White Diamond
See also : Jewels African diamonds Cartier
Chronology : 1912 2010 to now
2018 press release by Sotheby's Diamonds illustrated in appendix with the seven perfect White diamonds over 100 carats ever sold at auction : 5 at Sotheby's and 2 at Christie's.
Chronology : 1912 2010 to now
2018 press release by Sotheby's Diamonds illustrated in appendix with the seven perfect White diamonds over 100 carats ever sold at auction : 5 at Sotheby's and 2 at Christie's.
Transparencies from Golconda
2013 SOLD for $ 11M including premium by Christie's
2019 SOLD for $ 6.5M including premium
PRE 2019 SALE DISCUSSION
Gemmologists recognize through some exceptional qualities when a ruby comes from Mogok, a sapphire from Kashmir or a diamond from Golconda.
Type IIa diamonds are the brightest of all categories when they are pure. The top standardized grade for colorless gems is the D color. However the best Golconda diamonds also have an absolute transparency that exceeds the D grade. It is extremely rare for a diamond from another source to display such a purity and clarity.
For two millennia until the beginning of the 18th century, India was the only diamond producing country. Aware of this exceptional opportunity, local princes have long kept the best for their exclusive use.
Golconda was a network of mines. The best, the Kollur mine, produced among others the Koh-i-Noor, the Regent, the Orlov, which contributed to the prestige of Great Britain, France and Russia. Deserted after the depletion of the vein, Kollur was in ruins when its site was identified by a geologist in the 1880s.
Tastes have changed and technologies have improved. An ancient cutting is very often recognizable as such. A small grinding is encouraged if it helps a Potentially Flawless to reach the ultimate grade of clarity, Internally Flawless.
On June 19 in New York, Christie's sells two type IIa, D color diamonds, identified as Golconda by Gübelin.
The most important, an Internally Flawless weighing 52.58 carats, has no historical background but its elongated rectangular shape cannot be modern. It was sold for $ 11M including premium by Christie's on December 10, 2013 and is now estimated $ 7M, lot 229, with the name Mirror of Paradise.
The other Golconda in that auction, lot 98 estimated $ 2M, is a pear-shaped brilliant-cut. It was given in 1777 by the Nawab of Arcot to Queen Charlotte of Great Britain. To improve its symmetry and achieve perfection in color and clarity, its weight was reduced from 23.65 to the current 17.21 carats in two stages, the earlier of which by Harry Winston after 1959.
RESULTS including premium :
Lot 229 : SOLD for $ 6.5M
Lot 98 (illustrated in tweet below) : SOLD for $ 3.4M
Gemmologists recognize through some exceptional qualities when a ruby comes from Mogok, a sapphire from Kashmir or a diamond from Golconda.
Type IIa diamonds are the brightest of all categories when they are pure. The top standardized grade for colorless gems is the D color. However the best Golconda diamonds also have an absolute transparency that exceeds the D grade. It is extremely rare for a diamond from another source to display such a purity and clarity.
For two millennia until the beginning of the 18th century, India was the only diamond producing country. Aware of this exceptional opportunity, local princes have long kept the best for their exclusive use.
Golconda was a network of mines. The best, the Kollur mine, produced among others the Koh-i-Noor, the Regent, the Orlov, which contributed to the prestige of Great Britain, France and Russia. Deserted after the depletion of the vein, Kollur was in ruins when its site was identified by a geologist in the 1880s.
Tastes have changed and technologies have improved. An ancient cutting is very often recognizable as such. A small grinding is encouraged if it helps a Potentially Flawless to reach the ultimate grade of clarity, Internally Flawless.
On June 19 in New York, Christie's sells two type IIa, D color diamonds, identified as Golconda by Gübelin.
The most important, an Internally Flawless weighing 52.58 carats, has no historical background but its elongated rectangular shape cannot be modern. It was sold for $ 11M including premium by Christie's on December 10, 2013 and is now estimated $ 7M, lot 229, with the name Mirror of Paradise.
