Fancy colored diamonds made their mark at Christie’s Magnificent Jewels sale, held Tuesday in New York.
The Eden Rose, a 10.2-carat internally flawless fancy intense pink diamond fetched $13.3 million
Christie’s
The top lot of the sale was “The Eden Rose,” a 10.2-carat internally flawless round brilliant fancy intense pink diamond. It sold for $13.3 million, beating its $12 million high estimate. Chrsitie’s said the diamond exhibits a pure pink hue, unlike many natural pink diamonds that typically display secondary hues such as purple, orange or gray. “The Eden Rose stands out for its complete absence of any secondary color, rendering it exceptionally rare,” Christie’s said in a statement prior to the auction.
The New York Magnificent Jewels sale achieved a total of $44.4 Million, with 90% of the 144 lots sold. The auction featured an array of diamonds, notable colored gemstones and pearl jewelry, and jewels from important houses such as Bulgari, Cartier, Tiffany & Co. and Van Cleef & Arpels. The sale is part of Christie’s “Luxury Week” of auctions being held this week.
“Collectors participated actively in all areas of the sale, paying strong prices for rare colored gemstones and natural pearls in particular,” said Rahul Kadakia, Christie’s international head of Jewelry.
An 84.05-carat fancy intense yellow cushion modified brilliant-cut diamond fetched $2.1 million
Christie’s
The top four lots and six of the top ten lots of the auction involved fancy colored diamonds. The number two lot was a platinum and yellow gold pendant necklace featuring an 84.05-carat fancy intense yellow cushion modified brilliant-cut diamond further enhanced by pear-shaped brilliant-cut diamonds of 1.02, 0.71 and 0.70 carats and a marquise brilliant-cut diamond of 1.02 carats. It sold for more than $2.1 million, just above its $2 million high estimate.
A 2.28-carat fancy vivid blue heart-shaped diamond, surrounded by yellow and white diamonds fetched $2.1 million
Christie’s
The was followed by a platinum ring centered with a 2.28-carat fancy vivid blue heart-shaped modified brilliant-cut diamond with VVS1 clarity, surrounded by round yellow diamonds (not tested for natural color), and further surrounded by white diamonds. It fetched more than $2.1 million, within estimates.
A set of three fancy yellow diamonds fetched more than $1.6 million
Christie’s
A set of fancy yellow diamonds consisting of two pendants and a ring fetched more than $1.6 million, within estimates. They are as follows: a pendant featuring 40.56-carat fancy intense yellow European brilliant-cut diamond with VS1 clarity; a pendent featuring a 40.38-carat fancy yellow old mine brilliant-cut diamond with VS2 clarity; and a ring centered with a 26.63 carat old mine brilliant-cut fancy yellow diamond with VS2 clarity.
Pendant earrings with two 23-carat oval brilliant-cut diamonds fetched $1.3 million
Christie’s
The number five lot of the sale was a pair of pendant earrings featuring oval brilliant-cut diamonds that fetched more than $1.3 million. The first diamond of 23.20 carats has I color, VS1 clarity; and the second of 23.05 carats has J color, VS1 clarity. The diamonds are set in platinum and 18k white gold.
An 11.98-carat modified pear brilliant-cut diamond with D color, VS1 clarity fetched $1 million
Christie’s
A platinum ring featuring an 11.98-carat modified pear brilliant-cut diamond with D color, VS1 clarity sold for more than $1 million, well above its $600,000 high estimate.
A natural rectangular-shaped 18.31-carat Burma sapphire fetched $967,500
Christie’s
One of the big sales of the auction was a ring centered with a natural rectangular-shaped 18.31-carat Burma sapphire flanked by two triangle-shaped diamonds that fetched $967,500, nearly four times its $250,000 high estimate.
Natural pearl and diamond earrings fetched $277,200, nearly 10 times its high estimate
Christie’s
Several pearl jewels performed exceptionally well. Among them was a single-strand natural pearl, cultured pearl and diamond necklace that fetched $378,000, smashing its $70,000 high estimate; and a pair of natural pearl and diamond earrings that fetched $277,200, nearly 10 times its high estimate of $30,000.
An Art Deco single strand natural and cultured pearl necklace sold for $302,400
Christie’s
Jewels from distinguished collections also performed well, the auction house said. Particularly noteworthy was a collection of period jewels from Sunny Crawford von Bulow and Ala von Auersperg Isham. Highlights included a Van Cleef & Arpels carved emerald, ruby and diamond necklace that sold for $289,800, and an Art Deco single strand natural and cultured pearl necklace with a diamond clasp that sold for $302,400, more than double its $150,000 high estimate. The 16 jewels featured in the collection totaled $1.4 million, the auction house said.
This article was first published on forbes.com and all figures are in USD.
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