The highest result ever of a jewellery auction: US$150,216,738 reached at Christie's Geneva Magnificent Jewels Auction

On 11th November, Christie’s Geneva sale of Magnificent Jewels achieved US$150,216,738 / €120,853,717, selling 89% by lot and 94% by value, realising the highest total for any Magnificent Jewels sale in the world.

A magnificent auction indeed, if we consider also the 54% of the items presented selling above their pre-sale estimate.

This extraordinary result, combined with the Patek Philippe 175 and the Important Watches sale, concludes Christie’s 2014 autumn sale week with a grand total of US$185,011,232/€148,815,838, the highest total since the first Christie’s auction in Geneva in 1969.

The Blue Belle of Asia, a 392.52 carat Ceylon sapphire, realised US$17,2, establishing a new record price for any sapphire sold at auction.

A Pair of Fancy Vivid Blue and Fancy Vivid Pink Diamond Ear Pendants by Bulgari acquired by Laurence Graff, realised another astonishing US$15,820,731 /€12,728,236:

Other highlights include:

THE CARTIER TIGERS

After a bidding battle between collectors seated in the room and on the telephone, the legendary Cartier tigers, formerly in the collection of the Duchess of Windsor, have been acquired for US$3,138,848. The consignor Sarah Brightman intends to offer a portion of the proceeds from the sale to The Andrew Lloyd Webber Foundation.

The bracelet realistically modelled as a tiger encircling the wrist, the articulated body, paws and tail entirely pavé-set with brilliant-cut yellow and colourless diamonds interspersed with buff top onyx stripes, the head further set with onyx nose and marquise-shaped emerald eyes, with concealed clasp, 1956; together with a matching clip brooch modelled as a tiger in repose, 1959.

EMPRESS EUGENIE’S « FEUILLES DE GROSEILLIER » BROOCH

The spectacular and historic antique brooch once part of the French Crown Jewels sold for SFr.2,285,000/US$2,330,929. This piece, created by Bapst Jewellers in 1855, was previously owned by the Metropolitan Opera of New York.

Again, the Art Deco natural pearl and diamond necklace from the private collection of the Baroness Edouard de Rothschild which sold for US$5,195,369

Of Indian inspiration, composed of two rows of pear-shaped and old-cut diamond links, suspending at the front two natural pearl pendants, measuring approximately 16.0 x 15.9 mm and 16.3 x 15.8 mm, with four additional links, mounted in platinum, 33.0 cm

and the JAR “Parrot Tulip” bangle bracelet realised US$3,595,853 against a pre-sale estimate of 290,000, thus establishing the second highest price for a creation by JAR: