Auction Results: Sotheby's Magnificent Jewels and Noble Jewels - Geneva, November 11 2015

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What a night it must have been yesterday night! The hammer went down, at Sotheby’s Geneva, to mark a new world record for the sale of a coloured diamond. The Blue Moon, a 12.03 carat cushion-shaped, Fancy Vivid Blue Diamond, was sold for a sensational $48,468,158 ($4,028,941 per carat; estimate was $35-55m). A new world record marked for price-per-carat, for any diamond of any colour, for any gemstone, or any jewel. A true milestone in auction’s history.

The Blue Moon Diamond. Among the world's largest known fancy vivid blue diamonds, this exquisite stone weighs 12.03 carats and has been graded Fancy Vivid Blue – the highest possible colour grading for blue diamonds - by the Gemological Institute of America (GIA). The cushion brilliant-cut stone also boasts exceptional clarity, having been declared Internally Flawless by the GIA. Estimate $35-55 million. — The Blue Moon Diamond. Among the world’s largest known fancy vivid blue diamonds, this exquisite stone weighs 12.03 carats and has been graded Fancy Vivid Blue – the highest possible colour grading for blue diamonds – by the Gemological Institute of America (GIA). The cushion brilliant-cut stone also boasts exceptional clarity, having been declared Internally Flawless by the GIA. Estimate $35-55 million. Sold for $48.5 million.

Also The Blue Moon, like The Pink (sold during Christie’s Geneva Magnificent Jewels auction on November 10 to a Hong Kong private buyer, and now known as ‘Sweet Josephine’), has been christened with a new name, which also has the name ‘Josephine’ in it: ‘The Blue Moon of Josephine’… Who knows, it might be the same private collector, in which case this lady named Josephine is for sure a very privileged and cherished person, having received two of those diamonds ranking among the greatest gems in the whole world.

Discover The Blue Moon of Josephine in this video.

Going back to the books, let us remember that the prior auction record for any diamond was held by The Graff Pink (24.78 carats) which was sold for $46.2 million at Sotheby’s Geneva in 2010, and here described by David Bennett, Sotheby’s Worldwide Chairman of Jewellery:

Another important diamond, The Zoe Diamond ($3,348,205 per carat), set the benchmark for the auction record price-per-carat for any diamond and gemstone: a record equally smashed by The Blue Moon of Josephine‘s exceptional result.

The Zoe Diamond – 9.75 carat Vivid Blue Diamond, Most Expensive Diamond per carat and Most Expensive Blue at the time of auction. Image: Sotheby’s — The Zoe Diamond – 9.75 carat Vivid Blue Diamond. Most Expensive Diamond per carat and Most Expensive Blue at the time of auction. Estimate: $10-15 million. Sold for $32,645,000. Image: Sotheby’s

Again on The Blue Moon of Josephine, Mr Bennet says:

I am absolutely delighted with this evening’s record result – this show-stopping blue diamond surely is a once-in-a-lifetime stone. I’m also pleased to say that tonight’s sale takeout total in Geneva for this year to an unprecedented 300 million dollars, following our record-breaking sales in May. The star of the evening, the ‘Blue Moon of Josephine’ was discovered at the Cullinan Mine, which is owned by Petra Diamonds, and was polished to perfection by Cora International. It now takes its place among the world’s greatest diamonds.

Further auction highlights include:

Purple-Pink Diamond Ring. Among the other leading highlights of the upcoming sale are a superb fancy vivid purple-pink diamond ring weighing 8.24 carats of exceptional colour. $12,500,000-16,500,000.

A superb fancy vivid purple-pink diamond ring of exceptional colour weighing 8.24 carats was sold for $13,866,553 ($1,682,834 per carat) to an anonymous buyer.

A Fancy Orangy Pink diamond pendant. The selection of coloured diamonds to be presented in November also includes a sublime fancy orangy-pink diamond pendant, which comes directly from the celebrated actor Sir Sean Connery. The briolette-shaped stone weighs 15.20 carats and boasts VS2 Clarity. Estimate $1,200,000-2,400,000.

WORLD AUCTION RECORD FOR A FANCY ORANGY PINK DIAMOND. From the collection of Sir Sean Connery, this sublime fancy orange-pink diamond pendant, weighing 15.20 carats and boasting VS2 US4 Clarity, was sold for $4,044,162 ($266,063 per carat) to International Trade.

Emerald and diamond necklace, Harry Winston, 1959. From the beautiful jewellery collection of the late Dolores Sherwood Bosshard comes a magnificent emerald and diamond necklace, designed by Harry Winston in 1959. This stunning piece showcases the legendary jeweller’s bold, innovative designs and superior workmanship. Estimate $2,000,000-4,000,000.

Necklace composed of a line of step-cut emeralds framed with brilliant-cut diamonds, alternating with similarly cut diamond motifs, the central step-cut emerald stated to weigh 20.61 carats; the front highlighted with a detachable line of variously shaped emeralds and brilliant-cut diamonds, the central hexagonal emerald stated to weigh 22.25 carats, suspending a detachable pendant set with a pear-shaped emerald stated to weigh 15.97 carats, surrounded with brilliant-cut diamonds. This magnificent emerald and diamond necklace, by Harry Winston, 1959, was sold for $3,820,926 to an anonymous buyer.

