NEW YORK, NY.- Christie’s presents Magnificent Jewels, a live auction taking place on 17 June at Rockefeller Center in New York City. The sale will showcase an outstanding selection of captivating diamonds and spectacular-colored gemstones, alongside iconic creations from the world’s most prestigious jewelry houses, including Belperron, Bulgari, Cartier, Harry Winston, JAR, Van Cleef & Arpels, and many others.

Leading the sale is The Blue Belle, a superb sapphire and diamond necklace (Estimate $8,000,000 – 12,000,000). At its heart is an extraordinary 392.52 carat Sri Lankan (Ratnapura) sapphire discovered in 1926. Acquired in 1937 with the intention of being presented to Queen Elizabeth (later The Queen Mother) on the occasion of King George VI’s coronation, the jewel ultimately never entered the royal collection. After passing through several distinguished owners, the Blue Belle reemerged at auction in Geneva in 2014 and now returns to Christie’s, where it will once again take center stage as the star lot of the auction.

Rahul Kadakia, Christie’s International Head of Jewelry, comments: “Christie’s is pleased to present the full selection of Magnificent Jewels to our clients and collectors. Leading the sale is the Blue Belle Sapphire—a 392.52-carat gem of exceptional size, color, and clarity. Sapphires of this caliber are extraordinarily rare. This remarkable stone must be considered among the most prestigious colored gemstones to appear on the market in many years—truly worthy of any world-class collection.”

Among the most historically significant highlights of the sale is The Marie-Thérèse Pink Diamond, A Historic Jar Colored Diamond Ring, (Estimate $3,000,000 - 5,000,000). This rare 10.38-carat kite-shaped fancy purple-pink diamond is believed to date to the mid-18th century. According to royal lore, Queen Marie Antoinette entrusted her most treasured jewels to her faithful coiffeur on the eve of her failed escape from Paris in 1791, hoping to one day reclaim them. Though fate intervened, the jewels were eventually passed down to her only surviving child, Duchess Marie Thérèse de Angoulême, and later to her niece, Duchess Marie Thérèse de Chambord. Though not known for certain, it is likely that this diamond was part of this inheritance.

Generations later, a will identified the diamond’s next known owner: Queen Marie Theresa of Bavaria, who referred to it as “a pink solitaire diamond from Aunt Chambord.” Presented in a velvet case containing a hat pin bearing the Austrian Imperial Warrant—likely dating to 1868—the diamond’s provenance reflects its imperial legacy. The jewel last surfaced at auction in Geneva in 1996, was offered by a member of a European royal family and has remained out of public view until now. Today, it has been reimagined by the legendary Parisian jeweler Joel Arthur Rosenthal (JAR) and set into a spectacular ring that transforms it into a contemporary masterpiece, imbued with centuries of royal history, elegance, and intrigue.

Additional highlights include a Magnificent Unmounted Diamond of 66.74 carats, D color, VVS1 clarity (Estimate $3,200,000 - 4,200,000). Another highlight is a Fine Colored Diamond Ring featuring a 17.98-carat light blue pear brilliant-cut diamond set in platinum (Estimate $1,000,000 - 1,500,000) from Important Jewels from a Distinguished Family Collection.

The sale also features several outstanding signed jewels such as a Cartier Onyx, Emerald, And Diamond 'Panthère' Brooch (Estimate $250,000 -350,000), a Cartier Art Deco Multi-Gem and Diamond Shoulder Brooch (Estimate $100,000 - 150,000), and a Rare Van Cleef & Arpels Sapphire and Diamond Ring (Estimate $400,000 - 600,000) as well as An Important Chaumet Colored Diamond and Sapphire Ring (Estimate $500,000 - 700,000).

Among the jewels with exceptional provenance is a Suzanne Belperron Star Sapphire and Sapphire 'Plastron' Necklace, (Estimate $250,000 to $350,000), originally from the collection of Elsa Schiaparelli. A second piece formerly owned by Schiaparelli is the Suzanne Belperron Diamond 'Torsade' Bracelet (Estimate $100,000-150,000), in which sections of diamonds and platinum intertwine to form dynamic sculptural shapes.

Rounding out the sale are several important private collections, previously announced, including Color and Ingenuity: The Collection of Lucille Coleman, The Jewelry Collection of Anne H. Bass, and Magnificent Mughal Jewels: Property from a Royal Collection.