GENEVA.- Christie’s announced the sale of THE ORANGE, the largest fancy vivid orange diamond ever to appear for sale at auction. Weighing approximately 14.82 carats, this sensational gem - by far the largest fancy vivid orange diamond in the world - will lead the Christie’s auction of Magnificent Jewels to be held in Geneva on 12 November 2013.

Featuring over 280 lots, Christie’s sale includes some of the rarest gems, impressive period and signed jewels as well as Royal treasures.

Provenance will play a key role as exemplified by the sophisticated jewellery collection of style icon Hélène Rochas and three exceptional jewels formerly part of the collection of Simón Itturi Patiño, known as ‘The Andean Rockefeller’.

Rahul Kadakia, Head of Jewellery, Christie's Switzerland and Americas, commented: ‘With the magnificent Patiño emerald suite and diamond ring, the Princess Faiza emerald drop necklace by Van Cleef & Arpels, the stylish jewels of Madame Hélène Rochas, a Princely Art Deco emerald and diamond sautoir by Cartier, a Royal natural pearl necklace, and the largest Vivid Orange diamond in the world, Christie’s Geneva is proud to offer collectors the best of the best in the world of jewelry on November 12’.

THE ORANGE : THE LARGEST FANCY VIVID ORANGE DIAMOND IN THE WORLD
Pure orange diamonds, also named ‘Fire diamonds’ by famous gemologist Edwin Streeter in his book The Great Diamonds of the World (1882), are exceptionally rare in nature. Among the very few fancy vivid orange diamonds that were ever sold at auction, the largest was less than 6 carats, making THE ORANGE diamond, weighing 14.82 carats, the ultimate possession for diamond collectors (estimate: SFr.16,000,000-19,000,000 / US$17,000,000-20,000,000 / €14,000,000-16,000,000).

The GIA Gemological Institute of America recently declared: ‘In the Laboratory’s experience, strongly coloured diamonds in the orange hue range rarely exceed three or four carats in size when polished. (This diamond) is almost four times larger than that size range. In GIA’s coloured diamond grading system, as the colour appearance of strongly coloured diamonds transitions from orangy yellow to orange the occurrence becomes progressively more rare -that is- the less yellow present the more rarely they occur.’

EXCEPTIONAL RUBIES AND SAPPHIRES
Further highlights of the sale include an exceptional ruby and coloured diamond ring, set with an oval-shaped ruby, weighing approximately 5.09 carats (estimate: SFr.1,500,000-2,500,000 / US$1,600,000-2,700,000 / €1,300,000-2,100,000). Declared to be of Burmese origin, the ruby bears that vivid, saturated colour, poetically referred to as ‘pigeon blood’ red, which is due to a combination of well-balanced trace elements characteristic of the finest rubies from Mogok. Rarely appearing on the market, important Burmese rubies offered at Christie’s in the past have realised on average over US$500,000 per carat each.

Also on offer is a set formed of an antique ruby and diamond necklace and pair of earrings created in the late 19th century. The necklace is composed of eighteen graduated diamond clusters, each centering upon an oval or cushion-shaped ruby, interspersed by diamond collets, suspending at the front a detachable pendant (estimate: SFr.400,000-600,000 / US$430,000-640,000 / €340,000-500,000).

Amongst the most remarkable gemstones on offer is also a 58.29 carat sapphire lavishly mounted in the unique and multi-gem ‘Côte D’Azur’ brooch designed by Anna Hu (estimate: SFr.2,350,000-3,300,000 / US$2,500,000-3,500,000 / €2,000,000-2,700,000), Anna Hu’s stunning creations have been worn by style-influencers the likes of Madonna, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Natalie Portman. Combining eastern and western influences, her works are often inspired by classical music and nature but she also draws references from Impressionism and Art Nouveau.

An impressive 23.49 carat oval-shaped sapphire and diamond ring, by Van Cleef & Arpels will also be featured. Of Burmese origin, this gorgeous gem bears the unmistakable Royal Blue colour and is estimated at SFr.610,000-710,000 / US$ 650,000-750,000 / €500,000-590,000.

ROYAL PEARLS
The property of a Royal family, a spectacular seven-strand natural pearl and diamond necklace made of 614 natural saltwater pearls will be offered during the auction (estimate: SFr.2,800,000-4,200,000 / US$3,000,000-4,500,000 / €2,400,000-3,500,000).

The pearls forming this exceptional necklace, exhibit a smooth surface, resulting in a fine and matching pearl luster.

Their colour subtly ranges from white to cream, partly with distinct rosé and green overtones.

These overtones - poetically also referred to as the ‘Orient of the pearls’ - are an iridescence effect caused on the surface of pearls and contribute greatly to their beauty.

