India and Himalaya
not including Golconda diamonds
Except otherwise stated, all results include the premium.
See also : Tibet and Nepal Buddhism Modern India Gaitonde Ancient sculpture Early Buddhist sculpture Islam Historical arms Blade and armour Cartier
Chronology : 1620-1629 1790-1799
Except otherwise stated, all results include the premium.
See also : Tibet and Nepal Buddhism Modern India Gaitonde Ancient sculpture Early Buddhist sculpture Islam Historical arms Blade and armour Cartier
Chronology : 1620-1629 1790-1799
Pala Figure
2017 SOLD for $ 24.7M by Christie's
The dynasty which reigned through four centuries over Bengal and Bihar is identified as Pala, a suffix meaning "protector" that was added to the personal name of each monarch.
Three religions cohabitated : Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism. They shared a same preoccupation of regulating the communication between the divine and the mortal. In Buddhism this function is assured by the bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara.
On March 14, 2017, Christie's sold as lot 233 for $ 24.7M a statue realized in the later phase of the Pala period around 900 years ago.
The young man sits on a thick lotus, one leg bent and the other hanging. This figure is carved in a black stone similar to a schist which was widely used in the Pala steles and whose hardness enables a great sharpness of sculpture.
He necessarily has all the qualities. The spectacular dynamism of the attitude appeals to dialogue with the faithful. He is a prince elegantly dressed with a profusion of pectoral jewels chiseled in the stone but he also is an ascetic recognizable by his braided hair. His belonging to Buddhism is identified by Amitabha hidden in a fold of the tiara : he is altogether Avalokiteshvara, the all-seeing lord, and Lokanatha, the savior of the world.
The character is life-size in this 148 cm high statue. Such characteristics unusual in Buddhist art suggests that it was the main devotional figure in a temple specially dedicated to Avalokiteshvara.
It was from 1922 an important piece in the collection of Indian art of the Boston Museum before being de-accessionned in 1935 for a trade with another statue of the same culture. The arms and nose were missing. The nose was later rebuilt.
Three religions cohabitated : Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism. They shared a same preoccupation of regulating the communication between the divine and the mortal. In Buddhism this function is assured by the bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara.
On March 14, 2017, Christie's sold as lot 233 for $ 24.7M a statue realized in the later phase of the Pala period around 900 years ago.
The young man sits on a thick lotus, one leg bent and the other hanging. This figure is carved in a black stone similar to a schist which was widely used in the Pala steles and whose hardness enables a great sharpness of sculpture.
He necessarily has all the qualities. The spectacular dynamism of the attitude appeals to dialogue with the faithful. He is a prince elegantly dressed with a profusion of pectoral jewels chiseled in the stone but he also is an ascetic recognizable by his braided hair. His belonging to Buddhism is identified by Amitabha hidden in a fold of the tiara : he is altogether Avalokiteshvara, the all-seeing lord, and Lokanatha, the savior of the world.
The character is life-size in this 148 cm high statue. Such characteristics unusual in Buddhist art suggests that it was the main devotional figure in a temple specially dedicated to Avalokiteshvara.
It was from 1922 an important piece in the collection of Indian art of the Boston Museum before being de-accessionned in 1935 for a trade with another statue of the same culture. The arms and nose were missing. The nose was later rebuilt.
#AsianArtWeek : du 14 au 17 mars @ChristiesInc organise une série de ventes consacrées à l’art d’Asie https://t.co/RTGNrQolil pic.twitter.com/ampK2u6qRS
— Christie's Paris (@christiesparis) March 13, 2017
13th/14th century Nepalese Padmapani
2015 SOLD for $ 8.2M by Christie's
In all religions, gods must be worshiped but are intimidating. In Buddhism, the bodhisattva solves this paradox. He is conceived as a faithful following the right path, on several levels of which the most developed reaches the perfection of a deity.
The bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara was popular under various names throughout the Buddhist world. Nepalese enthusiastically welcomed this charming young man entrusted for teaching purity to them. Nepalese bronzes show him in a standing position with a big lotus on its rod floating behind the left arm.
With his hand wide open as a sign of benevolence, his bare chest and his face focused on meditation, Avalokiteshvara is somehow the Apollo of Buddhism.
A gilt bronze 45 cm high made in Nepal 800 to 700 years ago was sold for $ 2.5M by Christie's on March 20, 2012 over a lower estimate of $ 250K.
A gilt bronze 64 cm high made in Nepal in the 13th century CE was sold for $ 8.2M from a lower estimate of $ 2M by Christie's on March 17, 2015, lot 25. The standing bodhisattva is in the attitude of Padmapani holding a blossoming lotus at his left shoulder. Its execution is extremely fine.
This gilt bronze includes a further refinement of high importance. The crown is centered with a fine seated figure of Amitabha, the Buddha of Nirvana, leaving no doubt about the role played by Avalokiteshvara to guide humans to the gods.
The bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara was popular under various names throughout the Buddhist world. Nepalese enthusiastically welcomed this charming young man entrusted for teaching purity to them. Nepalese bronzes show him in a standing position with a big lotus on its rod floating behind the left arm.
With his hand wide open as a sign of benevolence, his bare chest and his face focused on meditation, Avalokiteshvara is somehow the Apollo of Buddhism.
A gilt bronze 45 cm high made in Nepal 800 to 700 years ago was sold for $ 2.5M by Christie's on March 20, 2012 over a lower estimate of $ 250K.