The other Golconda in that auction, lot 98 estimated $ 2M, is a pear-shaped brilliant-cut. It was given in 1777 by the Nawab of Arcot to Queen Charlotte of Great Britain. To improve its symmetry and achieve perfection in color and clarity, its weight was reduced from 23.65 to the current 17.21 carats in two stages, the earlier of which by Harry Winston after 1959.
RESULTS including premium :
Lot 229 : SOLD for $ 6.5M
Lot 98 (illustrated in tweet below) : SOLD for $ 3.4M
One of the most celebrated royal #diamonds, the Arcot II, is heading to auction this month as part of the dazzling Al Thani Qatari royal collection
— Barnebys.co.uk (@Barnebysuk) June 11, 2019
The Archduke Joseph
2012 SOLD 20.4 MCHF including premium
A star from the history of auctions is coming back.
In Geneva in November 1993, Christie's sold CHF 9.7 million the Archduke Joseph diamond. It was a fabulous price for the time even after considering that the Swiss currency was at one third below the U.S. dollar.
This is one of the largest perfect diamonds of Golconda type : D color and internally flawless. Being now at 76.02 carats, it achieves a weight equal to 72% of the Koh-i-Noor, a remarkable performance that makes it one of the most desirable gems available on the market.
Its antique cut is cushion-like, although for such big diamonds it is not quite possible to fully meet a standardized shape classification. Like many old diamonds, it has been reworked in the last century to improve its clarity and symmetry.
Previously owned by the Habsburgs, it bears the name of a prince who was briefly regent of Hungary at the time of the fall of his dynasty.
It is now presented by Christie's in Geneva on November 13.
Considering that bigger diamonds appeal to a higher price per carat, Christie's has calculated for this perfect diamond an estimate range of U.S. $ 15M to 25M. The upper estimate is an attempt to exceed the record for the highest price per carat registered at auction for a colorless diamond.
It is illustrated in the article shared by Professional Jeweller.
POST SALE COMMENT
The result meets the expectations of Christie's: Archduke Joseph was sold CHF 20.4 million including premium.
For a comparable quality, when the diamond is bigger, the price per carat is higher. This one went to US $ 280K, the highest recorded price per carat at auction for a colourless diamond.
It is indeed a great result for that diamond which I described as nearly comparable to the Koh-i-Noor.
I invite you to play the Gallery Talk video prepared by Christie's :
In Geneva in November 1993, Christie's sold CHF 9.7 million the Archduke Joseph diamond. It was a fabulous price for the time even after considering that the Swiss currency was at one third below the U.S. dollar.
This is one of the largest perfect diamonds of Golconda type : D color and internally flawless. Being now at 76.02 carats, it achieves a weight equal to 72% of the Koh-i-Noor, a remarkable performance that makes it one of the most desirable gems available on the market.
Its antique cut is cushion-like, although for such big diamonds it is not quite possible to fully meet a standardized shape classification. Like many old diamonds, it has been reworked in the last century to improve its clarity and symmetry.
Previously owned by the Habsburgs, it bears the name of a prince who was briefly regent of Hungary at the time of the fall of his dynasty.
It is now presented by Christie's in Geneva on November 13.
Considering that bigger diamonds appeal to a higher price per carat, Christie's has calculated for this perfect diamond an estimate range of U.S. $ 15M to 25M. The upper estimate is an attempt to exceed the record for the highest price per carat registered at auction for a colorless diamond.
It is illustrated in the article shared by Professional Jeweller.
POST SALE COMMENT
The result meets the expectations of Christie's: Archduke Joseph was sold CHF 20.4 million including premium.
For a comparable quality, when the diamond is bigger, the price per carat is higher. This one went to US $ 280K, the highest recorded price per carat at auction for a colourless diamond.
It is indeed a great result for that diamond which I described as nearly comparable to the Koh-i-Noor.
