GENEVA.- Sotheby’s upcoming auction of Magnificent Jewels and Noble Jewels on 15 November 2018 will bring together a highly impressive selection of world-class diamonds and gemstones, alongside signed pieces from the world’s most prestigious jewellery houses. Led by a group of extraordinarily rare blue diamonds, the auction highlights also include stunning white diamonds and diamond jewels and exceptional coloured gemstones. Signatures in the sale range from Harry Winston to Cartier, Van Cleef & Arpels, Bulgari and Pederzani.
Speaking ahead of the sale, David Bennett, Worldwide Chairman of Sotheby’s International Jewellery Division, commented, “Our autumn sale offers a carefully curated selection of jewels which have resonated with jewellery lovers and connoisseurs the world over. We are thrilled to be presenting sensational diamonds – both coloured stones and extremely fine D-colour white diamonds – as well as vibrant coloured gemstones and signed pieces, to complement the finest of jewellery collections. It has been a pleasure for our team to bring together these extraordinary natural treasures, brought to life by the artistry and skill of the world’s finest diamond cutters and jewellers.”
Daniela Mascetti, Chairman of Sotheby's Jewellery Division for Europe, said "From exemplary signed jewels illustrating the history of the world's finest jewellery houses, to rare coloured diamonds and gemstones, we are delighted to offer such variety and quality in our upcoming sale, a selection sure to appeal to the 21st century collector."
EXTRAORDINARILY RARE BLUE DIAMONDS
Fancy Vivid Blue is the most sought-after hue for blue diamonds, which are already enormously rare. The superb stones adorning these earrings weigh 2.61 and 3.06 carats respectively, and the style of the earrings is wonderfully feminine and flattering (Lot 570, estimate $ 8 – 10 million / CHF 7,940,000 – 9,920,000).
Of the same exquisite colour, this Fancy Vivid Blue diamond ring weighs 5.04 carats. Its rectangular cut perfectly complements the hue (Lot 566, estimate $ 9 – 12 million / CHF 8,930,000 – 11,920,000)
Graded by the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) as Fancy Intense Blue, this stunning brilliant-cut diamond weighs 2.02 carats. Its appeal for jewellery connoisseurs will no doubt be enhanced by its extraordinary clarity: it has been classed as Internally Flawless (Lot 548, estimate $2 – 3 million /CHF 1,990,000 – 2,980,000).
Alongside these exceptional blue diamonds, a superb Fancy Light Pink diamond is also sure to turn heads. Weighing 21.19 carats, this cushion-shaped stone has been found by the GIA to be of ‘Type IIa’ - which make up just 2% of gem-quality diamonds and boast the highest optical transparency (Lot 567, estimate $ 4,500,000 – 6,500,000 / CHF 4,470,000 – 6,450,000).
STUNNING WHITE DIAMONDS
Following the sale of two magnificent white diamonds of more than 50 carats at Sotheby’s Geneva in May, we are delighted to offer a remarkable selection including showstopping stones and captivating diamond jewels in November. Among the highlights is an exceptional pear-shaped stone weighing an impressive 40.18 carats, whose D-Colour grading is the most coveted of all for white diamonds (Lot 565, estimate $2,500,000 – 3,500,000 / CHF 2,480,000 – 3,480,000).
40 years after he passed away, the legacy of American jeweller Harry Winston endures. Among the stand-out lots of the November sale in Geneva will be a magnificent diamond necklace bearing the Harry Winston signature. The nine largest diamonds on the piece have been certified to be D-Colour and Internally Flawless, placing this jewel in a league befitting the man known by many as the ‘King of Diamonds’ (Lot 569, estimate $ 4,800,000 – 5,800,000 / CHF 4,770,000 – 5,760,000).
Also thought to be by Harry Winston, this extremely attractive diamond brooch is made up of four pear-shaped diamonds surrounding a marquise-shaped stone – all of these are D Colour (Lot 564, estimate $ 1,800,000 – 2,800,000 / CHF 1,790,000 – 2,780,000).
Set with a step-cut diamond weighing 25.77 carats, this superb diamond ring is by Italian jeweller Pederzani. The stone is of highly coveted D Colour and, according to the GIA, its clarity has the potential to be Internally Flawless after minor repolishing. What is more, it belongs to that most exclusive category of diamonds, Type IIa (Lot 563, estimate $ 3-4 million / CHF 2,980,000 – 3,970,000).
WORLD-CLASS COLOURED GEMSTONES
In addition to world-class diamonds, our Magnificent Jewels and Noble Jewels sales regularly offer record-breaking coloured gemstones of the finest quality. In November, we will present this remarkable Burmese sapphire weighing 69.99 carats, mounted as a ring by Cartier. According to the Gübelin gem laboratory, “it displays a distinctive and richly saturated” Royal Blue coloration (the most desirable hue). The laboratory’s experts add that ‘such a combination of remarkable characteristics is very rare in Burmese sapphires of this large size’ (Lot 568, estimate $ 3 – 5 million / CHF 2,980,000 – 4,960,000).
Two sapphires from Kashmir – the most sought-after origin for these gemstones - will also feature as highlights of the sale: the first is a superb 12.43-carat cushion-shaped stone mounted as a ring (Lot 561, estimate $ 1,200,000 – 1,800,000 / CHF 1,200,000 – 1,790,000); the second is a stunning sapphire and diamond brooch from an Austrian noble family, created in the late 19th century. According to the Swiss Gemmological Institute (SSEF), the sapphires, weighing 46.86, 10.09 and 9.93 carats respectively, are “perfectly cut as high-domed cabochons”, and “assembling a set of three natural sapphires from Kashmir of this size and quality can be considered very rare and exceptional.” (Lot 533, estimate $500,000 – 800,000 / CHF 500,000 – 800,000).
Also from a noble family is this beautiful ruby and diamond ring, signed Cartier. According to the SSEF and Gübelin, the 8.16-carat gemstone was found in Burma, widely agreed to produce the finest rubies, and is of ‘pigeon blood’ colour – the most highly prized hue (Lot 529, estimate $ 1,100,000 – 2,100,000 / CHF 1,100,000 – 2,090,000).
American jewellers Oscar Heyman & Brothers are renowned for their jewels featuring coloured gemstones, and this emerald and diamond ring is no exception. It is set with a sumptuous step-cut Colombian emerald weighing 45.94 carats (Lot 425, estimate $600,000 – 800,000 / CHF 600,000 – 800,000).
BREATHTAKING SIGNED JEWELS
Among the most desirable jewels on today’s auction market are signed jewels from prestigious jewellery houses, in particular those which embody the spirit of the age in which they were made. This extraordinary ruby and diamond brooch was created by Cartier around 1940 and features Burmese rubies - the central gemstone weighing 7.34 carats (Lot 514, estimate $400,000 – 600,000 / CHF 400,000 – 600,000).
A must-see piece for jewellery connoisseurs. The spectacular gem set and diamond sautoir below was made by Bulgari around 1970. Supporting a pendant set with a carved emerald weighing a phenomenal 127.35 carats, it epitomizes the richly decorative statement pieces for which the Italian jeweller is so well known. The central gemstone was discovered in Colombia, the most coveted of all geographic locations for emeralds (Lot 545, estimate $ 300,000 – 500,000 / CHF 300,000 – 500,000).