CARTIER TREASURES
The auction is further highlighted by a Belle Epoque sapphire and diamond necklace, by Cartier (estimate: SFr.250,000-350,000 / US$270,000-370,000 / €210,000-290,000). Of Ceylon origin, this cushion-shaped sapphire set in a pavé-set diamond surround, with a rectangular-cut diamond surmount, from the early 1910s, is ranked amongst Cartier’s greatest achievements. In fact the present sautoir is a rare example of the creations from the jewelers celebrated Art Deco production which has not been remodelled, as so many have been over the generations.

Amongst the stunning jewels offered during this sale is one of the greatest necklaces of the Art Deco period, an emerald and diamond sautoir (estimate: SFr.2,650,000-3,580,000 / US$2,800,000-3,800,000 / €2,200,000-3,000,000). Created by Cartier in 1926 from 14 emeralds of Colombian origin, this is a detachable stylized shield-shaped diamond pendant decorated with cut-cornered rectangular-cut emeralds. The present sautoir demonstrates the incredible quality of the Cartier designs of the time, mixing perfectly Oriental inspiration with the Western new standards to produce a jewel which, almost 90 years after, is still of outstanding modernity.

Few jewels have captured the imagination of connoisseurs and collectors alike, such as the ‘Tutti-Frutti’ creations by Cartier. These pieces are a direct translation of the colourful enamel decoration seen on the reverse of Indian jewellery, particularly that of Jaipur origin. Jacques Cartier was to make his first trip to India in 1911. This visit had a profound effect on the jewels produced by the firm throughout the 1920s and 30s and indirectly affected the entire jewellery design field of which the House of Cartier was one of the forerunners. As only very few real Cartier Art Deco ‘Tutti-Frutti’ jewels made their way to the contemporary period, it is a great honor for Christie's to present at auction a very fine diamond, sapphire, emerald, ruby and enamel bracelet created by Cartier in the 1930s (estimate: SFr.750,000-1,150,000 / US$800,000-1,200,000 / €630,000-950,000).

NECKLACES FIT FOR A PRINCESS
Christie’s are proud to offer an Art Deco emerald and diamond necklace, by Van Cleef & Arpels, formerly from the collection of Princess Faiza of Egypt, daughter of King Fouad I of Egypt (1868-1936) (estimate: SFr.2,500,000-3,500,000 / US$2,700,000-3,700,000 / €2,100,000-2,900,000).

The emerald and diamond necklace which is offered here demonstrates perfect craftsmanship. The emerald drops hang from the diamond motives set in such a unique way, that it allows the stones to move very gently on the ‘décolleté’ of the woman who wears the piece. In a very pure Art Deco style, the necklace is imposing, yet graceful, which is normal as it was worn by Princess Faiza as a ‘Court Jewel’, as captured on the far right in the photograph right.

Princess Faiza’s emerald and diamond necklace is a very rare souvenir of pre-revolutionary Egypt in the late 1940s. The discovery of this truly amazing piece of jewellery, which could have been lost forever, brings back to mind the memory of a most elegant, gracious and beautiful woman: HRH Princess Faiza of Egypt.

The Property of the Royal Family of Savoy, a beautifully designed and manufactured Art Deco diamond sautoir of surprisingly modern style is also featured amongst the particularly rich selection of Royal jewels offered at Christie's Geneva this November. Formerly part of the collection of HRH Princess Lydia of Arenberg, Duchess of Genova (pictured left wearing the sautoir), this magnificent jewel is estimated at SFr.60,000-80,000 / US$64,000-85,000 / €50,000-60,000).

JAR JEWELS
Considered as the greatest contemporary jeweller, Joel Arthur Rosenthal, JAR is synonymous of exceptional craftsmanship. Passion and perfectionism are terms freely used in a world that revolves around exaggerated sensation, but these two words seem to perfectly sum up the extraordinary creativity and drive of this unique creator. JAR jewels are extremely rare and whenever they come up at auction they attract the interest of the world’s most demanding collectors. This autumn in Geneva Christie’s will offer three extraordinary creations by JAR.

Designed as three stylized leaves pavé-set with emeralds, peridots, garnets, citrines and zircons and centering upon a cushion-shaped emerald, a stunning 1989 gem-set leaf brooch perfectly exemplifies JAR's legendary skill in blending colors of gemstones (estimate: SFr.470,000-660,000 / US$510,000-700,000 / €400,000-550,000).

An elegant cushion-shaped 15.50 carat diamond, enhanced by a silver line of graduated single-cut diamonds set around the base of the gallery is estimated at SFr.380,000-570,000 / US$400,000-600,000 / €320,000-470,000).

Created in 2001, a pair of moonstone, quartz and diamond ear clips mounted in silver, gold and platinum were formerly from the renowned collection of Mrs. Lily Safra (estimate: SFr.40,000-60,000 / US$43,000-64,000 / €34,000-50,000).