Jewels - 2nd page
Not including White diamond, Pink diamond and fancy vivid and fancy intense Blue diamond
Except otherwise stated, all results include the premium.
See also : Jewels Cartier Jadeite Qianlong Ancient Spain India
Chronology : 1660-1679 18th century 1790-1799 1901 1933 2020 to now 2022
Except otherwise stated, all results include the premium.
See also : Jewels Cartier Jadeite Qianlong Ancient Spain India
Chronology : 1660-1679 18th century 1790-1799 1901 1933 2020 to now 2022
1664 The Wittelsbacher
2008 SOLD for £ 16.4M by Christie's
The Wittelsbacher is a diamond in an extremely rare color, an exceptional size and a royal provenance dating back to more than three centuries ago. This historic piece is contemporary with the Koh-I-Noor.
This Indian greyish-blue diamond weighing 35.56 carat of VS2 clarity is chosen in 1664 by King Philip IV of Spain to enter the dowry of his daughter, the Infanta Margarita Teresa. The princess is well known for being in 1656 the main character of the Meninas of Velazquez. So this diamond is a contemporary of the royal glory of the Koh-I-Noor, the Regent and the Orlov. Entered in the Bavarian royal family by a marriage in 1722, it was then known as Blaue Wittelsbacher.
It was sold by Christie's in 1931 with the crown jewelry of Bavaria, and for £ 16.4M on December 10, 2008, lot 212. It has been purchased at the latter sale by Graff Diamonds. Its image before being recut by Graff is shared by Wikimedia :
This Indian greyish-blue diamond weighing 35.56 carat of VS2 clarity is chosen in 1664 by King Philip IV of Spain to enter the dowry of his daughter, the Infanta Margarita Teresa. The princess is well known for being in 1656 the main character of the Meninas of Velazquez. So this diamond is a contemporary of the royal glory of the Koh-I-Noor, the Regent and the Orlov. Entered in the Bavarian royal family by a marriage in 1722, it was then known as Blaue Wittelsbacher.
It was sold by Christie's in 1931 with the crown jewelry of Bavaria, and for £ 16.4M on December 10, 2008, lot 212. It has been purchased at the latter sale by Graff Diamonds. Its image before being recut by Graff is shared by Wikimedia :
1791 The Pearls of Queen Marie-Antoinette
2018 SOLD for CHF 36.4M by Sotheby's
For her marriage to the future King Louis XVI, Marie-Antoinette received an impressive quantity of diamonds, rubies and pearls from her mother, the Empress Marie Therese, and from her husband's grandfather, King Louis XV. She loved jewelry and kept improving her collection.
During early phase of the Revolution, Marie-Antoinette who is still the Queen plans to flee to Austria. In January 1791, helped by her chambermaid, she prepares a cassette with her favorite jewelry. The jewels reach Vienna but the king and queen are arrested in Varennes in June 1791.
In 1795 Madame Royale, the only survivor of the children of the royal couple, is freed from the revolutionary prisons and goes into exile in Vienna. The emperor Franz II returns the jewels to her while keeping the rubies in compensation for a pension granted to the princess. In Madame Royale's legacy in 1851, one third of the jewelry is attributed to her niece Louise, Duchess of Parma.
Around 1930 Marie-Anne of Austria, wife of the acting Duke of Parma, describes in an inventory four jewels in pearls and diamonds of which she attests that they come from Marie-Antoinette. These pieces, which had never been published or exhibited, were included in the auction of the royal jewelry from the Bourbon-Parma collection by Sotheby's on November 14, 2018.
Lot 97, a three-row pearl necklace with a diamond clasp, was sold for CHF 2.3M. The next two lots, a necklace and a pair of earrings, were sold for CHF 450K each.
Lot 100 was a 15.90 x 18.35 x 25.85mm drop shaped pearl assembled in a pendant with a large diamond clasp and a bow of small diamonds. This interesting souvenir of a queen who had desired to live in the utmost luxury was sold for CHF 36.4M from a lower estimate of CHF 1M.
During early phase of the Revolution, Marie-Antoinette who is still the Queen plans to flee to Austria. In January 1791, helped by her chambermaid, she prepares a cassette with her favorite jewelry. The jewels reach Vienna but the king and queen are arrested in Varennes in June 1791.
In 1795 Madame Royale, the only survivor of the children of the royal couple, is freed from the revolutionary prisons and goes into exile in Vienna. The emperor Franz II returns the jewels to her while keeping the rubies in compensation for a pension granted to the princess. In Madame Royale's legacy in 1851, one third of the jewelry is attributed to her niece Louise, Duchess of Parma.