A gilt bronze 64 cm high made in Nepal in the 13th century CE was sold for $ 8.2M from a lower estimate of $ 2M by Christie's on March 17, 2015, lot 25. The standing bodhisattva is in the attitude of Padmapani holding a blossoming lotus at his left shoulder. Its execution is extremely fine.
This gilt bronze includes a further refinement of high importance. The crown is centered with a fine seated figure of Amitabha, the Buddha of Nirvana, leaving no doubt about the role played by Avalokiteshvara to guide humans to the gods.
Mr Ellsworth's Gilt Bronze Figure of Avalokiteshvara
(Nepal, 13th Century) realized $8,229,000 against $3m estimate pic.twitter.com/4D4ot0J7k0
— Christie's (@ChristiesInc) March 17, 20151627-1972 The Taj Mahal of Elizabeth Taylor
2011 SOLD for $ 8.8M by Christie's
The ideal art, which makes the whole world dream, must evoke love, death and wealth at the same time. Adding elegance and monumentality, I described the Taj Mahal, the mausoleum of the beloved wife of Shah Jahan.
In 1972, for Elizabeth Taylor's 40th birthday, Richard Burton humorously declares that he would have liked to offer her the Taj Mahal but that the monument was not transportable. The real gift is an evocation of it : a Mughal piece of jewelry, which Burton had bought for around £ 350K.
This jewel is centered with a large heart-shaped diamond inserted in a surrounding of same shape in red stones, jade and small diamonds. The diamond is inscribed in Persian : Nur Jahan Baygum Padshah, 23, 1037. The ribbon for using it as a pendant is faded. Liz Taylor has it replaced by Cartier with a gold chain terminated by a fraying of gold threads bearing rubies.
In the Hegira calendar, 1037, corresponding to 1627 CE, is the year of Jahangir's death in the 23rd year of his reign and thus marks the end of the long recency of his wife Nur Jahan. Shah Jahan is the son and successor of Jahangir.
This jewel designated as the Taj Mahal was sold on December 13, 2011 for $ 8.8M from a lower estimate of $ 300K, lot 56 in the auction by Christie's of Elizabeth Taylor's estate.
After the sale, the buyer, who remained anonymous, understands that there is no evidence that the Taj Mahal jewel was ever in the hands of Jahangir or Shah Jahan. He is an important customer and Christie's is attempting to cancel the sale of this lot. The trust in charge of the actress's estate opposed it in 2015 and 2017 by legal complaints, arguing the absence of irregularity. The end of the story is not known.
In 1972, for Elizabeth Taylor's 40th birthday, Richard Burton humorously declares that he would have liked to offer her the Taj Mahal but that the monument was not transportable. The real gift is an evocation of it : a Mughal piece of jewelry, which Burton had bought for around £ 350K.
This jewel is centered with a large heart-shaped diamond inserted in a surrounding of same shape in red stones, jade and small diamonds. The diamond is inscribed in Persian : Nur Jahan Baygum Padshah, 23, 1037. The ribbon for using it as a pendant is faded. Liz Taylor has it replaced by Cartier with a gold chain terminated by a fraying of gold threads bearing rubies.
In the Hegira calendar, 1037, corresponding to 1627 CE, is the year of Jahangir's death in the 23rd year of his reign and thus marks the end of the long recency of his wife Nur Jahan. Shah Jahan is the son and successor of Jahangir.
This jewel designated as the Taj Mahal was sold on December 13, 2011 for $ 8.8M from a lower estimate of $ 300K, lot 56 in the auction by Christie's of Elizabeth Taylor's estate.
After the sale, the buyer, who remained anonymous, understands that there is no evidence that the Taj Mahal jewel was ever in the hands of Jahangir or Shah Jahan. He is an important customer and Christie's is attempting to cancel the sale of this lot. The trust in charge of the actress's estate opposed it in 2015 and 2017 by legal complaints, arguing the absence of irregularity. The end of the story is not known.
1799 The Bedchamber Sword of Tipu Sultan
2023 SOLD for £ 14M by Bonhams
Tipu Sultan said that he preferred to live one day as a tiger than a lifetime as a sheep. Nicknamed the Tiger of Mysore, the Sultan was one of the leading protagonists in the fight against the British in India during the wars of colonization. He ruled in an utmost luxury, including a monumental octagonal gold throne. He was a great warrior for the Muslim faith.
The Sultan died in battle in 1799 CE during the siege of his capital Seringapatam. Entering his locked bedchamber, the British observed that the Sultan had lived in constant alert. He used to sleep in a hammock suspended from the ceiling with a pair of pistols and a sword within reach by his side.
That single edged Mughal steel sword with a double edged point follows a model of 16th century German blades. The straight blade 38 mm wide is mounted with a hilt and kept in a velvet covered silver gilt wooden scabbard. The overall length in scabbard is 108 cm.
The gold inlaid calligraphy of the hilt records five of the qualities of God and two invocations calling on God by name. Each of the qualities and one of the invocations are repeated several times. An inscription translates as 'The Sword of the Ruler'.
The sword was presented on the spot by the army to Major General Baird who had led the successful assault on Seringapatam. From the Baird archives, it was sold for £ 150K before fees by Dix Noonan Webb on September 19, 2003, lot 3. It was sold for £ 14M by Bonhams on May 23, 2023, lot 175P.
The Sultan died in battle in 1799 CE during the siege of his capital Seringapatam. Entering his locked bedchamber, the British observed that the Sultan had lived in constant alert. He used to sleep in a hammock suspended from the ceiling with a pair of pistols and a sword within reach by his side.
