Christie’s To Sell The De Grisogono 163-Carat D-Flawless Diamond

The De Grisogono diamond suspended from an asymmetric necklace with a trailing on the left side of 18 emerald-cut diamonds and to the right two rows of pear-shaped emeralds

Christie’s is selling the largest D-color flawless diamond to ever appear at auction, a 163.41-carat emerald-cut stone owned by the Geneva-based luxury jeweler, De Grisogono.

It will be a highlight of Christie’s Magnificent Jewels sale in Geneva to be held November 14 at the Four Seasons Hotel des Bergues. The diamond is currently on a world tour.

The diamond was cut from a 404-carat rough discovered in February 2016 in the Lulo mine in Angola. Given the name, “4 de Fevereiro,” it is the 27th biggest rough white diamond ever discovered and the largest in Angola. Fawaz Gruosi, founder of De Grisogono, purchased the rough diamond. He had it analyzed in Antwerp and cut in New York, where a team of 10 diamond-cutting specialists spent 11 months mapping, plotting, cleaving, laser-cutting and polishing the rough into the gem.

The De Grisogono 163.41-carat diamond, the largest D-color flawless diamond ever come at auction

The diamond is the centerpiece of an asymmetric necklace with a trailing on the left side of 18 emerald-cut diamonds and to the right two rows of pear-shaped emeralds, offering a contrasting appearance. No gold is visible between the emeralds as the gems are perfectly matched and the metal is darkened to create the chiaroscuro effect that is characteristic of De Grisogono jewels. The prongs holding in place the 163.41-carat diamond disappear under four baguette-cut diamonds creating an effect of dazzling brilliance. The reverse side of the gold basket is engraved with the diamond’s weight and set with more diamonds.

It took 14 craftsmen more than 1,700 hours to create the necklace.

Rahul Kadakia, international head of Christie’s Jewels said the “emerald and diamond necklace propels De Grisogono into a class of their own.”

The 404-carat rough diamond, "4 de Fevereiro," that created the 163.41-carat D-color flawless diamond that will be sold at Christie's

This diamond necklace marks the first jewel in a partnership between the auction house and the high jeweler in which they “will bring to auction the most exquisite diamonds ever offered to the market.”

The schedule for the worldwide tour is as follows:

Christie’s Hong Kong
September 28 – October 1
22nd Floor, Alexandra House, 18 Chater Road Central

Christie’s London
October 4 -7.
8, King Street, SW1Y 6QT London

Christie’s and De Grisogono in Dubai
October 17 - 19

Christie’s New York
November 3 - 6
Rockefeller Centre, 20 Rockefeller Plaza

Christie’s Geneva
November 9 - 14
Four Seasons Hotel des Bergues, Quai des Bergues 33 

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Christie’s Offers 300 Vintage Patek Watches In Special Selling Exhibition

Patek Philippe. 18k white gold ref.5270G 

Christie’s will host what it calls a “once in a lifetime” opportunity to purchase Patek Philippe vintage watches from an expertly curated collection of approximately 300 Patek timepieces. The private selling exhibition opened moments ago and will run till July 23 at its Rockefeller Center headquarters in New York.

The watches are from the mid-19th century to the 20th century ranging in price from $5,000 to $5 million. It will include several models new to the market. They are from various sources around the world, with some purchased from Christie’s decades ago and others from the original owners or families.

Patek Philippe. 18k rose gold ref.533R, manufactured in 1942 and sold in 1943

The Christie’s selling exhibition coincides with the much publicized Patek Philippe “Art of Watches Grand Exhibition” that will take place at Cipriani 42nd Street on the same days. John Reardon, Christie’s international head of watches, said the timing is no mere coincidence.

“With thousands of Patek Philippe collectors and enthusiasts converging on New York in July, it is the perfect time to celebrate all things Patek Philippe and offer collectors the chance to see and purchase exceptional museum quality watches,” he said. “This exhibition offers buyers the opportunity to own a piece of Patek Philippe’s history at all price points.”

Patek Philippe. 18k rose gold ref.5020R, manufactured in 1995

Reardon said his favorite part of the exhibition is being able to present 20th Century Patek watches in a way that shows the development of key complications, beginning at the reference 130 moving onward to the 530, 533, 591, 1579, 1463 and the split seconds 1436.

For perpetual chronographs the exhibit includes four 1518s and then a range of 2499s with examples in each series, Reardon said. With calendars, the exhibit shows the development starting with two examples of early triple calendar 96s and moving on to the presentation of superlative examples of the 1526, 2497, 2438, 3448, and 3450.

Patek Philippe. 18k gold ref. 1463J, manufactured in 1946, sold in 1947

“The icing on the cake is the total production run of the minute repeaters highlighted by seven early minute repeating wristwatches and nearly the entire run of modern discontinued minute repeaters, many with unique variants,” he said.

There will also be educational components to the exhibition with guided tours, lectures and watchmaking seminars with the goal of helping watch connoisseurs to be better collectors.

Patek Philippe, Perpetual Calendar, ref. 2438 being sold on Christie's watches online. Estimate: $150,000 - $250,000

The watches will be on public view at Christie’s Rockefeller Plaza galleries, alongside a display of 85 Patek Philippe pieces to be sold in a dedicated online auction July 13 - 27.

To complement the pieces on sale, there will be more than 20 historically important and rare Patek Philippe watches on display, loaned from global private collections, including many rare models that the watch world has never seen before in public or in horological literature, the auction house said. These includes what are described as “unicorn watches,” such as a Patek Philippe two tone “Reverso” cased wristwatch, a 3448 in white gold case “Senza Luna” with a confirmed extract from Patek Philippe, and an exceptional collection of early Patek Philippe minute repeaters.

James Ward Packard Patek Philippe ring watch

Other items on display include James Ward Packard’s Patek Philippe Walking Stick and Patek Philippe ring watch on view for the first time publicly. The walking stick features a Patek Philippe watch embedded onto the silver knob with a movement that is engraved with Packard’s name. The ring also has a movement and case bearing James Ward Packard's name.

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92-Carat Heart-Shaped Diamond Fetches World Auction Record $14.9

A 92-carat D Flawless heart-shaped diamond sold for $14.9 million at Christie’s Geneva Magnificent Jewels sale Wednesday. It set a world record for the price of a heart-shaped diamond sold at auction. 

It sold just above its $14 million low estimate. The jewel was given the name, La Légende. It was created by Boehmer et Bassenge, a high jewelry house that was launched a year ago. The company began working with the auction house last year.

Another big sale for the evening was a 15.03-carat unheated Burmese ruby mounted on a diamond ring that sold for $12.9 million ($861,000 per carat), within its estimate of $10 - $15 million.

In addition, a 7.97-carat fancy intense blue cushion-shaped diamond fetched more than $12.7 million, smashing its $3 million high estimate and setting an auction record per carat at $1.6 million, according to Christie’s. 

These were the top three items of the sale held at the Four Seasons Hotel des Bergues that featured 267 lots, achieving $94.5 million, with 85% sold by lot and 90% sold by value.  

Other highlights include:

A 56.03-carat, pear-shaped D color, potentially IF diamond pendent on a diamond necklace by Chopard fetched $6.3 million ($113,000 per carat);

A 4.05-carat square-cut, fancy deep blue VS1 diamond sold for $4.3 million ($1.05 million per carat);

A 47.63-carat cushion-shaped Burmese sapphire sold for more than $2.4 million ($50,500 per carat), three times its high estimate. 

A ruby and diamond four leaf clover brooch by Boucheron fetched $2.2 million, three times its high estimate. 

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‘Rockefeller Emerald’ Poised To Break Two World Auction Records

It has size, provenance and "exceptional" quality. Now the 18.4-carat “Rockefeller Emerald” is poised to set new world auction records for an emerald jewel and an emerald per carat.

The Colombian emerald set on a diamond and platinum ring by famed New York jeweler, Raymond C. Yard, will be the highlight of Christie’s New York Magnificent Jewels auction on June 20. The gem, which passed through several members of the Rockefeller family, has a presale estimate of $4 million - $6 million.

It seems fitting that the sale will be held at Christie’s Rockefeller Center headquarters, named after the same family that owned the emerald ring.

The current world record for an emerald jewel and an emerald per carat is believed to be held by a 23.46-carat emerald and diamond pendant brooch by Bulgari, formerly owned by Elizabeth Taylor. It sold for more than $6.5 million ($280,000 per carat) in December 2011 as part of the landmark auctions of “The Collection of Elizabeth Taylor” at Christie’s New York.

If the emerald sells for its $6 million high estimate it will easily beat the current per-carat record. If it exceeds its high estimate it would likely surpass the overall record.

The emerald of Colombian origin was purchased in 1930 by John D. Rockefeller, Jr., the only son among the five children of Standard Oil co-founder John D. Rockefeller. It was part of a brooch believed to have been created by Van Cleef & Arpels for his wife, Abby Aldrich Rockefeller.

When Aldrich Rockefeller passed away in 1948, the brooch was disassembled and the 18.4-carat emerald was given to his son, David Rockefeller. The son then asked Yard to mount the gem on a ring.

Yard—the personal jeweler to several Rockefeller family members—created a classic and understated diamond and platinum setting for the gem. The ring is considered to be one of Yard’s most important private commissions, according to Christie’s.

Christie’s says the Colombian emerald is described by the American Gemological Laboratories as “exceptional,” and possesses what AGL calls an “unusual combination of size, provenance, absence of treatment and quality factors [that contribute] favorably to its rarity and desirability.”

“Due to its rarity, an emerald of this quality and significant weight is not readily found in the market, and it is ranked at the top of its class,” Christie’s added in a statement. “Though it has passed on to other hands, this superb Colombian emerald still embodies the grandeur of the Rockefeller family name.”

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Christie’s To Offer Jackie Kennedy’s Cartier Tank Watch

December, 22, 1969: Jackie Onassis (1929 - 1994) pictured with her Cartier Tank watch. Photo by David Cairns/Express/Getty Images

One of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis’s most cherished items during her years as first lady and long after will be placed on auction next month.