I invite you to play the Gallery Talk video prepared by Christie's :
1912 Serti Muguet by Cartier
2014 SOLD for CHF 16M including premium by Christie's
2019 SOLD for $ 10.6M including premium
PRE 2019 SALE DISCUSSION
At the turn of the 20th century, Paris is the capital of luxury. Located in rue de la Paix, the Cartier brand develops its expertise in jewelry and watchmaking and organizes a network of subcontractors including Henri Picq. One of its main innovations is the use of platinum for the high end.
France does not produce diamonds. The Cartier brothers visit India. The Maharajas choose the most beautiful gems in their collections for Cartier to assemble magnificent jewels matching their taste. This practice inspires some exotic designs later offered to all customers.
This well managed international reputation includes Southern Africa. Solomon Barnato Joel, who made a fortune with his family in the gold and diamond mines, ships four beautiful diamonds for making a jewel.
Cartier assembles a brooch in platinum and white gold for use as a devant de corsage, whose 9.2 cm high pendant aligns the four diamonds. The pendant is surrounded by four hanging sprigs of lily of the valley whose flowers are small diamonds set on platinum, a specialty of Picq. This jewel dated 1912 was later expanded by a necklace with a similar 'serti muguet'.
The four main diamonds were certified by the GIA in 2013. The largest is a pear-shaped of 34.08 carats in E color. The best is an oval-shaped type IIa D color of 23.55 carats with a VVS2 clarity potentially Internally Flawless.
This brooch was sold for CHF 16M including premium by Christie's on May 14, 2014 over a lower estimate of CHF 6.5M. It is estimated $ 10M for sale by Christie's in New York on June 19, lot 277.
At the turn of the 20th century, Paris is the capital of luxury. Located in rue de la Paix, the Cartier brand develops its expertise in jewelry and watchmaking and organizes a network of subcontractors including Henri Picq. One of its main innovations is the use of platinum for the high end.
France does not produce diamonds. The Cartier brothers visit India. The Maharajas choose the most beautiful gems in their collections for Cartier to assemble magnificent jewels matching their taste. This practice inspires some exotic designs later offered to all customers.
This well managed international reputation includes Southern Africa. Solomon Barnato Joel, who made a fortune with his family in the gold and diamond mines, ships four beautiful diamonds for making a jewel.
Cartier assembles a brooch in platinum and white gold for use as a devant de corsage, whose 9.2 cm high pendant aligns the four diamonds. The pendant is surrounded by four hanging sprigs of lily of the valley whose flowers are small diamonds set on platinum, a specialty of Picq. This jewel dated 1912 was later expanded by a necklace with a similar 'serti muguet'.
The four main diamonds were certified by the GIA in 2013. The largest is a pear-shaped of 34.08 carats in E color. The best is an oval-shaped type IIa D color of 23.55 carats with a VVS2 clarity potentially Internally Flawless.
This brooch was sold for CHF 16M including premium by Christie's on May 14, 2014 over a lower estimate of CHF 6.5M. It is estimated $ 10M for sale by Christie's in New York on June 19, lot 277.
2011 - 118 Carats Flawless
2013 SOLD 240 MHK$ including premium
Southern Africa has replaced Golconda as the source for the best diamonds in the world, type IIa. The arrival on the market of exceptional pieces of very recent extraction certainly demonstrates improvements in the techniques of prospecting, but also in the preparation of perfect diamonds.
On May 15, 2013, Christie's sold for CHF 26M including premium a white diamond, D color and Flawless. Pear shaped and weighing 101.73 carats, it came from a rough stone of 236 carats of the Jwaneng mine in Botswana. It was named The Winston Legacy after the sale.
The diamond for sale by Sotheby's in Hong Kong on October 7 is also D and Flawless, but bigger: 118.28 carats. Here is the link to the catalog.
It is oval cut from a 299 carat rough stone discovered in 2011 in a deep mine of southern Africa whose detailed location is not revealed. Its polishing and symmetry are considered excellent by the gemological laboratories.