That single edged Mughal steel sword with a double edged point follows a model of 16th century German blades. The straight blade 38 mm wide is mounted with a hilt and kept in a velvet covered silver gilt wooden scabbard. The overall length in scabbard is 108 cm.
The gold inlaid calligraphy of the hilt records five of the qualities of God and two invocations calling on God by name. Each of the qualities and one of the invocations are repeated several times. An inscription translates as 'The Sword of the Ruler'.
The sword was presented on the spot by the army to Major General Baird who had led the successful assault on Seringapatam. From the Baird archives, it was sold for £ 150K before fees by Dix Noonan Webb on September 19, 2003, lot 3. It was sold for £ 14M by Bonhams on May 23, 2023, lot 175P.
1881-1888 Kashmir Sapphire
In antique times the blue sapphires offered the best auspices. They promised love, harmony, truth and sincerity and protected against envy and harm. Yet our ancients ignored the most beautiful of them, the velvety sapphires from Kashmir, discovered in 1881 in a vein that will be depleted before 1888.
From the mineralogical and optical point of view, the velvety sapphire from Kashmir is an exceptional gem, welcoming all lightings. A small number of inclusions generates their color which is scattered throughout the volume of the crystal, bringing the illusion that the stone is illuminated from within.
The gems from that vein usually have a very high purity beyond the inclusions that generate the color. They are altogether saturated and translucent with a spectacular homogeneity around the royal blue. They compete in beauty with blue and pink diamonds and with the Mogok rubies.
Sapphire mining in Kashmir
The history of sapphire mining in Kashmir, located in the remote Paddar Valley of the Kishtwar district in Jammu and Kashmir, India, is relatively short but legendary due to the exceptional quality of the gems produced—renowned for their velvety cornflower blue color, often described as having a soft, hazy glow from fine rutile silk inclusions. These sapphires, formed in metamorphic rocks under intense geological conditions in the Himalayas, have been prized since their discovery, but mining has been sporadic and limited by the region's harsh terrain, political issues, and rapid depletion of deposits. Unlike long-established gem regions like Myanmar's ruby mines, Kashmir's sapphire output was confined to a brief boom period, with ongoing challenges in revival efforts.
Discovery and Early Mining (Late 19th Century)
Sapphire deposits in Kashmir were accidentally discovered in 1881 when a massive landslide or avalanche in the Zanskar range of the Himalayas exposed blue crystals in the high-altitude Sumjam area, at elevations around 4,500–5,000 meters. Local hunters or shepherds reportedly found the stones scattered on the ground, and word spread quickly to traders. By 1882, the Maharaja of Kashmir, Ranbir Singh, took control, establishing organized mining operations in what became known as the "Old Mine." Miners, often working under grueling conditions with basic tools like picks and shovels, extracted large quantities of rough sapphires from open pits and shallow tunnels in pegmatite veins embedded in kaolinized plagioclase.
This initial phase, from 1882 to 1887, was extraordinarily productive, yielding some of the largest and finest sapphires ever recorded, including crystals up to several inches long with unparalleled color saturation and clarity. The Maharaja monopolized the trade, exporting gems to Europe and India, where they gained fame among royalty and collectors. However, by 1887–1888, the accessible deposits were exhausted, with estimates suggesting that nearly all high-quality Kashmir sapphires in existence today originated from this five-to-six-year window. Operations halted as yields dropped dramatically, leaving behind a legacy of rarity that drives their premium value—often 10–20 times higher than sapphires from other origins.
Intermittent Attempts and Decline (20th Century)
After the initial depletion, mining ceased for over a decade. In the early 1900s, under British influence during the colonial era, the Maharaja's successors attempted to revive operations. From 1906 to 1908, and sporadically through the 1920s and 1930s, small-scale digs occurred, but these produced far fewer and generally lower-quality stones due to deeper, harder-to-access veins and weathering effects that caused many sapphires to lose their blue hue. Political instability, including the partition of India in 1947 and subsequent Indo-Pakistani conflicts, further hampered efforts, as the region became a disputed territory with restricted access.In the 1970s, the Indian government and private firms explored reopening mines, but results were disappointing. Harsh weather, avalanches, and logistical challenges—such as the need for seasonal mining limited to summer months—limited success. By the late 20th century, Kashmir sapphires were considered a finite resource, with most market supply coming from recycled antique jewelry rather than new extractions.
From the mineralogical and optical point of view, the velvety sapphire from Kashmir is an exceptional gem, welcoming all lightings. A small number of inclusions generates their color which is scattered throughout the volume of the crystal, bringing the illusion that the stone is illuminated from within.
The gems from that vein usually have a very high purity beyond the inclusions that generate the color. They are altogether saturated and translucent with a spectacular homogeneity around the royal blue. They compete in beauty with blue and pink diamonds and with the Mogok rubies.
Sapphire mining in Kashmir
The history of sapphire mining in Kashmir, located in the remote Paddar Valley of the Kishtwar district in Jammu and Kashmir, India, is relatively short but legendary due to the exceptional quality of the gems produced—renowned for their velvety cornflower blue color, often described as having a soft, hazy glow from fine rutile silk inclusions. These sapphires, formed in metamorphic rocks under intense geological conditions in the Himalayas, have been prized since their discovery, but mining has been sporadic and limited by the region's harsh terrain, political issues, and rapid depletion of deposits. Unlike long-established gem regions like Myanmar's ruby mines, Kashmir's sapphire output was confined to a brief boom period, with ongoing challenges in revival efforts.
Discovery and Early Mining (Late 19th Century)
Sapphire deposits in Kashmir were accidentally discovered in 1881 when a massive landslide or avalanche in the Zanskar range of the Himalayas exposed blue crystals in the high-altitude Sumjam area, at elevations around 4,500–5,000 meters. Local hunters or shepherds reportedly found the stones scattered on the ground, and word spread quickly to traders. By 1882, the Maharaja of Kashmir, Ranbir Singh, took control, establishing organized mining operations in what became known as the "Old Mine." Miners, often working under grueling conditions with basic tools like picks and shovels, extracted large quantities of rough sapphires from open pits and shallow tunnels in pegmatite veins embedded in kaolinized plagioclase.
This initial phase, from 1882 to 1887, was extraordinarily productive, yielding some of the largest and finest sapphires ever recorded, including crystals up to several inches long with unparalleled color saturation and clarity. The Maharaja monopolized the trade, exporting gems to Europe and India, where they gained fame among royalty and collectors. However, by 1887–1888, the accessible deposits were exhausted, with estimates suggesting that nearly all high-quality Kashmir sapphires in existence today originated from this five-to-six-year window. Operations halted as yields dropped dramatically, leaving behind a legacy of rarity that drives their premium value—often 10–20 times higher than sapphires from other origins.
Intermittent Attempts and Decline (20th Century)
After the initial depletion, mining ceased for over a decade. In the early 1900s, under British influence during the colonial era, the Maharaja's successors attempted to revive operations. From 1906 to 1908, and sporadically through the 1920s and 1930s, small-scale digs occurred, but these produced far fewer and generally lower-quality stones due to deeper, harder-to-access veins and weathering effects that caused many sapphires to lose their blue hue. Political instability, including the partition of India in 1947 and subsequent Indo-Pakistani conflicts, further hampered efforts, as the region became a disputed territory with restricted access.In the 1970s, the Indian government and private firms explored reopening mines, but results were disappointing. Harsh weather, avalanches, and logistical challenges—such as the need for seasonal mining limited to summer months—limited success. By the late 20th century, Kashmir sapphires were considered a finite resource, with most market supply coming from recycled antique jewelry rather than new extractions.
1
The Regent
2025 SOLD for HK$ 75M by Christie's
The Regent, a cushion shaped cornflower blue sapphire of 35.09 carats mounted on a platinum ring, was sold by Christie's for CHF 6.9M on May 13, 2015, lot 351, which was in period US $ 210 K per carat, lot 351, and for HK $ 75M on May 27, 2025, lot 1930.
An emerald cut sapphire weighing 27.68 carats in a somewhat stifling surrounding of white diamonds was sold for HK $ 52M by the Sotheby's on October 7, 2015.
Another example weighing 28.18 carats was sold for $ 5.1M by Sotheby's on 29 April 29, 2014, lot 458. It was mounted on a ring in an entourage of 32 baguette diamonds by Oscar Heyman & Brothers.
Weighing 20.22 carats, The Pride of Kashmir is indeed smaller than the examples listed above but its oval cut is superb and perfectly enhanced in its mounting on a ring between two triangular diamonds. It passed at Sotheby's on October 4, 2016, lot 1799. Please watch the video shared by the auction house.
On November 20, 2008, Christie's sold for CHF 4.2M a ring composed of a 42 carat sapphire surrounded by diamonds.
Grok thoughts :
Quote
GIA @GIAnews Aug 17, 2015
This 35.09 ct Kashmir #sapphire sold for just over $7.45 million @ChristiesInc in May. http://bit.ly/1BnHgAm
Quote
Christie's @ChristiesInc May 13, 2015
Today's Geneva jewels sale saw a #worldauctionrecord for a Kashmir sapphire, which sold for $7,357,999/CHF6,885,000
Asking Grok to link web pages on the 27.6-carat sapphire sold at Sotheby's.
Key Web Pages on the 27.6-Carat Kashmir Sapphire Sold at Sotheby's
The sapphire in question is a 27.68-carat unheated Kashmir stone (often rounded to 27.6 carats), set in an emerald-cut ring with diamond surround, which sold for approximately $6.7 million at Sotheby's Hong Kong Magnificent Jewels and Jadeite sale on May 20, 2015. It set a record price per carat for a sapphire at the time. Below is a curated list of relevant, authoritative web pages covering the auction, sale details, and historical context:
An emerald cut sapphire weighing 27.68 carats in a somewhat stifling surrounding of white diamonds was sold for HK $ 52M by the Sotheby's on October 7, 2015.
Another example weighing 28.18 carats was sold for $ 5.1M by Sotheby's on 29 April 29, 2014, lot 458. It was mounted on a ring in an entourage of 32 baguette diamonds by Oscar Heyman & Brothers.
Weighing 20.22 carats, The Pride of Kashmir is indeed smaller than the examples listed above but its oval cut is superb and perfectly enhanced in its mounting on a ring between two triangular diamonds. It passed at Sotheby's on October 4, 2016, lot 1799. Please watch the video shared by the auction house.
On November 20, 2008, Christie's sold for CHF 4.2M a ring composed of a 42 carat sapphire surrounded by diamonds.
Grok thoughts :
Quote
GIA @GIAnews Aug 17, 2015
This 35.09 ct Kashmir #sapphire sold for just over $7.45 million @ChristiesInc in May. http://bit.ly/1BnHgAm
- This 2015 post by GIA celebrates the auction of "The Regent Kashmir," a 35.09-carat antique cushion-shaped sapphire ring that fetched $7.45 million at Christie's Geneva, setting a then-record price of over $212,000 per carat due to its rare velvety blue hue from historic 1880s Kashmir mines.
- Kashmir sapphires command premiums for their natural silk inclusions creating a soft, glowing "cornflower" blue, as verified by GIA's certification of this untreated stone, which exhibits no heat enhancement common in modern gems.
- The same ring resold in May 2025 at Christie's Hong Kong for $9.5 million—nearly $271,000 per carat—highlighting surging demand for unheated legacy sapphires amid global collector interest and limited supply from depleted deposi
Quote
Christie's @ChristiesInc May 13, 2015
Today's Geneva jewels sale saw a #worldauctionrecord for a Kashmir sapphire, which sold for $7,357,999/CHF6,885,000
- Christie's 2015 Geneva sale featured a 35.09-carat unheated Kashmir sapphire ring that fetched $7.36 million, achieving a world auction record of $209,689 per carat for its vivid cornflower blue color and silky asterism.
- Kashmir sapphires originate from a single two-year mining episode in the 1880s, rendering them scarcer than many diamonds and highly coveted for their unique velvety texture visible in the post's close-up image.
- This record highlighted surging demand for natural, untreated gems but was surpassed within months by a 27.6-carat stone at Sotheby's, reflecting the competitive dynamics of luxury auctions.
Asking Grok to link web pages on the 27.6-carat sapphire sold at Sotheby's.
Key Web Pages on the 27.6-Carat Kashmir Sapphire Sold at Sotheby's
The sapphire in question is a 27.68-carat unheated Kashmir stone (often rounded to 27.6 carats), set in an emerald-cut ring with diamond surround, which sold for approximately $6.7 million at Sotheby's Hong Kong Magnificent Jewels and Jadeite sale on May 20, 2015. It set a record price per carat for a sapphire at the time. Below is a curated list of relevant, authoritative web pages covering the auction, sale details, and historical context:
- Sotheby's Official Auction Catalog Page: Detailed e-catalog entry for the lot (Lot 1860), including gem reports (AGL, Gübelin, SSEF confirming natural Kashmir origin and no heat treatment), high-resolution images, and provenance.
THE JEWEL OF KASHMIR Exceptional Sapphire and Diamond Ring - Sotheby's Guide to Kashmir Sapphires: In-depth article on the gem's rarity, history, and market value, with a dedicated section on this "Jewel of Kashmir" sale, including sale price (52.3 million HKD / ~$6.7 million) and comparisons to other records.
Kashmir Sapphires: A Detailed Guide for Collectors and Enthusiasts - Haruni Jewelers' Record-Breaking Sapphires List: Features the 2015 sale as a highlight, noting the $6.7 million hammer price, its saturated blue color, and purity, in a roundup of 16 top sapphire auctions.
16 Record-Breaking Sapphires Sold at Auction Houses - Galerie Magazine's Rare Sapphires Feature: Profiles the ring's design (emerald-cut sapphire with 5.70 carats of pear-shaped diamonds in 18k white gold) and exact sale price ($6,745,688), emphasizing its record per-carat value in a list of the world's most famous sapphires.
8 of the World’s Rarest and Most Famous Sapphires - Sotheby's Past Auction Results Archive: Searchable database of historical sales; filter for "Magnificent Jewels Hong Kong 2015" to view the full results, including this lot's final bid details.
Past Fine Art, Jewels, Watches, Wine Auction & Sale Results
Today's Geneva jewels sale saw a #worldauctionrecord for a Kashmir sapphire, which sold for $7,357,999/CHF6,885,000 pic.twitter.com/TPPFk6h1FL
— Christie's (@ChristiesInc) May 13, 2015
This 35.09 ct Kashmir #sapphire sold for just over $7.45 million @ChristiesInc in May. http://t.co/IALYAQZuxt pic.twitter.com/s0WV1NPVbj
— GIA (@GIAnews) August 17, 2015
2
The Peacock Necklace
2018 SOLD for HK$ 117M by Christie's
The discovery of the most beautiful variety of sapphires was by accident. In 1881, a merchant brought from the northwestern Himalayas to Simla a piece of blue stone harder than quartz. Other specimens came down from the mountain and at the beginning of the following year a mineralogist of the Indian Museum found that these were true sapphires.
These Kashmir sapphires are sensational in their saturated color, their transparency and their velvety surface. This balance is obtained by the presence of various impurities in the crystal of corundum : tourmaline, pragasite, zircon, allanite, biotite, garnet and even a natural radioactive tracer, the uraninite. Such a mixing is unique and allows to certify the origin of a sapphire without any information about its history.
Back to the early 1880s. The deposit that had been recently laid bare by a landslide is located in a valley of high altitude that required a week of approach walk. The value of these gems is not immediately understood but the local maharajah is able to control the extraction. In 1888, a geologist delegated by the maharajah finds that the vein is already depleted.
This ephemeral mine produced some big sapphires that reach their whole splendor through an emerald shaped cut in a circle of diamonds. One of them weighing 28.18 carats was sold for $ 5.1M by Sotheby's on April 29, 2014.
Another sapphire in a similar fashioning is named The Jewel of Kashmir. It weighs 27.68 carats and was sold for HK $ 52M by Sotheby's on October 7, 2015, lot 1860. Nature achieved the perfect balance between velvety and transparency, in a stunning royal blue hue altogether homogeneous and saturated.
The constitution of a collection to make a necklace is a patient work that can extend over several generations. After being cut into a homogeneous shape, the stones are assembled in a sequence of gradual dimensions.
The Peacock Necklace was sold for HK $ 117M from a lower estimate of HK $ 95M by Christie's on November 27, 2018, lot 2068.
On a platinum necklace 39.5 cm long, 21 Kashmir sapphires are interspersed with white diamonds. All these stones have a cushion shape. The weight of the sapphires ranges between 10.56 and 3.02 carats for a total of 109.08 carats which is staggering in their class. The diamonds are between 4 and 1 carats.
Please watch the video shared by the auction house, revealing that it took almost a hundred years to gather the gems and more than fifteen years to prepare the jewel.
These Kashmir sapphires are sensational in their saturated color, their transparency and their velvety surface. This balance is obtained by the presence of various impurities in the crystal of corundum : tourmaline, pragasite, zircon, allanite, biotite, garnet and even a natural radioactive tracer, the uraninite. Such a mixing is unique and allows to certify the origin of a sapphire without any information about its history.
Back to the early 1880s. The deposit that had been recently laid bare by a landslide is located in a valley of high altitude that required a week of approach walk. The value of these gems is not immediately understood but the local maharajah is able to control the extraction. In 1888, a geologist delegated by the maharajah finds that the vein is already depleted.
This ephemeral mine produced some big sapphires that reach their whole splendor through an emerald shaped cut in a circle of diamonds. One of them weighing 28.18 carats was sold for $ 5.1M by Sotheby's on April 29, 2014.
Another sapphire in a similar fashioning is named The Jewel of Kashmir. It weighs 27.68 carats and was sold for HK $ 52M by Sotheby's on October 7, 2015, lot 1860. Nature achieved the perfect balance between velvety and transparency, in a stunning royal blue hue altogether homogeneous and saturated.
The constitution of a collection to make a necklace is a patient work that can extend over several generations. After being cut into a homogeneous shape, the stones are assembled in a sequence of gradual dimensions.
The Peacock Necklace was sold for HK $ 117M from a lower estimate of HK $ 95M by Christie's on November 27, 2018, lot 2068.
On a platinum necklace 39.5 cm long, 21 Kashmir sapphires are interspersed with white diamonds. All these stones have a cushion shape. The weight of the sapphires ranges between 10.56 and 3.02 carats for a total of 109.08 carats which is staggering in their class. The diamonds are between 4 and 1 carats.
Please watch the video shared by the auction house, revealing that it took almost a hundred years to gather the gems and more than fifteen years to prepare the jewel.
3
The Royal Blue necklace
2025 SOLD for HK$ 125M by Christie's
A gold necklace made of sixteen antique cushion-shaped Kashmir sapphires of 13.37 to 3.43 carats and variously-cut diamonds was sold for HK $ 125M from a lower estimate of HK $ 100M by Christie's on November 25, 2025, lot 1934. Seven of the sapphires have the royal blue color, as confirmed by the SSEF Swiss Gemmological Institute.
Akking Grok to compare with the Peacock necklace sold by Christie's on November 27, 2018.
Grok thought :
2025 Nec299 Necklace (Christie's Magnificent Jewels, Hong Kong, November 25, 2025 – Lot 1934, "The Royal Blue")
Number of Sapphires
Royal : 16
Peacock : 21
Total Sapphire Weight
Royal : 104.61 carats
Peacock : 109.08 carats
Largest Sapphire
Royal : 13.37 carats
Peacock : 10.56 carats
Sapphire Quality
Royal : All no-heat Kashmir, "royal blue" (multiple lab reports)
Peacock : All no-heat Kashmir, "royal blue" (SSEF report)
Design/Motif
Royal : Traditional sapphire-diamond layout (no specific theme noted)
Peacock : Peacock feather engravings on mounting
Assembly Time
Royal : Antique stones recently mounted (details not specified)
Peacock : Over 15 years to source/cut + 9 months mounting
Estimate/Sale Price
Royal : Est. $13–19 million (2025 auction upcoming)
Peacock : Sold $14.9 million (2018)
Cultural/Artistic Note
Royal : Pure focus on gem rarity and color matching
Peacock : Thematic (peacock-inspired) + symbolic tie to sapphire color
Overall Rarity
Royal : Slightly fewer but potentially larger individual stones; described as one of the finest Kashmir suites ever
Peacock : Record-breaker in 2018; more stones, explicit artistry
Summary:
Both are ultra-rare modern masterpieces built around unmatched suites of unheated Kashmir sapphires – the most coveted colored gem variety due to their limited historical production and signature velvety blue. The 2018 Peacock has a slight edge in total carat weight, number of stones, and artistic flair (peacock engravings), which contributed to its thematic name and record price. The 2025 Royal Blue counters with fewer but marginally larger stones on average and a higher pre-sale estimate range, reflecting rising demand for top Kashmir material. In essence, they represent the pinnacle of sapphire jewelry, separated by subtle differences in assembly and design rather than overall quality. If the 2025 piece meets or exceeds its estimate, it could challenge or surpass the 2018 record (adjusted for market growth).
Akking Grok to compare with the Peacock necklace sold by Christie's on November 27, 2018.
Grok thought :
2025 Nec299 Necklace (Christie's Magnificent Jewels, Hong Kong, November 25, 2025 – Lot 1934, "The Royal Blue")
- Description: A modern sapphire and diamond necklace known as "The Royal Blue." It features 16 antique cushion-shaped Kashmir sapphires (no heat treatment, intense "royal blue" color), ranging from 3.43 to 13.37 carats, totaling 104.61 carats. The sapphires are accented by variously cut diamonds (totaling approximately 109.52 carats, D-F color, Internally Flawless to VS1 clarity). The setting is in gold, with a total length of about 47.8 cm and gross weight of 164.9 grams.