Around 1930 Marie-Anne of Austria, wife of the acting Duke of Parma, describes in an inventory four jewels in pearls and diamonds of which she attests that they come from Marie-Antoinette. These pieces, which had never been published or exhibited, were included in the auction of the royal jewelry from the Bourbon-Parma collection by Sotheby's on November 14, 2018.
Lot 97, a three-row pearl necklace with a diamond clasp, was sold for CHF 2.3M. The next two lots, a necklace and a pair of earrings, were sold for CHF 450K each.
Lot 100 was a 15.90 x 18.35 x 25.85mm drop shaped pearl assembled in a pendant with a large diamond clasp and a bow of small diamonds. This interesting souvenir of a queen who had desired to live in the utmost luxury was sold for CHF 36.4M from a lower estimate of CHF 1M.
Marie Antoinette’s pendant sets auction record for a natural pearl at @Sothebys in Geneva:https://t.co/1glDvfpi3w pic.twitter.com/5z2iNTmd8a
— AntiquesTradeGazette (@ATG_Editorial) November 15, 2018
Qing and 1933 Jadeite Necklace
2014 SOLD for HK$ 214M by Sotheby's
Jadeite exists in various colors. Green is a common color of jadeite when it contains chromium. The finest hues are Imperial green, intense green and vivid green. They come almost exclusively from Burma, currently Myanmar.
These green variants were the most precious jewels at the Qing imperial court, in the form of beads, cabochons and bangles, without superfluous embellishment. The history of the extraction of a rough is lost. Keeping the homogeneity in a set of beads generated much waste, so that the necklaces of round beads are the most appreciated.
This mineral rock can be carved, which is not the case of the diamond which is cut. Shaping a jade bead requires an exceptional know-how and skill which culminated during the reign of Qianlong. In the 19th century the Empress Dowager Cixi was fond of them.
Despite the troubles in the China of the later Qing, the most important collections of jade beads were not mixed or separated. They have often been assembled, or re-assembled, into necklaces in the 20th century, with gently graduated bead sizes and with clasps in diamond or ruby. A perfect necklace must be uniform in color shade, in translucency and in texture, which requires that the elements have been carved from the same rough.
The prestige of jade reached the Western world. A lot of 27 highly reflective emerald green jadeite beads, between 15.4 and 19.2 mm in diameter, is included in 1933 in the inventory of Cartier.
It is mounted in the same year by Cartier as a necklace with a clasp in ruby and diamond, to be offered as a wedding gift to the wealthy Barbara Hutton by her father. As Christina Onassis later, Barbara Hutton had a difficult life. The husband's family kept the precious necklace.
Considered as the greatest jadeite necklace in existence, this jewel wins the highest auction price in its category each time it comes to auction : HK $ 15.6M in 1988 and HK $ 33M in 1994. It was sold for HK $ 214M by Sotheby's on April 7, 2014, lot 1847.
These green variants were the most precious jewels at the Qing imperial court, in the form of beads, cabochons and bangles, without superfluous embellishment. The history of the extraction of a rough is lost. Keeping the homogeneity in a set of beads generated much waste, so that the necklaces of round beads are the most appreciated.
This mineral rock can be carved, which is not the case of the diamond which is cut. Shaping a jade bead requires an exceptional know-how and skill which culminated during the reign of Qianlong. In the 19th century the Empress Dowager Cixi was fond of them.
Despite the troubles in the China of the later Qing, the most important collections of jade beads were not mixed or separated. They have often been assembled, or re-assembled, into necklaces in the 20th century, with gently graduated bead sizes and with clasps in diamond or ruby. A perfect necklace must be uniform in color shade, in translucency and in texture, which requires that the elements have been carved from the same rough.
The prestige of jade reached the Western world. A lot of 27 highly reflective emerald green jadeite beads, between 15.4 and 19.2 mm in diameter, is included in 1933 in the inventory of Cartier.
It is mounted in the same year by Cartier as a necklace with a clasp in ruby and diamond, to be offered as a wedding gift to the wealthy Barbara Hutton by her father. As Christina Onassis later, Barbara Hutton had a difficult life. The husband's family kept the precious necklace.
Considered as the greatest jadeite necklace in existence, this jewel wins the highest auction price in its category each time it comes to auction : HK $ 15.6M in 1988 and HK $ 33M in 1994. It was sold for HK $ 214M by Sotheby's on April 7, 2014, lot 1847.