Very fine sapphire and diamond ring. Set with a cushion-shaped sapphire weighing 40.13 carats, within a surround of marquise-shaped diamonds. Accompanied by SSEF report no. 82356 and Gübelin report no. 9810043, dated 14 October 1998, each stating that the sapphire is of Burmese origin, with no indications of heating, ‘royal blue’ colour; together with an appendix letter expressing the quality and the rarity of the stone, and a Gübelin report.

Sold for $3,179,122 ($79,221 per carat) to an anonymous buyer.

A Kashmir sapphire-diamond ring. A superb sapphire and diamond ring weighing 16.40 carats with certified no evidence of heating. Origin: Kashmir. Estimate: $1,800,000-2,800,000.

This superb Kashmir sapphire and diamond ring weighing 16.40 carats sold for $2,760,554 ($168,327 per carat) to an International Private buyer.

A Fancy Vivid Yellow diamond ring: an extraordinary yellow diamond ring weighing 22.43 carats. The stone has been graded “Fancy Vivid Yellow” by the GIA, with VS2 Clarity. Estimate $1,300,000-1,600,000.

A fancy vivid yellow diamond ring, set with a tep-cut fancy vivid yellow diamond weighing 22.43 carats, between two similarly cut diamonds weighing 4.09 and 4.13 carats. Accompanied by GIA report no. 1176238839, stating that the central diamond is Fancy Vivid Yellow, Natural Colour, VS2 Clarity, and GIA report no. 5172238876 and no. 2175238872, stating that the side diamonds are both E Colour, VVS2 Clarity.

Sold for $2,581,168 ($115,077 per carat) to an anonymous buyer.

Attractive fancy intense blue diamond ring. Estimate: $1,166,010 - 1,744,033. — Attractive fancy intense blue diamond ring. Estimate: $1,166,010 – 1,744,033.

An attractive fancy intense blue diamond ring. Set with a pear-shaped fancy intense blue diamond weighing 3.17 carats, framed with brilliant-cut diamonds of pink tint, the mount highlighted with brilliant-cut diamonds. Accompanied by GIA report no. 5171223455, stating that the diamond is Fancy Intense Blue, Natural Colour, VS2 Clarity.

Sold for $2,521,373 ($795,386 per carat) to International Trade.

Ruby, sapphire and diamond bar brooch, monture VCA. Estimate: $583,005 - 971,675. — Ruby, sapphire and diamond bar brooch, monture VCA. Estimate: $583,005 – 971,675.

A ruby, sapphire and diamond bar brooch, monture by Van Cleef & Arpels. The centre set with an oval ruby weighing 6.02 carats, between two cushion-shaped sapphires weighing 10.44 and 13.44 carats, further highlighted with brilliant-cut diamonds, signed monture VCA, numbered, French assay and maker’s marks.

Accompanied by SSEF report no. 82325 and Gübelin report no. 15100007, each stating that the sapphire weighing 13.44 carats is of Kashmir origin, with no indications of heating. Also accompanied by SSEF report no. 82326, stating that the ruby is of Burmese origin, with no indications of heating and with a moderate amount of oil in fissures; and report no. 82327, stating that the sapphire weighing 10.44 carats is of Ceylon origin, with no indications of heating.

Sold for $2,521,373 to an anonymous buyer.

Attractive fancy brownish orangy pink diamond ring. Estimate: $971,675 - 1,455,021 — Attractive fancy brownish orangy pink diamond ring. Estimate: $971,675 – 1,455,021.

An attractive fancy brownish orange pink diamond ring. Set with a pear-shaped fancy brownish orangy pink diamond weighing 10.58 carats. Accompanied by GIA report no. 2165713918, stating that the diamond is Fancy Brownish Orangy Pink, Natural Colour, VS1 Clarity.

Sold for $2,162,600 ($204,405 per carat) to International Trade.

More highlights include two tiaras with noble provenance: a pearl and diamond Cartier tiara, saved from the sinking of the Lusitania in 1915 sold for US$799,265. Once part of the jewellery collection of Lady Marguerite Allan (1873-1957), the tiara was among the jewels she took on board the ill-fated ship. Lady Allan survived the disaster, as did the tiara, and remained in the family.

Marguerite, Lady Allan, Cartier Tiara. Designed as an open work Greek key band set with diamonds and with an outer border of pearls, this tiara lies at the centre of a fascinating story. Ordered from Cartier by Canadian ship owner Sir Hugh Montagu Allan around 1909, it was part of the jewellery collection of his wife Lady Marguerite Allan (1873-1957). The tiara was among the jewels which Lady Allan took with her on board the ill-fated RMS Lusitania in 1915; the ship sank after being torpedoed by a German submarine. Lady Allan survived the disaster, as did the tiara, and remained in the family. Estimate: $300,000-450,000.

And a striking tiara by Cartier made of steel and diamonds totalled US$536,165:

Steel and diamond tiara, Cartier, circa 1912. This striking tiara by Cartier is made of blackened steel and decorated with rows of diamonds; its rarity adds to its resolutely modern style. This fabulous wedding gift was originally one of a series of five Cartier diadems of the same type – but featuring different motifs – made between 1912 and 1915. Estimate: $520,000-720,000.

Last but not the least, three captivating pairs of ear clips by JAR, saw strong prices yesterday night. They were led by a pair of bombé design ear clips, featuring two sugarloaf cabochon sapphires within a mount pavé-set with diamonds, that sold for US$584,002: