CHRISTIE’S SWITZERLAND NOVEMBER AUCTIONS  

THE PINK SELLS FOR $28.5 million

Highest price for any vivid pink diamond at auction

  SALE WEEK ACHIEVES A COMBINED TOTAL OF

SFr.127,338,853 million / US$126,447,481 million   

Geneva  - Christie’s Switzerland November sales of Finest and Rarest Wines, Important Watches and Magnificent Jewels realised a combined total of SFr.127,338,853 / US$126,447,481. The highlight of the Geneva sale week was lot 409, a 16.08 carat cushion-shaped fancy pink diamond selling for SFr. 28,725,000 /$28,523,925 setting a new world auction record for any pink diamond ever offered at auction. The stone was bought by a private Asian buyer, who named it just after the auction Sweet Josephine. The sale week welcomed established and new clients from 35 countries.    

Individually, the Magnificent Jewels on 10 November fetched a total of SFr.110,264,375 / US$109,492,525/ €101,663,753, selling 80% by lot and 86% by value. The top lot of the sale was a cushion-shaped fancy vivid pink diamond, the largest to be offered at auction, which sold for SFr.28,725,000 / $28,523,925/ €26,484,450, setting a new auction record for any vivid pink diamond.

On November 9, Christie's Geneva Important Watches auction totalled SFr.13,382,111 / $13,248,280/ €12,338,306, selling 90% by value and 81% by lot. The top lot of the sale was lot 161, a Patek Philippe, reference 1518, manufactured in 1950 which sold for SFr.581,000 / $575,190,/ €535,682.

On 8 and 9 November, a sale of finest and rarest wines, including a collection of Chartreuse liquors, totalled SFr3,692,367 / $/ €, selling 96% by lot and 98% by value. The top lot of the sale was lot 226, 10 bottles of Henri Jayer, 1985 selling for SFr.94,000 / $93,060/ €86,668 against an estimate of SFr. 55,000.

François Curiel, President of Christie's Switzerland: “The Geneva sales this week welcomed collectors from all over the world as well as a large number of new clients, registering for the first time in the three categories – wine, watches and jewellery. Each auction saw strong bidding in the room, telephone and via the internet, underlining the importance of this central saleroom location to our global client base for all three departments.  We were very pleased to re-launch the wine sale this season, which performed extremely well. Less than 24 hours after our colleagues at Christie's in New York set the second highest price for any work of art sold at auction when a masterpiece by Modigliani sold for over $170 million, Christie’s Geneva set a record price for any fancy vivid pink diamond ever offered at auction -  $1,773,875  per carat. This has been an historic week for the art market."

GENEVA > MAGNIFICENT JEWELS

• WORLD AUCTION RECORD FOR A VIVID PINK DIAMOND AT AUCTION
• OVER 150 REGISTRANTS FROM 23 COUNTRIES
• STRONG RESULTS FOR COLOURED GEMS AND NATURAL PEARLS
• ROYAL PROVENANCE ATTRACTED MANY BIDS

On 10 November 2015, Christie’s Geneva auction of Magnificent Jewels fetched SFr.110,264,375 / US$109,492,525/ €101,663,753, selling 80% by lot and 86% by value. The top lot of the sale was a cushion-shaped fancy vivid pink diamond, the largest to be offered at auction which sold for SFr.28,725,000 / $28,523,925/ €26,484,450, setting a new auction record for any vivid pink diamond. 

Rahul Kadakia, International Head of Christie's Jewellery Department, declared: “We have had a very busy few days here in Geneva as clients have come from all over the world to view the sale. Selling the largest vivid pink cushion-shaped diamond to come to auction is a privilege and to sell it for a new world auction record prize is a strong indication that there is still demand from clients from the end of the market for these truly precious stones. This is also true for pieces of historic or royal provenance which similarly attracted a lot of interest during the viewing and sold above estimate. In particular, rubies were in high demand and the important 27 ruby lots in this auction sold very well. This strong interest is an auspicious sign for our Honk Kong sale in which we will offer an extremely rare 15 carat Burmese Ruby on December 1, 2015.”