1901 The Red Cross Diamond
2022 SOLD for CHF 14.2M by Christie's
A rough diamond of canary color weighing about 370 carats was unearthed in 1901 in a De Beers mine in South Africa.
It was cut as a cushion modified brilliant-cut diamond of 205.07 carats, graded in 2021 by the GIA as fancy intense yellow, natural color, VS2 clarity. Its size is 33.8 x 33.8 x 24.9 mm and its
gross weight is 41.1 grams.
Recognized in February 1918 by The Times as one of the greatest jewels of the world and acclaimed for its natural phosphorescence, it was donated to be sold in April 1918 by Christie's in London at the fourth and last annual war charity auction of the Red Cross. It fetched £ 10K equivalent to £ 600K of today. A cross had been faceted in the front side.
Known as the Red Cross Diamond, it was sold by Christie's for CHF 1.8M in November 1973, and for CHF 14.2M on May 11, 2022, lot 61. Part of the latter sale revenue was donated to the International Committee of the Red Cross. Please watch the video shared by the auction house.
It was cut as a cushion modified brilliant-cut diamond of 205.07 carats, graded in 2021 by the GIA as fancy intense yellow, natural color, VS2 clarity. Its size is 33.8 x 33.8 x 24.9 mm and its
gross weight is 41.1 grams.
Recognized in February 1918 by The Times as one of the greatest jewels of the world and acclaimed for its natural phosphorescence, it was donated to be sold in April 1918 by Christie's in London at the fourth and last annual war charity auction of the Red Cross. It fetched £ 10K equivalent to £ 600K of today. A cross had been faceted in the front side.
Known as the Red Cross Diamond, it was sold by Christie's for CHF 1.8M in November 1973, and for CHF 14.2M on May 11, 2022, lot 61. Part of the latter sale revenue was donated to the International Committee of the Red Cross. Please watch the video shared by the auction house.
#SpotlightSaturday The Red Cross Diamond: 'one of the rarest stones on Earth' fetched double its pre-sale estimate and realised CHF14,181,250 at Christie's Magnificent Jewels sale. A significant portion of the proceeds will benefit the International Committee of the @RedCross pic.twitter.com/mQ5lvh47h6
— Christie's (@ChristiesInc) May 14, 2022
#SpotlightSaturday Christie's is proud to announce The Red Cross Diamond, a historically important fancy intense yellow, cushion-shaped diamond of 205.07 carat. A symbol of altruism, part of the sale revenue will be donated to the International Committee of the Red Cross. pic.twitter.com/DTIwEUQ9FL
— Christie's (@ChristiesInc) April 16, 2022
Ruby
1
2022 Estrela de Fura
2023 SOLD for $ 35M by Sotheby's
Fura Gems, a company established in Dubai in 2017, unearthed in July 2022 in one of their mines in Mozambique the largest ever gem-quality ruby rough, weighing 101 carats. Its vivid red is comparable with the Burmese pigeon's blood rubies.
Cut and polished from that gem in 2023 in Bangkok by a master gem cutter under Fura's supervision, Estrela de Fura 55.22 is a cushion ruby weighing 55.22 carats, with a beautifully saturated vivid red color. Its fine and homogeneous clarity is unprecedented in unheated rubies of similar size. Its fluorescence under ultraviolet light is exceptional for African rubies.
Set as a ring, it was sold for $ 35M by Sotheby's on June 8, 2023, lot 59. Please watch the short and long videos shared by the auction house.
Cut and polished from that gem in 2023 in Bangkok by a master gem cutter under Fura's supervision, Estrela de Fura 55.22 is a cushion ruby weighing 55.22 carats, with a beautifully saturated vivid red color. Its fine and homogeneous clarity is unprecedented in unheated rubies of similar size. Its fluorescence under ultraviolet light is exceptional for African rubies.
Set as a ring, it was sold for $ 35M by Sotheby's on June 8, 2023, lot 59. Please watch the short and long videos shared by the auction house.
The largest and most valuable ruby to ever appear at auction comes to #SothebysNewYork: The Estrela de FURA 55.22.
— Sotheby's (@Sothebys) April 5, 2023
Carrying an estimate in excess of $30M, the ruby is set to break auction records and will appear in our Magnificent Jewels sale this June. pic.twitter.com/o4S9LJJVNn
2
The Sunrise
2015 SOLD for CHF 28M by Sotheby's
The best rubies in the world are extracted from the Burmese valley of Mogok in Myanmar. They are the only ones to exhibit a vivid and saturated crimson red pigeon blood color. The cushion cut is perfect for them.