- Origin and Provenance: Kashmir sapphires from the historic mines (active only briefly in the late 19th century). Certified by Gübelin, AGL, and GIA reports confirming no heat and exceptional quality. Described as one of the finest assemblages of unheated Kashmir sapphires in a single piece.
- Design: Classic rivière-style or graduated layout with diamonds enhancing the sapphires. No thematic motif mentioned (e.g., no peacock engravings).
- Estimate: US$13–19 million (HK$100–150 million) – positioned as the top lot in the sale.
- Rarity Highlights: All sapphires unheated Kashmir with "royal blue" velvet saturation; fewer stones but comparable total weight to the 2018 piece.
- Description: A contemporary sapphire and diamond necklace dubbed "The Peacock Necklace." Set with 21 cushion-cut Kashmir sapphires (all no heat, cornflower "royal blue" with velvety texture), totaling 109.08 carats (largest stone 10.56 carats). Accented by diamonds; length 39.5 cm.
- Origin and Provenance: Kashmir sapphires assembled over decades (the mines exhausted by 1887). SSEF report. Took over 15 years to source and cut the stones, plus 9 months for the mounting.
- Design: Explicit peacock theme – the platinum mounting is engraved with peacock feather patterns, evoking the iridescent neck feathers of a peacock (which match the unique blue of Kashmir sapphires).
- Sold Price: HK$116,537,500 (approximately US$14.9 million) – set a world auction record at the time for a Kashmir sapphire necklace.
- Rarity Highlights: First necklace ever offered with such an extensive suite of matching Kashmir sapphires; the thematic engraving adds artistic value.
Number of Sapphires
Royal : 16
Peacock : 21
Total Sapphire Weight
Royal : 104.61 carats
Peacock : 109.08 carats
Largest Sapphire
Royal : 13.37 carats
Peacock : 10.56 carats
Sapphire Quality
Royal : All no-heat Kashmir, "royal blue" (multiple lab reports)
Peacock : All no-heat Kashmir, "royal blue" (SSEF report)
Design/Motif
Royal : Traditional sapphire-diamond layout (no specific theme noted)
Peacock : Peacock feather engravings on mounting
Assembly Time
Royal : Antique stones recently mounted (details not specified)
Peacock : Over 15 years to source/cut + 9 months mounting
Estimate/Sale Price
Royal : Est. $13–19 million (2025 auction upcoming)
Peacock : Sold $14.9 million (2018)
Cultural/Artistic Note
Royal : Pure focus on gem rarity and color matching
Peacock : Thematic (peacock-inspired) + symbolic tie to sapphire color
Overall Rarity
Royal : Slightly fewer but potentially larger individual stones; described as one of the finest Kashmir suites ever
Peacock : Record-breaker in 2018; more stones, explicit artistry
Summary:
Both are ultra-rare modern masterpieces built around unmatched suites of unheated Kashmir sapphires – the most coveted colored gem variety due to their limited historical production and signature velvety blue. The 2018 Peacock has a slight edge in total carat weight, number of stones, and artistic flair (peacock engravings), which contributed to its thematic name and record price. The 2025 Royal Blue counters with fewer but marginally larger stones on average and a higher pre-sale estimate range, reflecting rising demand for top Kashmir material. In essence, they represent the pinnacle of sapphire jewelry, separated by subtle differences in assembly and design rather than overall quality. If the 2025 piece meets or exceeds its estimate, it could challenge or surpass the 2018 record (adjusted for market growth).
3
The Richelieu Sapphires
2013 SOLD for CHF 7.7M by Sotheby's
A pair of sapphire earrings had been presented to an Odile de Richelieu in 1905 when she married a Prince de La Rochefoucauld. They had been remounted twice afterwards.
Each one is now consisting in its cushion cut sapphire hanging to a star set with cushion-shaped and pear-shaped diamonds. The weights of these sapphires are respectively 26.66 and 20.84 carats. They are velvet blue of medium to strong saturation. The pair is perfectly matching in size, shape and clarity.
The set was sold for CHF 7.7M from a lower estimate of CHF 2.3M by Sotheby's on November 13, 2013, lot 371.
Each one is now consisting in its cushion cut sapphire hanging to a star set with cushion-shaped and pear-shaped diamonds. The weights of these sapphires are respectively 26.66 and 20.84 carats. They are velvet blue of medium to strong saturation. The pair is perfectly matching in size, shape and clarity.
The set was sold for CHF 7.7M from a lower estimate of CHF 2.3M by Sotheby's on November 13, 2013, lot 371.
1954 Gram Yatra by Husain
2025 SOLD for $ 13.8M by Christie's
The Progressive Artists' Group was created in Bombay (later Mumbai) by six young artists, in 1947 at the time of the bloody riots that resulted from the partition of India and Pakistan. They desired to promote their various styles altogether inspired and departing from the new international art.
Maqbool Fida Husain was a founding member of the group and continued it from 1950 after Souza and Raza had left India. In an unprecedented epic style made of suites of vignettes, he was managing to express the mystic Indian traditions within the rural world, with bold colors in a stylized figuration.
An Untitled frieze painted in 1954 is one such pilgrimage to the village (Gram Yatra). Its thirteen panels are displaying a wide range of rural moments, capturing the relationship between earth and traditional peasants at work, expressing fertility and also populated by various animals. This oil on a single canvas 90 x 420 cm was sold for $ 13.8M from a lower estimate of $ 2.5M by Christie's on March 9, 2025, lot 715.
In the same style, another storyboard was painted in 1956 for the Biennale Internazionale d'Arte di Venezia. This oil on canvas 96 x 250 cm is made of nine painted elements and two blank areas. It was sold for £ 1.08M by Christie's on June 10, 2015, lot 27.