The press release announces a lower estimate of HK$ 220M.
POST SALE COMMENT
The price, HK$ 240M including premium, is extraordinary but in line with the expectation.
On May 15, 2013, Christie's sold for CHF 26M including premium a white diamond, D color and Flawless. Pear shaped and weighing 101.73 carats, it came from a rough stone of 236 carats of the Jwaneng mine in Botswana. It was named The Winston Legacy after the sale.
The diamond for sale by Sotheby's in Hong Kong on October 7 is also D and Flawless, but bigger: 118.28 carats. Here is the link to the catalog.
It is oval cut from a 299 carat rough stone discovered in 2011 in a deep mine of southern Africa whose detailed location is not revealed. Its polishing and symmetry are considered excellent by the gemological laboratories.
The press release announces a lower estimate of HK$ 220M.
POST SALE COMMENT
The price, HK$ 240M including premium, is extraordinary but in line with the expectation.
2010s The Great Star of Botswana
2013 SOLD 26 MCHF including premium
Since the depletion of Golconda, the best pure diamonds of IIa type are extracted in Austral Africa: South Africa, Lesotho, Botswana.
Botswana's mines are operated jointly by the government and by De Beers, with all the precautions that you can imagine. Indeed the small town of Jwaneng was founded in 1982 as a closed community only accessible by permission of the government.
Because of this relatively recent operation, fabulous gems are still waiting to be discovered. The modern art of diamond will do the rest, as technological advances now enable to cut diamonds of perfect shape and symmetry.
Consider an example from the past. The Cullinan, extracted in Transvaal in 1905, was a gem of 3106 carats. Nine major diamonds were cut from it, including the Great Star of Africa achieved at 530.2 carats after eight months of preparation.
On May 15 in Geneva, Christie's sells a perfect diamond (type IIa, D color, flawless). It is pear shaped at 101.73 carats representing an outstanding yield for that rough stone of 236 carats extracted in Jwaneng. Its polishing required 21 months of work.
The price per carat increases for bigger diamonds. Thus, the Archduke Joseph, sold by Christie's in Geneva on November 13, 2012, was recorded at $ 280K per carat (total price CHF 20.3 million including premium for 76.02 carats).
The new wonder from Jwaneng is the biggest perfect diamond ever presented at auction. Although having no other history than its discovery and preparation, it may certainly exceed the Archduke Joseph.
POST SALE COMMENT
This exceptional diamond has been sold CHF 26M including premium. The price per carat, U.S. $ 270K, is consistent with the price obtained on the Archduke Joseph.
I invite you to play the video shared by Christie's:
Botswana's mines are operated jointly by the government and by De Beers, with all the precautions that you can imagine. Indeed the small town of Jwaneng was founded in 1982 as a closed community only accessible by permission of the government.
Because of this relatively recent operation, fabulous gems are still waiting to be discovered. The modern art of diamond will do the rest, as technological advances now enable to cut diamonds of perfect shape and symmetry.
Consider an example from the past. The Cullinan, extracted in Transvaal in 1905, was a gem of 3106 carats. Nine major diamonds were cut from it, including the Great Star of Africa achieved at 530.2 carats after eight months of preparation.
On May 15 in Geneva, Christie's sells a perfect diamond (type IIa, D color, flawless). It is pear shaped at 101.73 carats representing an outstanding yield for that rough stone of 236 carats extracted in Jwaneng. Its polishing required 21 months of work.
The price per carat increases for bigger diamonds. Thus, the Archduke Joseph, sold by Christie's in Geneva on November 13, 2012, was recorded at $ 280K per carat (total price CHF 20.3 million including premium for 76.02 carats).
The new wonder from Jwaneng is the biggest perfect diamond ever presented at auction. Although having no other history than its discovery and preparation, it may certainly exceed the Archduke Joseph.
POST SALE COMMENT
This exceptional diamond has been sold CHF 26M including premium. The price per carat, U.S. $ 270K, is consistent with the price obtained on the Archduke Joseph.
