheby’s New York $15,130,800 ($2,659,192 per carat)

• Shaun Leane for Alexander McQueen Silver Bow Choker Sold on 4 December at Sotheby’s New York The Personal Archive of Shaun Leane Total $2.6 million

• Burmese Ruby and Diamond ring, Bhagat 13.26 carats Sold on 3 October at Sotheby’s Hong Kong $10,452,800 ($788,295 per carat)

SOTHEBY’S JEWELLERY AUCTIONS IN 2017 – FACTS & FIGURES
• Participation from 103 countries

• 32% of buyers were bidding with Sotheby’s for the first time

• 23% of lots were sold to online buyers

• 5,495 lots offered across four selling locations

• The most expensive jewellery lot bought online was a 12.81-carat diamond ring, which sold during the Magnificent Jewels and Noble Jewels auction in Geneva on 16 May for $1,219,011

Sotheby’s final Jewellery sale of the year was held in Geneva on 14 December and totalled CHF 3,551,251 ($3,603,064). Among the highlights of the second Fine Jewels sale of the year in Geneva was a superb 3.39-carat Colombian emerald, mounted as a ring by Meister, which far exceeded the pre-sale estimate to sell for CHF 118,750 ($120,483) (estimate CHF 50,000 – 70,000 / $50,000 – 70,000).

A diamond ring weighing 5.83 carats also stood out this evening, achieving close to four times the pre-sale estimate, reaching a final price of CHF 56,350 ($ 57,071) (estimate CHF 12,000-18,000 / $12,100 – 18,100).

Earlier in the week, Sotheby’s London Fine Jewels sale on 12 December totalled £4,167,625 ($5,562,946) and was led by an important diamond necklace, Van Cleef & Arpels, 1950s which soared to £489,000 ($652,717), well above estimate (£270,000 - 320,000).

Strong prices were also achieved for 10.13-carat diamond ring, Harry Winston which fetched £112,500 ($150,165 USD), four times the low estimate (est.25,000 - 30,000) and a pair of natural black and pink pearl and diamond rings, André Vassort which sold for £100,000 ($133,480) (est. £6,000 - 8,000).