The beauty of a ruby is also closely linked to its internal structure that enhances the dispersion of light. Considered as exceptional by Graff, the Graff ruby was sold for CHF 8.3M by Sotheby's on November 12, 2014, lot 470, a great price for a stone which weighs only 8.62 carats. Its price per carat, CHF 960K, is almost competing with the best pink or blue diamonds.
The Sunrise ruby was sold for CHF 28M from a lower estimate of CHF 11.7M by Sotheby's on May 12, 2015, lot 502. That price per carat, CHF 1.1M, exceeds the Graff. It was sold for CHF 13M by Christie's on May 10, 2023, lot 96 from the collection of the late billionaire art collector Heidi Horten.
This cushion shaped brilliant cut ruby is weighing 25.59 carats, measuring 17.66 x 15.07 x 10.47 mm, It is pigeon blood red with rich saturation and high clarity. The shape and the finely proportioned cut provides vivid internal color reflections as commented by Gübelin. It is mounted on a platinum ring by Cartier between two shield shaped diamonds of 2.70 and 2.47 carats.
The Hope ruby is still bigger. This cushion shaped pigeon blood from the Lily Safra collection, weighing 32.08 carats, is mounted on a ring by Chaumet. It was sold for CHF 6.2M by Christie's on May 14, 2012, lot 66.
The beauty of a ruby is also closely linked to its internal structure that enhances the dispersion of light. Considered as exceptional by Graff, the Graff ruby was sold for CHF 8.3M by Sotheby's on November 12, 2014, lot 470, a great price for a stone which weighs only 8.62 carats. Its price per carat, CHF 960K, is almost competing with the best pink or blue diamonds.
The Sunrise ruby was sold for CHF 28M from a lower estimate of CHF 11.7M by Sotheby's on May 12, 2015, lot 502. That price per carat, CHF 1.1M, exceeds the Graff. It was sold for CHF 13M by Christie's on May 10, 2023, lot 96 from the collection of the late billionaire art collector Heidi Horten.
This cushion shaped brilliant cut ruby is weighing 25.59 carats, measuring 17.66 x 15.07 x 10.47 mm, It is pigeon blood red with rich saturation and high clarity. The shape and the finely proportioned cut provides vivid internal color reflections as commented by Gübelin. It is mounted on a platinum ring by Cartier between two shield shaped diamonds of 2.70 and 2.47 carats.
The Hope ruby is still bigger. This cushion shaped pigeon blood from the Lily Safra collection, weighing 32.08 carats, is mounted on a ring by Chaumet. It was sold for CHF 6.2M by Christie's on May 14, 2012, lot 66.
The most valuable ruby ever sold at auction: The Sunrise Ruby sells for US$ 30.3m in Geneva #SothebysJewels pic.twitter.com/s5ezt5Qah8
— Sotheby's (@Sothebys) May 12, 20153
The Crimson Flame
2015 SOLD for HK$ 142M by Christie's
The pigeon blood color, a vivid and saturated red, is the most prestigious for rubies. This variety is extracted from the mines of Mogok in Burma (Myanmar). The chemical analysis of inclusions is used to assess the origin along with the lack of heating treatment.
On 12 November 2014, Sotheby's sold the Graff Ruby for CHF 8.3M. This cushion cut ruby was considered exceptional by its weight, 8.62 carats.
The sale at Christie's on December 1, 2015 included three jewels with pigeon blood rubies.
The Crimson Flame was sold for HK $ 142M from a lower estimate of HK $ 78M, lot 2121. Also cushion cut, it weighs 15.04 carats. The Gübelin GemLab observed its high clarity and brilliance and the SSEF Swiss Gemological Institute stated that it can be considered an exceptional treasure. It is mounted on a ring in a pretty surrounding of cushion diamonds.
Lot 2120, sold HK $ 55M, is a necklace by Faidee named The Mogok's Fiery Red. It consists of 32 rubies alternating with diamonds. The biggest of its rubies is weighing 5.05 carats.
Also signed by Faidee, a pair of ear pendants in rubies and diamonds was sold for HK $ 24M at lot 2119. Its rubies are weighing 5.08, 5.03, 2.51 and 2.49 carats.
Faidee is also the creator of the Red Emperor necklace, sold for HK $ 77M by Sotheby's on April 7, 2014. This necklace of pigeon's blood rubies was assembled in 2013 amidst diamonds after being collected by a specialized company created in 1905. The utmost care had been taken in the homogeneity of the prestigious color.
On 12 November 2014, Sotheby's sold the Graff Ruby for CHF 8.3M. This cushion cut ruby was considered exceptional by its weight, 8.62 carats.
