RELEASE | 22 Years as Jewellery Auction Market Leaders - Geneva, 18th May 2016
22 YEARS AS JEWELLERY AUCTION MARKET LEADERS
CHRISTIE’s GENEVA SPRING SEASON REALISED
SFR. 167.1 million/ US$169.2 MILLION
THE OPPENHEIMER BLUE DIAMOND SELLS FOR
SFr.56.8 MILLION/US$57.5 MILLION SETTING
A NEW WORLD RECORD FOR ANY JEWEL SOLD AT AUCTION
- THE HAVAS BREGUET ET FILS POCKET WATCH SOLD SFr.3,245,000/US$3,322,880
BECOMING THE MOST EXPENSIVE WATCH OF THE SEASON - A 2 MILLION WINE SALE LEAD BY 10 BOTTLES OF PETRUS 1982 SOLD FOR SFr.32,900/US$33,690
- COMBINED SALE THROUGH RATES OF 89% BY LOT
Geneva –The Magnificent jewels sale on 18 May concluded the 48th Christie’s Spring Season with a combined total of SFr.167,185,332/US$169,528,430 and combined sales through rates of 89% by lot. The highlight of the week was the Oppenheimer Blue diamond which sold for SFr.56,837,000/US$57,541,779, setting a new world record for any jewel sold at auction. The exceptional stone was acquired after 25 minutes of bidding.
In addition to the spectacular stone, the Superb Jewels from the collection of H.S.H. Gabriela Princess zu Leiningen realised SFr.22,260,750/US$22,536,783 selling 100% by lot bringing the total of the jewellery auction to SFr.146,818,625/US$148,639,176.
The Geneva season started on Monday 16 May with the auction of Rare Watches including important private collections which realised SFr.18,397,125 /US$18,838,656, selling 93% by lot and 97% by value. The top lot of the sale was the exceptional Charles-Louis Havas Breguet et Fils pocket watch which sold for SFr.3,245,000/US$3,322,880, becoming the most expensive watch sold during the spring season in Geneva and is the second most expensive Breguet et Fils watch ever sold at auction.
A day later, on 17th May, the Fine and Rare wine sale fetched SFr.1,969,582/$US2,016,852 selling 89% by lot and 94% by value. The top lot of the auction was lot 91, ten bottles of Petrus 1982 sold SFr.32,900/$US33,690. Bids from 17 different countries were received during the day long auction and 20 % of the bidders were registered on Christie’s LIVE.
MAGNIFICENT JEWELS INCLUDING THE SUPERB JEWELS FROM THE COLLECTION OF H.S.H. GABRIELA PRINCESS ZU LEININGEN
-RECORD FOR ANY JEWEL SOLD AT AUCTION
-HIGHEST LOT OF THE GENEVA SPRING SEASON : THE OPPENHEIMER BLUE
-A TOTAL OF SFr.22.2M/$US22.5M FOR THE SUBERB JEWELS FROM THE COLLECTION OF H.S.H. GABRIELA PRINCESS ZU LEININGEN SELLING 100%
-507 REGISTRANTS FOR THE SALE
-THE JEWELLED ELEGANCE COLLECTION REALISED SFr.7.2 MILLION SELLING 92% PER LOT
Rahul Kadakia, International Head of Christie's Jewellery Department :
« Once again, the Magnificent jewels sale was a great success welcoming clients from all over the world. Selling the Oppenheimer blue diamond was a real priviledge and the result of SFr.56,8M proves that there is still a strong demand for high end quality stones. Provenance is also a key element to success as it was the case for The Superb Jewels from the collection of H.S.H Gabriela Princess zu Leiningen which totaled SFr.22.2M with 100 % of sold lots, highlighted by the Pohl diamond which sold for SFr.4,309,000/US$4,362,432 (US$120,876 per carat).
RARE WATCHES INCLUDING IMPORTANT PRIVATE COLLECTIONS
-THE HAVAS BREGUET POCKET WATCH BECOMES THE MOST EXPENSIVE WATCH SOLD OF THE SEASON
-PRIVATE CLIENTS FROM 29 COUNTRIES BOUGHT 70 % OF THE SALE
Thomas Perazzi, Head of the Geneva Watch department:
“This sale which sold 157% above the low estimate, showed the strong presence of international private clients. This spectacular sale is the result of the strong work of the international team travelling with the very important watches all around the world, all the way to Asia, the Middle-East and the USA. In addition to the Breguet which was acquired by a private Swiss Museum, 70% of the lots were bought by private clients. The vintage watches offered attracted high interest from private collectors especially lots 171, 117 and 174 a Patek Philippe, reference 2499, which was sold six years ago at Christie’s in Geneva for SFr.579,000 and achieved on Monday SFr.965,000 ».
FINE AND RARE WINES
-67% BIDDERS REGISTERED FROM EUROPE
-26% BIDDERS REGISTERED FROM ASIA
-20% BIDDERS REGISTERED ON CHRISTIE’S LIVE.
Edwin Vos, Head of Continental Europe, Wine department : « The market was present for high quality wines such as the Armand Rousseau Collection which sold way above the high estimate, especially for lots dated from the 1990’s such as lots 509 (SFr.21,150), 510 (SFr.19,975) and 512 (SFr 14,100). Strong interest was also noticed for Bordeaux wines from the 1980’s and 1990’s and for Jayer wines which always encounter a real success ».