GENEVA > IMPORTANT WATCHES

• STRONG PRIVATE PARTICIPATION
• MULTIPLE WORLD AUCTION RECORDS
• REGISTRANTS FROM 33 COUNTRIES, ACROSS ALL CONTINENTS
• 57% OF WATCHES SOLD WITHIN THE ESTIMATE
• CLOSE TO 50% OF FIRST TIME REGISTRANTS WELCOMED TO THE SALE

On 9 November, Christie's Geneva Important Watches auction totalled SFr.13,382,111 / $13,248,290/ €12,338,306, selling 90% by value and 81% by lot.

Thomas Perazzi, Head of Christie's Geneva Watch Department, declared: “The auction of 363 lots offered something for collectors at all stages of collecting and we were very pleased to welcome just under 50 percent of new clients to our sale this season. Clients came from 33 countries and active bidding could be seen in the sale room, on the phones and the Internet. ‎The top lot was lot 161, a vintage Patek Philippe, ref. 1518, manufactured in 1950, selling for SFr. 581,000. Vintage Omega watches offered in the sale generated great interest and set some world auction records prices for specific references. Vintage Rolex watches, particularly Daytona Chronographs, also performed extremely well. “

GENEVA > FINEST AND RAREST WINES

• STRONG PRIVATE AND SWISS PARTICIPATION
• MULTIPLE WORLD AUCTION RECORDS – INCLUDING CHATREUSE
• 25% OF WINES SOLD ABOVE HIGH ESTIMATE
• AVERAGE SOLD LOT VALUE DOUBBLED TO LAST GENEVA SALE IN NOV 2013
• CHRISTIE’S GENEVA WINE SALES ARE BACK ON THE WINE MAP

On 8 and 9 November, Christie's Geneva Finest and Rarest Wines auction totalled SFr.3,692,367 /$3,655,443/ €3,404,362, selling 98% by value and 96% by lot.

Edwin Vos, Head of Wine Sales Continental Europe, declared: “We devised a specific strategy with the wine auctions held across the last two days here in Geneva. We rightly felt there was an opportunity in the market and a high demand for such type of sale especially in Switzerland which we hoped would appeal to the international group of discerning buyers at the very top end of the market. This has paid off with sale through rates of 96 percent and a sale total of SFR. 3.7 million‎. Standout performances within the sale were the Chartreuse and Jayer sections, sourced privately or directly from the Domaine, performing at 257 percent and 130 percent versa low estimate respectively. The auction offered a very rare opportunity to acquire Henri Jayer wines from private hands, purchased directly from the Domaine, which resulted in a high international interest, a recognition by the bidders that these bottles are very hard to find on the market, were well preserved and attractively estimated. The largest offering of Chartreuse liquors ever to come to auction was also a sensation. We will be back in May to build on this success and will follow the same criteria when putting together the sale: rarity, quality, fresh to the market and sourced privately.”

PRESS CONTACT: Alexandra Kindermann | +41 79 101 4196 | akindermann@christies.com

About Christie’s

Christie’s, the world's leading art business, had global auction and private sales in the first half of 2015 that totalled £2.9 billion / $4.5 billion. In 2014, Christie’s had global auction and private sales that totalled £5.1 billion/$8.4 billion, making it the highest annual total in Christie’s history. Christie’s is a name and place that speaks of extraordinary art, unparalleled service and expertise, as well as international glamour. Founded in 1766 by James Christie, Christie's has since conducted the greatest and most celebrated auctions through the centuries providing a popular showcase for the unique and the beautiful. Christie’s offers around 450 auctions annually in over 80 categories, including all areas of fine and decorative arts, jewellery, photographs, collectibles, wine, and more. Prices range from $200 to over $100 million. Christie's also has a long and successful history conducting private sales for its clients in all categories, with emphasis on Post-War & Contemporary, Impressionist & Modern, Old Masters and Jewellery.

Christie’s has a global presence with 54 offices in 32 countries and 12 salerooms around the world including in London, New York, Paris, Geneva, Milan, Amsterdam, Dubai, Zürich, Hong Kong, Shanghai, and Mumbai. More recently, Christie’s has led the market with expanded initiatives in growth markets such as Russia, China, India and the United Arab Emirates, with successful sales and exhibitions in Beijing, Mumbai and Dubai.

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