It is the Christie’s and Sotheby's Geneva jewelry auctions, which are held every year in mid-May and November, that are the most anticipated and exciting. Collectors and treasure hunters strive to get to them, because the catalogs Magnificent Jewels (this is the name of Christie's auction) and Magnificent Jewels and Noble Jewels (Sotheby’s auction) get really interesting and unique things with outstanding provenance. A whole staff of jewelry experts, headed by Raul Kadakia (Christie's) and David Bennett (Sotheby's), are responsible for the authenticity and quality of the lots. has selected the most important top lots for the upcoming auction.
Christie’s auction will take place at the Four Seasons Hotel des Bergues on November 14, with a total of 600 lots being presented. The most "cream" will be collected in the second half of the session, which opens at 18:30. Among the top lots is a ring with a rectangular blue diamond (8.67 carats), estimated at $ 7.5 million - $ 10.6 million; tiara with a huge 101.27-carat diamond (estimated at $ 4.5 million- $ 6.5 million), fancy jewelry JAR, a bracelet with 1920s Cartier rubies ($ 502.6 thousand- $ 703.7 thousand), historical Suzanne items Belperron, traditionally in high demand. All eyes will be on the unique de Grisogono emerald and diamond necklacewith a huge emerald-cut diamond (color D, clarity Flawless) weighing 163.41 carats - the stone was obtained from the 4 de Fevereiro diamond, whose original weight exceeded 404 carats. The stone, cut in New York, then went to the Geneva jeweler de Grisogono. The peculiarity of the necklace is that the diamond can be unfastened to be stored in a safe or attached to a bracelet made of galyusha leather.
De Grisogono necklace with an emerald cut diamond © Christies Press Office
For dessert Christie’s will offer a “titled diamond” with royal provenance. Among the owners of the 19-carat pale pink stone are Cardinal Mazarin, Louis XIV, XV and XVI, Napoleon Bonaparte and Napoleon III, as well as Frederic Boucheron - and this is not a complete list. Today the stone is in a private collection and is tentatively estimated at $ 6 million- $ 9 million.
1 of 8 Le Grand Mazarin © press materials Christie's
Earrings Physalis, JAR
Earrings with diamonds and sapphires
Art Deco Minaudière, Lacloche Freres
The next day, the Magnificent Jewels and Noble Jewels will be auctioned at the Mandarin Oriental. For the auction on November 15, Sotheby’s selected 361 items - significantly less than that of its main competitor - but among them are some impressive pieces. And above all, extraordinary colored diamonds. First on this list and last on the auction schedule is Raj Pink, the largest known pink in the Fancy Intense Pink. This diamond weighs 37.30 carats (VS1 clarity) and is estimated at $ 20-30 million. Next comes a more modest but almost perfect (Internally Flawless) blue diamond weighing 7.41 carats - the stone is inserted into a Moussaieff ringframed with pink diamonds (estimate $ 14 million- $ 18 million). Closing the top three is a fancy pink stone weighing 33.63 carats in a 1970 Harry Winston ring, valued at $ 8-14 million.
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Raj Pink pink diamond ring
A pair of yellow Donnersmarck diamonds belonging to Teresa La Paiva
Bulgari ruby and diamond bracelet
Necklace made of carved emeralds and diamonds
Among the blue chips, there is a lot with provenance: a pair of fancy yellow diamonds from the personal collection of Teresa La Paiva, Countess Henkel von Donnersmarck, a famous 19th century courtesan. The 102.54-carat cushion cut stone and the pear-shaped 82.47-carat diamond will be presented in a single lot. Its preliminary estimate is $ 9 million- $ 14 million. Two emerald necklaces that belonged to the Countess Berry and the Italian princes of Odescalchi are of aristocratic origin.
Among the jewelry lots, there are several important attributed items of the 1930s: a Bulgari bracelet with rubies and diamonds (estimated at $ 150,000-250,000), a diamond necklace with Cartier emerald drops (estimated at $ 350,000 -550,000), a necklace and a brooch with rubies and baguette diamonds (estimate $ 535 thousand-735 thousand).
1 of 20 Geoger Fouquet Pendant © Christie's Press Office Rene Lalique Pendant © Christie's Press Office
On the eve of the main auction, on November 13, Christie’s will hold a thematic auction "Art without Borders", which will exhibit 110 items in the Art Nouveau and Art Deco styles. All items come from one private European collection. At the auction, you can see 45 items by Rene Lalique, including a brooch with enamel and opals ($ 90,000-130,000). The Art Deco trend is represented by Georges Fouquet's jewelry: a geometric pendant with onyx and emerald is estimated at $ 90,000-130,000.>
