Geneva – Featuring over 400 lots, Christie’s Geneva auction of ‘Magnificent Jewels’ on November 10 will present jewels with prestigious provenance, exceptional diamonds, rare coloured gemstones, top quality natural pearls and signed jewels. Highlighted by THE PINK (below right), the largest cushion-shaped fancy vivid pink diamond at auction (for a full press release on this diamond, please click here), the sale has a total estimate of SFr 80-100 million.

Rahul Kadakia, International head of Jewellery comments:

The largest cushion shaped vivid pink diamond highlights Christie’s Magnificent Jewels auction in Geneva. Weighing 16.08 carats, The Pink is truly a natural phenomenon displaying the ideal tone, saturation and brilliance that is so coveted in pink diamonds among collectors all over the world. Along with Royal jewels and a great selection of natural pearls and from a perfect pear shaped white diamond of over 50 carats to a Burmese sapphire weighing 118 carats, the sale has something for everyone with jewels priced from SFr 2,000 to SFr 20m.

JEWELS WITH PRESTIGIOUS PROVENANCE

Elena di Francia, duchess of Aosta (left) was born Princess Hélène of Orléans, a descendant of Louis Philippe, King of France. On the day of her wedding to the Duke of Aosta, she received this fabulous emerald and diamond fringe necklace as a gift (Estimate: SFr 1,450,000-2,400,000) from her godfather, Henri d’Orléans, Duke of Aumale.

The exceptional quality of the emeralds and the delicate craftsmanship, typical of the early 19th century, shows obvious resemblance with the jewellery made during the First Empire, by Nitot or Bapst, for Empress Josephine.

The necklace was later sold to Sybil Sassoon, Marchioness of Cholmondeley, and has been part of important private collections ever since.

Amongst the jewels with the most prestigious provenance is a two-strand natural pearl necklace (Estimate: 480,000-670,000).  A gift from King Umberto I of Italy to his wife Queen Margarita (1851–1926), it was later worn by Queen Elena of Italy (1873–1952) and has stayed in the Royal Family for more than a century.

Important jewels from the collections of the Dukes of Westminster and the Princess of Belgium will also highlight this aristocratic section of the sale.

WILD CATS, BY CARTIER

Exotic, fierce and elegant, the ‘wild cats’ are much more than a symbol in the world of fine jewellery. They are a tribute to the delicateness and power of women wrapped in diamonds by Cartier. The ‘Magnificent Jewels’ sale will feature 8 ‘wild cat’ jewels by Cartier including a rare tiger bracelet (SFr 300,000-500,000) and an impressive  double-panther bracelet (SFr 400,000-600,000)

NATURAL PEARLS

Recent auctions have shown that the demand for natural pearls is growing in strength and that prices have been increasing at a rapid rate. The scarcity of high quality natural pearls in the market combined with the lack of any new sources have made any natural pearl jewel a highly desirable treasure. 

A wide selection of beautiful natural pearls will be presented on November 10^th including this 19^th Century brooch which combines outstanding craftsmanship, beautiful old cut diamonds and exceptional natural pearl drops, (Estimate: SFr 800,000-1,000,000). 

The sale further includes two very fine single strand, natural pearl and diamond necklaces, with marquise cut diamond clasps (estimate: SFr950,000-1,450,000).

IMPORTANT GEMSTONES

The auction comprises a splendid selection of important coloured gemstones. A notable highlight is a pair of Colombian emerald and diamond ear pendants (Estimate: SFr 2,400,000-2,900,000). Each octagonal step-cut emerald weighing approximately 13.56 and 12.91 carats are of Colombian origin and have been spared of any treatment, an extremely rare occurrence for such large and fine stones. The sale also features a Burmese ruby and diamond ring of 11.01 carats (Estimate: SFr 770,000-1,150,000) and an impressive Burmese ‘Royal Blue’ sapphire of 118.88 carats (Estimate: SFr 3,100,000-3,600,000).

Further highlights include an important coloured diamond ring Set with a fancy intense pink rectangular diamond, weighing approximately 7.07 carats, (estimate: SFr 4,500,000-5,200,000);  a D color Internally Flawless diamond ring set with a pear brilliant-cut diamond, weighing approximately 50.48 carats (estimate on request); and a rare bluish grey diamond ring, weighing approximately 25.00 carats, (estimate: SFr 1,150,000-1,450,000).

MAGNIFICENT JEWELS

Auction:

Four Seasons Hotel des Bergues, Geneva

10 November 2015

10.30am (Lots 1-105)

2.30pm (Lots 106-305)

7.30pm (Lots 306-409)

Viewings in Geneva:

Four Seasons Hotel des Bergues, Geneva

Friday 6 November 10am – 6pm 

Saturday 7 November 10am – 7pm 

Sunday 8 November 10am – 6pm 

Monday 9 November 10am – 6pm 

Tuesday 10 November 10am – 12pm            

PRESS CONTACT: Alexandra Kindermann | +41 44 268 10 19 | akindermann@christies.com