A separated vignette titled Yatra, oil on canvas 85 x 110 cm painted in 1955, was sold for $ 930K by Christie's on September 13, 2011, lot 13. A bullock draws in the field a cart populated by the monkey headed god Hanuman and his family. A similar image had been the central view of the 1954 Gram Yatra narrated above.
An assembly of nearly 20 elements titled Zameen, monumental oil on canvas painted in 1955, is kept at the National Gallery of Modern Art in New Delhi.
Grok response :
Quote
Christie's @ChristiesInc Mar 19
#WorldAuctionRecord M.F. Husain's 'Untitled (Gram Yatra)' has shattered the previous artist record achieving US$13,750,000 during South Asian Modern + Contemporary Indian Art Sale in New York. This is the highest price realised for any modern Indian work of art in the world.
Maqbool Fida Husain was a founding member of the group and continued it from 1950 after Souza and Raza had left India. In an unprecedented epic style made of suites of vignettes, he was managing to express the mystic Indian traditions within the rural world, with bold colors in a stylized figuration.
An Untitled frieze painted in 1954 is one such pilgrimage to the village (Gram Yatra). Its thirteen panels are displaying a wide range of rural moments, capturing the relationship between earth and traditional peasants at work, expressing fertility and also populated by various animals. This oil on a single canvas 90 x 420 cm was sold for $ 13.8M from a lower estimate of $ 2.5M by Christie's on March 9, 2025, lot 715.
In the same style, another storyboard was painted in 1956 for the Biennale Internazionale d'Arte di Venezia. This oil on canvas 96 x 250 cm is made of nine painted elements and two blank areas. It was sold for £ 1.08M by Christie's on June 10, 2015, lot 27.
A separated vignette titled Yatra, oil on canvas 85 x 110 cm painted in 1955, was sold for $ 930K by Christie's on September 13, 2011, lot 13. A bullock draws in the field a cart populated by the monkey headed god Hanuman and his family. A similar image had been the central view of the 1954 Gram Yatra narrated above.
An assembly of nearly 20 elements titled Zameen, monumental oil on canvas painted in 1955, is kept at the National Gallery of Modern Art in New Delhi.
Grok response :
Quote
Christie's @ChristiesInc Mar 19
#WorldAuctionRecord M.F. Husain's 'Untitled (Gram Yatra)' has shattered the previous artist record achieving US$13,750,000 during South Asian Modern + Contemporary Indian Art Sale in New York. This is the highest price realised for any modern Indian work of art in the world.
- The sale of M.F. Husain's "Untitled (Gram Yatra)" for $13.75 million at Christie's reflects a rare rediscovery, as the 1954 mural, originally painted for a Norwegian hospital, spent decades overlooked before fetching a record price for modern Indian art.
- Husain's work showcases a unique blend of Cubism and Indian cultural motifs, influenced by his 1952 trip to China where he adopted calligraphic brushwork, a technique evident in the painting's expressive strokes, aligning with his role in the Bombay Progressive Artists' Group post-1947 Partition.
- The auction price challenges the art world's historical undervaluation of South Asian art, with data from Sotheby's indicating a 300% market growth since 1995, suggesting a shift driven by collectors recognizing cultural narratives over Western-centric art trends.
1970 Untitled by Gaitonde
2025 SOLD for INR 67 crores (worth US$ 7.6M) by Saffronart
In the 1960s, the subconscious of Gaitonde generates imaginary landscapes too close to abstraction for inviting to an identification. A painting 152 x 101 cm made in 1969 was sold for $ 960K by Christie's on September 12, 2012.
An oil on canvas 152 x 88 cm painted in 1970 by V.S. Gaitonde was sold for INR 10 crores worth US $ 1.53M by Saffronart on September 8, 2016, lot 48. It passed at Saffronart on June 12-13, 2019, lot 51 illustrated by a video. It was sold for INR 13.8 crores worth US$ 1.92M by Astaguru on March 31, 2021, lot 16.
The video shared by AstaGuru is also featuring also a 1971 painting 150 x 100 cm in glowing brown, orange and red, lot 17, which was sold for INR 14.1 crores worth US$ 1.96M. This opus fully departs from a landscape inspiration.
An Untitled oil on canvas 140 x 102 cm painted in 1970 is centered by a form which may be an unidentifiable cityscape framed in a loose oval of flowing signs. It was sold for INR 67 crores worth US$ 7.6M from a lower estimate of 18 crores by Saffronart on September 27, 2025, lot 23. Please watch the video shared by the auction house.
An oil on canvas 152 x 88 cm painted in 1970 by V.S. Gaitonde was sold for INR 10 crores worth US $ 1.53M by Saffronart on September 8, 2016, lot 48. It passed at Saffronart on June 12-13, 2019, lot 51 illustrated by a video. It was sold for INR 13.8 crores worth US$ 1.92M by Astaguru on March 31, 2021, lot 16.
The video shared by AstaGuru is also featuring also a 1971 painting 150 x 100 cm in glowing brown, orange and red, lot 17, which was sold for INR 14.1 crores worth US$ 1.96M. This opus fully departs from a landscape inspiration.
An Untitled oil on canvas 140 x 102 cm painted in 1970 is centered by a form which may be an unidentifiable cityscape framed in a loose oval of flowing signs. It was sold for INR 67 crores worth US$ 7.6M from a lower estimate of 18 crores by Saffronart on September 27, 2025, lot 23. Please watch the video shared by the auction house.