I invite you to play the video shared by Christie's:
The Pure Heart of Christie's
2011 SOLD 9.6 MCHF including premium
On the occasion of Valentine's day, Christie's announced a great heart shaped diamond. Its characteristics deserve to be listed in detail.
It is in D color: exceptional white of the upper category. We can not imagine better.
It weighs 56.15 carats.
Just remember another D, the Annenberg diamond, sold $ 7.7 million including premium by Christie's on October 21, 2009. Emerald cut, it only weighed 32 carats. The price per carat, $ 240K, was sensational.
Coming back to our heart. It is pure, of class IF (Internally Flawless), meaning that no inclusion is visible at x 10 magnification. It is remarkable for a diamond of this size. We can not have better.
It is also of type IIa, meaning a slow geological formation that excluded nitrogen. This feature, which affects less than 1% of diamonds, is the cause for its exceptional transparency. If in addition there had been traces of boron, it would be blue or gray.
Among the ten most common diamond shapes, the heart is the only one that provides a concave surface. It is a technical feat.
Unmounted in a jewel, this marvel is estimated CHF 9M, for sale in Geneva on May 18, corresponding to $ 160K per carat.
POST SALE COMMENT
It is a magnificent specimen of white diamond. It was sold CHF 9.6M including premium.
It is in D color: exceptional white of the upper category. We can not imagine better.
It weighs 56.15 carats.
Just remember another D, the Annenberg diamond, sold $ 7.7 million including premium by Christie's on October 21, 2009. Emerald cut, it only weighed 32 carats. The price per carat, $ 240K, was sensational.
Coming back to our heart. It is pure, of class IF (Internally Flawless), meaning that no inclusion is visible at x 10 magnification. It is remarkable for a diamond of this size. We can not have better.
It is also of type IIa, meaning a slow geological formation that excluded nitrogen. This feature, which affects less than 1% of diamonds, is the cause for its exceptional transparency. If in addition there had been traces of boron, it would be blue or gray.
Among the ten most common diamond shapes, the heart is the only one that provides a concave surface. It is a technical feat.
Unmounted in a jewel, this marvel is estimated CHF 9M, for sale in Geneva on May 18, corresponding to $ 160K per carat.
POST SALE COMMENT
It is a magnificent specimen of white diamond. It was sold CHF 9.6M including premium.
The Perfect Emerald Cut White Diamond
2015 SOLD for $ 22M including premium
The southern African ground is full of wonderful stones. The perfect white diamond for sale by Sotheby's in New York on April 21 is another example of a recent extraction. It weighs 100.20 carats after being worked from a rough gem of 200 carats, which is an excellent weight ratio facilitated by modern technology.
From the mineralogical point of view, it is perfect : Type IIa, D color and internally flawless despite its large size.
Compared to other diamonds of same quality and comparable weight, it has the unique feature of being emerald cut, offering one of the best possible shine. It is estimated $ 19M, lot 357, and was the subject of a detailed press release.
I remind for references two white diamonds also of recent African origin previously discussed in this column.
On May 15, 2013, Christie's sold for CHF 26M including premium a pear shaped diamond weighing 101.73 carats. On October 7, 2013, Sotheby's sold for HK $ 240M including premium an oval diamond weighing 118.28 carats.
I invite you to play the video shared by Sotheby's :
From the mineralogical point of view, it is perfect : Type IIa, D color and internally flawless despite its large size.
Compared to other diamonds of same quality and comparable weight, it has the unique feature of being emerald cut, offering one of the best possible shine. It is estimated $ 19M, lot 357, and was the subject of a detailed press release.
I remind for references two white diamonds also of recent African origin previously discussed in this column.
On May 15, 2013, Christie's sold for CHF 26M including premium a pear shaped diamond weighing 101.73 carats. On October 7, 2013, Sotheby's sold for HK $ 240M including premium an oval diamond weighing 118.28 carats.
