GENEVA.- Three world class diamonds, cut 300 years apart, will lead Sotheby’s spring sale of Magnificent Jewels and Noble Jewels in Geneva. All three diamonds are extremely rare and extraordinarily beautiful. The first is The Farnese Blue, a highly important 6.16-carat historic blue diamond given to Elisabeth Farnese, Queen of Spain in 1715, before being passed down through four of Europe’s most important royal families (Estimate CHF 3.5 – 5 million / $3.6 – 5.2 million).

Alongside it will be two highly impressive white diamonds, each one weighing over 50 carats, with a combined estimate of over $15 million. The white diamonds are both perfect according to all the critical criteria by which diamonds are measured, and each of them is also the second largest of its shape ever to have come to auction. Alongside these highlights, our flagship sale on 15 May at Mandarin Oriental, Geneva will also include exceptional coloured diamonds, coloured gemstones of the finest quality and geographical origin, and emblematic signed pieces by the world’s most renowned Jewellery houses.

Speaking ahead of the sale, David Bennett, Worldwide Chairman of Sotheby’s Jewellery division, commented, “After 10 very successful years of Noble Jewels sales in Geneva, we are delighted to offer such an important historical diamond, The Farnese Blue, this spring. In the Magnificent Jewels section of the sale, two exceptional perfect white diamonds, each weighing over 50 carats, take their places alongside an impressive selection of coloured diamonds. With superb Kashmir sapphires leading the way for coloured gemstones, and a wonderful array of signed pieces led by Cartier and Van Cleef & Arpels, this will be a fitting celebration of the season!”

SALE HIGHLIGHTS

THE FARNESE BLUE
This superb gem, one of the foremost historic diamonds known to man, will appear on the market for the first time in May, after having remained in the same family for over three centuries. Given to Elisabeth Farnese, Queen of Spain (1692-1766), the legendary diamond has subsequently passed down through four of the most important royal families in Europe: Spain, France, Italy and Austria.

Witness to 300 years of European history, from the aftermath of the Spanish succession War to the fall of the Habsburg Empire, the diamond has travelled across the continent for centuries. And all this time, it was kept secretly in a royal jewellery case. Excepting close relatives and of course the family jewellers, no one knew of its existence. The 6.16-carat pear shaped blue diamond will be offered with an estimate of CHF 3.5 - 5 million / $ 3.7 - 5.3 million.

TWO PERFECT WHITE DIAMONDS OVER 50 CARATS
Also certain to turn heads at Sotheby’s in May are two exceptional white diamonds, which are perfect according to all the critical criteria against which the world’s greatest diamonds are measured.

The stones, a 50.39-carat oval diamond and a 51.71-carat round brilliant-cut diamond, are DColour (the most coveted hue for white diamonds), have Flawless clarity and belong to the highly rarefied ‘Type IIa’ group, made up of just 2% of gem diamonds with the highest optical transparency. The diamonds were discovered and purchased at tender in Botswana.

The round and oval diamonds were expertly cut in Antwerp (from rough diamonds weighing 196 carats and 155 carats respectively), and have been found by the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) to have excellent polish and symmetry. This is hugely important in ensuring that light passing through the stone is unimpeded, resulting in extraordinary sparkle and scintillation. Each has been given the top grading for its respective shape.

AN IMPORTANT PRIVATE COLLECTION OF DIAMONDS AND COLOURED GEMSTONES
The sale on 15 May will also include a group of extremely fine diamonds and coloured gemstones from an important private collection. They include this superb fancy vivid purplish pink diamond weighing 2.63 carats. It is cut in a round modified brilliant-cut shape, which allows the extraordinary hue and life of the stone to be shown to their full potential (lot 374, estimate CHF 1,920,000 – 2,880,000 / $ 2,000,000 – 3,000,000).

From the same collection, a pair of fancy intense yellow diamond pendent earrings is sure to catch the eye of Jewellery experts and enthusiasts. The perfect accessories for spring and summer, the two ravishing pear-shaped diamonds weigh 5.12 and 5.79 carats respectively (lot 349, estimate CHF 250,000 – 345,000 / $ 250,000 – 350,000).

EXCEPTIONAL SAPPHIRES FROM KASHMIR
Sapphires from Kashmir are widely regarded as the most beautiful in the world and their colour has long placed them among the most highly sought-after gems at auction. The May sale in Geneva will offer several stunning examples, which will leave visitors to the pre-sale exhibition in no doubt as to why they are so prized.