The sale at Christie's on December 1, 2015 included three jewels with pigeon blood rubies.
The Crimson Flame was sold for HK $ 142M from a lower estimate of HK $ 78M, lot 2121. Also cushion cut, it weighs 15.04 carats. The Gübelin GemLab observed its high clarity and brilliance and the SSEF Swiss Gemological Institute stated that it can be considered an exceptional treasure. It is mounted on a ring in a pretty surrounding of cushion diamonds.
Lot 2120, sold HK $ 55M, is a necklace by Faidee named The Mogok's Fiery Red. It consists of 32 rubies alternating with diamonds. The biggest of its rubies is weighing 5.05 carats.
Also signed by Faidee, a pair of ear pendants in rubies and diamonds was sold for HK $ 24M at lot 2119. Its rubies are weighing 5.08, 5.03, 2.51 and 2.49 carats.
Faidee is also the creator of the Red Emperor necklace, sold for HK $ 77M by Sotheby's on April 7, 2014. This necklace of pigeon's blood rubies was assembled in 2013 amidst diamonds after being collected by a specialized company created in 1905. The utmost care had been taken in the homogeneity of the prestigious color.
Christie’s Hong Kong’s Fall Sales Total $340.7M: https://t.co/6d8mWicq8Q pic.twitter.com/Gzehx9b9rN
— ARTINFO HongKong (@ARTINFOHongKong) December 2, 20154
The Jubilee
2016 SOLD for $ 14.2M by Christie's
As far as rubies are concerned the stones extracted in the small valley of Mogok in northern Burma are second to none thanks to a significant content of chromium in the ground. Their magnificent brightness reaches the fluorescence and the best gems have a perfect clarity within a high saturation.
The rubies of Mogok with the top quality reach $ 1M per carat. Recent examples at auction were cushion cut.
An oval cut, when it is feasible, further accentuates the beauty of a ruby. The Jubilee Ruby weighing 15.99 carats is almost circular and has all the other characteristics of a perfect ruby. Mounted on a ring by Verdura within a circle of diamonds, it as sold for $ 14.2M from a lower estimate of $ 12M for sale by Christie's on April 20, 2016, lot 255.
I invite you to admire the Jubilee Ruby in the video shared by Christie's. Its name is possibly by reference to the 250th anniversary of the auction house.
The rubies of Mogok with the top quality reach $ 1M per carat. Recent examples at auction were cushion cut.
An oval cut, when it is feasible, further accentuates the beauty of a ruby. The Jubilee Ruby weighing 15.99 carats is almost circular and has all the other characteristics of a perfect ruby. Mounted on a ring by Verdura within a circle of diamonds, it as sold for $ 14.2M from a lower estimate of $ 12M for sale by Christie's on April 20, 2016, lot 255.
I invite you to admire the Jubilee Ruby in the video shared by Christie's. Its name is possibly by reference to the 250th anniversary of the auction house.
The Peacock Necklace
2018 SOLD for HK$ 117M by Christie's
The rarity of blue sapphires from Kashmir has a well identified cause : their unique vein in the mountains was exhausted in 1887 after seven years of mining. Their saturated color, velvety texture and brilliance are unique.
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.
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.
The Orange
2013 SOLD for CHF 32.6M by Christie's
It is rare to have a wonder of nature, in a beautiful color, more than two times heavier than the largest other known diamond of same color and clarity : on November 12, 2013, Christie's sold a Fancy Vivid Orange diamond weighing 14.82 carats, VS1 clarity, pear shaped.
A wide range of colors of diamonds is possible in nature between yellow and pure orange. However pure orange is extremely rare, and it is certainly more striking than other mythical colors such as dark red. An old classification designated the Fancy Vivid Orange as the fire diamond.
All great diamonds have a name. It was not difficult to create it for this one. It has no competitors in its class. It is The Orange, simply. Here is the link to the catalog.
This exceptional diamond was sold for CHF 32.6M which is $ 2.4 million per carat, from a lower estimate of CHF 16M. Please watch the video shared by On Demand News.
A wide range of colors of diamonds is possible in nature between yellow and pure orange. However pure orange is extremely rare, and it is certainly more striking than other mythical colors such as dark red. An old classification designated the Fancy Vivid Orange as the fire diamond.
All great diamonds have a name. It was not difficult to create it for this one. It has no competitors in its class. It is The Orange, simply. Here is the link to the catalog.
This exceptional diamond was sold for CHF 32.6M which is $ 2.4 million per carat, from a lower estimate of CHF 16M. Please watch the video shared by On Demand News.