I invite you to play the video shared by Sotheby's :
Sotheby's Unveils Rare 'Perfect' 100-Carat Diamond http://t.co/l7k5xBQikU pic.twitter.com/XrxhYPaWZh
— ARTFIX daily (@ARTFIXdaily) February 17, 2015
#BeMine This 100-carat perfect diamond in a classic Emerald-cut will lead our 21 April jewelry sale in NYC □□ pic.twitter.com/0iI4fzIHfo
— Sotheby's (@Sothebys) February 13, 2015
2016 Three Continents for a Stone
2017 SOLD for CHF 33.5M including premium
On November 14 in Geneva, Christie's sells as lot 505 a diamond type IIa, D color, Flawless clarity. Weighing 163.41 carats, it is the largest perfect white diamond ever offered at auction and one of the largest ever inspected by the GIA. This performance is not the result of chance but of the involvement of the best specialists in the world.
The steps are told in detail by Christie's in the featured post.
The rough stone is extracted in Angola in February 2016. Weighing 404 carats, it is promising while being far from the records. Its quality is confirmed in New York by spectrography. For several weeks a team of experts researches the defects of the crystal.
Its bean form is not directly usable. In June, the world's best diamond cleaver with more than 50 years of experience cuts the stone in two halves from the middle. The polishing in emerald cut lasts six months, facet after facet.
They must now design a piece of jewelry highlighting this unprecedented wonder. The diamond is brought in December 2016 to De Grisogono in Geneva, which designs an asymmetrical necklace of emeralds and diamonds in 44 cm length. The jewel entrusted to Christie's then travels around the world before returning to Geneva for its auction sale
The steps are told in detail by Christie's in the featured post.
The rough stone is extracted in Angola in February 2016. Weighing 404 carats, it is promising while being far from the records. Its quality is confirmed in New York by spectrography. For several weeks a team of experts researches the defects of the crystal.
Its bean form is not directly usable. In June, the world's best diamond cleaver with more than 50 years of experience cuts the stone in two halves from the middle. The polishing in emerald cut lasts six months, facet after facet.
They must now design a piece of jewelry highlighting this unprecedented wonder. The diamond is brought in December 2016 to De Grisogono in Geneva, which designs an asymmetrical necklace of emeralds and diamonds in 44 cm length. The jewel entrusted to Christie's then travels around the world before returning to Geneva for its auction sale
Later this fall @ChristiesInc will #auction off 163-carat #diamond set into a necklace by @deGRISOGONO #degrisogono https://t.co/jvFFoVvZVF pic.twitter.com/dLcwY9bdy3
— National Jeweler (@NationalJeweler) October 2, 2017
2016 A New Signature in Paris
2016 SOLD for CHF 17.6M including premium
Paris remains a capital of luxury. A new workshop has been created with a single specialty : assembling jewels composed of diamonds that are perfect by their white D-Type color, their flawless clarity and their symmetry.
Diamonds are forever and elegance too. These newcomers connect with the past by taking the name Boehmer et Bassenge.
This double name that had gone into the oblivion of history was that of the jewelers entrusted by Louis XV in 1772 to create the most stunning necklace of all time for a presentation to his mistress Madame du Barry. The necklace totaling 2,840 carats of diamonds was assembled but not delivered because of the king's death. It was dismantled in 1785 in the most sensational scam case of the Ancien Régime : l'Affaire du collier de la Reine.
The new Boehmer et Bassenge company targets an extreme quality and their outputs will be of an utmost rarity. They chose Christie's for selling two of their earliest masterpieces. The auction takes place in Geneva on November 15 without a reserve price on these lots.
Miroir de l'Amour is a pair of earrings 7 cm long, lot 188 estimated CHF 20M. Each element consists of a pear-shaped diamond of over 50 carats, namely 52.55 and 50.47 carats, topped with a rich cluster of smaller diamonds.