The Kashmir origin of this cushion-shaped sapphire has been certified by the Swiss Gemmological Institute - SSEF and the Gübelin Gem Lab. Weighing an impressive 15.91 carats, the gemstone is described by Gübelin as having “a richly saturated and homogeneous colour, combined with a high degree of transparency and a finely proportioned cut.” (lot 359, estimate CHF 1,755,000 – 2,725,000 / $ 1,840,000– 2,860,000).

Boasting highly coveted “royal blue” colour, this captivating sapphire was also discovered in Kashmir, as confirmed by the SSEF and Gübelin. A wonderfully opulent piece, the striking 1930s ring design is a fitting celebration of this extraordinary 14.01-carat gemstone (lot 365, estimate CHF 950,000 – 1,430,000 / $ 1,000,000 – 1,500,000).

A third exceptional Kashmir sapphire completes this rarefied group: a beautiful step-cut gem weighing 11.64 carats and described by the SSEF as exhibiting “a remarkable size and weight… combined with an attractive and homogeneous blue colour and a very fine purity.” (lot 351, estimate CHF 830,000 – 1,160,000 / $ 860,000 – 1,200,000).

PERIOD JEWELS OF ILLUSTRIOUS PROVENANCE
In addition to The Farnese Blue, Sotheby’s enters the 11th year of its Noble Jewels sales with a selection of very fine period jewels with illustrious aristocratic provenance.

Jewellery lovers will have the opportunity to acquire this impressive and beautiful diamond tiara from the 1830s. Of foliate scroll design, it comes from the collection of a European princely family (lot 376, estimate CHF 120,000 – 180,000 / $ 120,000 – 180,000).

This remarkable emerald jewel, created in the 1930s with an extraordinary cabochon emerald as its centrepiece, is ingeniously designed so that the emerald can also be worn as a brooch. It is reputed to have come from a maharaja’s turban, and was acquired and remounted by Pierre Cartier in Paris. In addition to its fabulous design and appearance, the jewel also has a fascinating story. It was originally owned by socialite Mrs Laura Mae Corrigan (1879 – 1948), who from humble origins as the daughter of a Wisconsin handyman was to become known as “America’s Salon Queen” and later “London’s Social General”.

Mrs Corrigan gave the jewel as a generous gift to her great friend Edith, Marchioness of Londonderry OBE (1878 – 1959), one of London’s great social and political hostesses in the interwar period. Edith was so taken with the gift that she named it the Corrigan Emerald Bracelet and included it in her album dedicated to her very fine Jewellery collection, The Londonderry Jewels (lot 320, estimate CHF 340,000 – 475,000 / $ 355,000 – 495,000).

EMBLEMATIC SIGNED JEWELS INCLUDING CARTIER AND VAN CLEEF & ARPELS
It is widely recognized that the 1930s were the golden era of Cartier’s Jewellery production, a decade in which the illustrious house produced some of its finest and most iconic designs. Bringing together many of the key stylistic features and materials which distinguish Cartier’s work at this time is a very fine gem set and diamond necklace. These features include the striking contrast of white diamonds with onyx and the bold rectangular shapes of the tapered necklace, the diamond and black lacquer detailing on the pendant, and the colourful touch of rubies, sapphires and emeralds in the detachable lower section (lot 324, estimate CHF 200,000 – 300,000 / $ 200,000 – 400,000).

A design dreamed up in the 1930s by the Duchess of Windsor, the “Zip” necklace was finally brought to life by Van Cleef and Arpels in the 1950s – widely regarded as the period of their greatest influence. The May sale in Geneva will offer this fabulous necklace, set with diamonds, sapphires, rubies and emeralds which, thanks to the iconic design, can also be worn as a bracelet. The piece is paired with matching ear clips. A stunning, colourful example of a piece almost synonymous with this illustrious Jewellery house (lot 325, estimate CHF 50,000 – 65,000 / $ 50,000 – 70,000).

Animals and birds have long been a central theme in Cartier’s creations, going back as far as the First World War. This delightful ‘Parrot’ ring, set with a cushion-shaped very light pink diamond weighing 3.77 carats is a lovely example of the extraordinary detail and execution brought to these pieces. With its beak of mother-of-pearl and twinkling emerald-set eyes, this charming creature is sure to bring a breath of fresh spring air to proceedings in Geneva (lot 337, estimate CHF 200,000 – 385,000 / $ 200,000 – 400,000).