Le Jardin d'Isabelle is a necklace, lot 187 estimated CHF 8M. This jewel consists of two lines centered on diamonds respectively weighing 31.38 carats and 12.11 carats.
RESULTS INCLUDING PREMIUM :
Earrings SOLD for CHF 17.6M
Necklace SOLD for CHF 8M
Diamonds are forever and elegance too. These newcomers connect with the past by taking the name Boehmer et Bassenge.
This double name that had gone into the oblivion of history was that of the jewelers entrusted by Louis XV in 1772 to create the most stunning necklace of all time for a presentation to his mistress Madame du Barry. The necklace totaling 2,840 carats of diamonds was assembled but not delivered because of the king's death. It was dismantled in 1785 in the most sensational scam case of the Ancien Régime : l'Affaire du collier de la Reine.
The new Boehmer et Bassenge company targets an extreme quality and their outputs will be of an utmost rarity. They chose Christie's for selling two of their earliest masterpieces. The auction takes place in Geneva on November 15 without a reserve price on these lots.
Miroir de l'Amour is a pair of earrings 7 cm long, lot 188 estimated CHF 20M. Each element consists of a pear-shaped diamond of over 50 carats, namely 52.55 and 50.47 carats, topped with a rich cluster of smaller diamonds.
Le Jardin d'Isabelle is a necklace, lot 187 estimated CHF 8M. This jewel consists of two lines centered on diamonds respectively weighing 31.38 carats and 12.11 carats.
RESULTS INCLUDING PREMIUM :
Earrings SOLD for CHF 17.6M
Necklace SOLD for CHF 8M
2017 Heart and Pearls
2017 SOLD for CHF 14.8M including premium
The heart shape is a romantic symbol. For a diamond it is a technical feat. The heart is a modified brilliant. It is the only configuration of a diamond carved to include concave surfaces.
The difficulty consists in achieving a geometric balance without disparity between the two halves of the heart while maintaining a perfect sharpness in the cleft. Any mistake appears ridiculous to a demanding user.
A heart shaped diamond type IIa, D color, Internally flawless clarity, weighing 56.15 carats was sold for CHF 9.6M including premium by Christie's on May 18, 2011.
Boehmer et Bassenge, the Maison de Haute Joaillerie founded in 2016 in Paris, is not afraid of the challenge to assemble the most exceptional jewels around the biggest diamonds. Their high quality production is limited to a few items per year.
On November 15, 2016, Christie's sold for CHF 17.6M including premium one of their first realizations : a pair of earrings with matched pear cut diamonds weighing 52.55 and 50.47 carats in a surrounding of small diamonds.
On May 17 in Geneva, Christie's sells La Légende by Boehmer et Bassenge, lot 228 estimated CHF 14M.
This jewel is centered on a heart shaped diamond D, IIa, Flawless weighing 92.15 carats. The GIA recognized its excellent symmetry and polish. It is hanging through two small circular diamonds to a 93 cm long sautoir necklace of cultured pearls mounted in platinum.
The difficulty consists in achieving a geometric balance without disparity between the two halves of the heart while maintaining a perfect sharpness in the cleft. Any mistake appears ridiculous to a demanding user.
A heart shaped diamond type IIa, D color, Internally flawless clarity, weighing 56.15 carats was sold for CHF 9.6M including premium by Christie's on May 18, 2011.
Boehmer et Bassenge, the Maison de Haute Joaillerie founded in 2016 in Paris, is not afraid of the challenge to assemble the most exceptional jewels around the biggest diamonds. Their high quality production is limited to a few items per year.
On November 15, 2016, Christie's sold for CHF 17.6M including premium one of their first realizations : a pair of earrings with matched pear cut diamonds weighing 52.55 and 50.47 carats in a surrounding of small diamonds.
On May 17 in Geneva, Christie's sells La Légende by Boehmer et Bassenge, lot 228 estimated CHF 14M.
This jewel is centered on a heart shaped diamond D, IIa, Flawless weighing 92.15 carats. The GIA recognized its excellent symmetry and polish. It is hanging through two small circular diamonds to a 93 cm long sautoir necklace of cultured pearls mounted in platinum.
The Underground of Botswana
2019 SOLD for HK$ 108M including premium
Botswana provides perfect diamonds capable of matching the best diamonds in history. Such chemically pure diamonds are referred as Type IIa and their absence of color is identified as D-color. The other criteria are their weight in carats, their internally and externally flawless clarity and the quality of cutting, polishing and symmetry. When the other characteristics are similar, larger diamonds reach a higher price per carat.
The most resplendent is the round brilliant. This cut is rarely practiced from large gems because the perfect shape is obtained at the expense of a loss of material. An oval with perfect facets can approach the quality of a round diamond. Some other elongated shapes such as pear or emerald also offer very satisfactory results.
In 2018 Sotheby's Diamonds privately sold a magnificent round diamond weighing 102.34 carats, extracted from a 425 carat rough stone mined by De Beers in Botswana. The price of the transaction was not disclosed.
On May 15, 2013, Christie's sold for CHF 26M including premium a 101.73 carat pear diamond obtained from a 236 carat gem unearthed at Jwaneng, a mine owned in partnership by De Beers and by the Government of Botswana.
On April 2 in Hong Kong, Sotheby's sells as lot 1801 an oval diamond of 88.22 carats. Please watch the video shared by the auction house.
The GIA report accompanying its certification includes a rare laudatory comment : "Though its GIA Grading Report reveals a thorough description of its characteristics, it cannot quite capture its splendor - one must see the gem to comprehend its magnificence."
This diamond comes from a 242 carat rough stone also mined in Jwaneng. Its lower estimate at HK $ 88M responds to its weight in carats by using the double 8 which is in China a homophony with an augur of joy and wealth. This amount corresponds to US $ 127K before fees per carat.
An oval diamond weighing 118.28 carats worked from a 299 carat rough stone discovered in 2011 in southern Africa was sold for HK $ 240M including premium by Sotheby's on October 7, 2013, corresponding to US $ 260K including premium per carat.
The most resplendent is the round brilliant. This cut is rarely practiced from large gems because the perfect shape is obtained at the expense of a loss of material. An oval with perfect facets can approach the quality of a round diamond. Some other elongated shapes such as pear or emerald also offer very satisfactory results.
In 2018 Sotheby's Diamonds privately sold a magnificent round diamond weighing 102.34 carats, extracted from a 425 carat rough stone mined by De Beers in Botswana. The price of the transaction was not disclosed.
On May 15, 2013, Christie's sold for CHF 26M including premium a 101.73 carat pear diamond obtained from a 236 carat gem unearthed at Jwaneng, a mine owned in partnership by De Beers and by the Government of Botswana.
On April 2 in Hong Kong, Sotheby's sells as lot 1801 an oval diamond of 88.22 carats. Please watch the video shared by the auction house.
The GIA report accompanying its certification includes a rare laudatory comment : "Though its GIA Grading Report reveals a thorough description of its characteristics, it cannot quite capture its splendor - one must see the gem to comprehend its magnificence."
This diamond comes from a 242 carat rough stone also mined in Jwaneng. Its lower estimate at HK $ 88M responds to its weight in carats by using the double 8 which is in China a homophony with an augur of joy and wealth. This amount corresponds to US $ 127K before fees per carat.
An oval diamond weighing 118.28 carats worked from a 299 carat rough stone discovered in 2011 in southern Africa was sold for HK $ 240M including premium by Sotheby's on October 7, 2013, corresponding to US $ 260K including premium per carat.
#AuctionUpdate: Spectacular 88.22-Carat Oval Diamond, perfect according to every critical criterion, sells for HK$108 million / US$13.8 million, to a Japanese private collector who names the stone the 'manami star' #SothebysJewels pic.twitter.com/ekKqsoEb33
— Sotheby's (@Sothebys) April 2, 2019