Kennedy Onassis’s Cartier Tank watch is one of the high-profile items to appear at Christie’s New York Rare Watches and American Icons New York sale on June 21. Its estimate is $60,000 - $120,000.

Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis's Cartier Tank watch

It was a watch worn by the former first lady for decades and can be seen on her wrist in many photos, Christie’s said. It was given to her as a gift from her brother-in-law Prince Stanislaw “Stas” Radziwill in 1963. On the caseback is the engraving: "Stas to Jackie 23 Feb. 63 2:05 AM to 9:35 PM.” The times refer to the start and stop times of the 50-Mile Hike in Palm Beach in 1963.

The watch will be accompanied by an original painting that Kennedy Onassis made in 1963 as a gift for Stas Radziwill, celebrating the hike with the dedication “February 23, 1963, 2:05 am to 9:35 pm / Jackie to Stas with love and admiration.”

The engraved caseback of the Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Cartier Tank

The 50-mile hike became a short-lived fad in early 1963 after President Kennedy publicly asked the American people to accept the mentally and physically grueling challenge of walking this long distance, the auction house said. His inner circle of family and friends were some of the first to attempt the hike including his friends, Stas Radziwill and Chuck Spalding, featured in the painting.

This watch and the accompanying painting, previously unknown to the public, are two important historic artifacts to surface in recent years from the golden era of the Kennedy Presidency, Christie’s said.

The watch will be accompanied by an original painting that Kennedy Onassis made in 1963 as a gift for Stas Radziwill

“These two objects capture the spirit of another era, a time where friendship and the ‘can-do’ optimism of the generation seemed to make anything possible,” said John Reardon, international head of Christie’s Watches.

The owner of the watch and painting, who has requested anonymity, offered to donate a portion of the proceeds to the National Endowment for the Arts.

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92-Carat Flawless Heart Shaped Diamond To Appear At Christie’s Geneva Sale

A 92-carat D Flawless heart shaped diamond is estimated to fetch $14 - $20 million at Christie’s Geneva Magnificent Jewels sale, being held May 17 at the Four Seasons Hotel des Bergues.

The diamond is beings sold as the centerpiece of a cultured pearl necklace with the name, La Légende. The piece was created by Boehmer et Bassenge, a high jewelry house that was launched a year ago.

La Légende, a cultured pearl necklace, by Boehmer et Bassenge, featuring a 92.15 carats, D, Flawless heart-shaped diamond

The heart-shaped diamond is the highlight of an international tour of jewels in the upcoming sale—making stops in Hong Kong (March 30 – April 2), London (April 10 – 12) and New York (April 21 – 25 and May 5 – 8).

La Légende is one of two jewels by Boehmer et Bassenge that will be part of the Geneva auction and the worldwide preview of jewels and gems. The other is La Vie Bohème, chandelier earrings, each with an asymmetrical pink diamond bow, a pear-shaped diamond connecting link, and each suspending a marquise-cut diamond weighing approximately 10.07 and 10.05 carats. Each drop is a D color, flawless clarity diamond. The estimate is $2 - $3 million.

The May 17 auction at the Four Seasons Hotel des Bergues, will feature approximately 250 jewels. It will include diamond and ruby earrings and bracelet once owned by Elizabeth Taylor, a Cartier and Art Déco collection assembled by Cartier expert Éric Nussbaum and Italian jewelry designs from the 1900s to the present day in a dedicated "Dolce Vita" section. Among other highlights:

A 15.03-carat unheated Burmese ruby set on a diamond ring with an estimate of $10 - $15 million.

A 14.88-carat unheated Kashmir sapphire set on a diamond ring with an estimate of $1 - $1.5 million.

A Cartier diamond and platinum fringe necklace once owned by the late Doris Duke is part of the sale. The 20th Century heiress purchased the necklace at Cartier New York in 1937 for $65,000. The mounting alone was auctioned by Christie’s in 2004 as Duke removed all of the larger diamonds for use in her other jewels. The buyer spent years replacing all of the missing stones with age appropriate diamonds, Christie’s said. It will now be offered at the Geneva sale with an estimate of 3-5 million.

The sale also includes a number of colored diamonds and signed jewels from Boucheron, Cartier, Harry Winston and JAR. 

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Blue And Pink Diamonds Topped Auction Sales For 2016

As in the past few years statement blue and pink diamonds garnered the most attention and highest bids at Chrisite’s and Sotheby’s in 2016. White diamond earrings and a rare green diamond also made the cut.

Without further delay here are the top 10 jewelry auction sales of 2016: 

The Oppenheimer Blue (top photo), a 14.62-carat fancy vivid blue rectangular-cat diamond fetched a world record for any jewel sold at auction, more than $58 million, at Christie’s Geneva Magnificent Jewels sale in May. 

The De Beers Millennium Blue, a 10.10-carat fancy vivid blue diamond sold for more than $32 million at Sotheby’s Magnificent Jewels and Jadeite sale in April. 

The Unique Pink, a 15.38-carat pear-shaped fancy vivid pink diamond sold for a world auction record price for any fancy vivid pink diamond, fetching more than $31.5 million at Sotheby’s Geneva Magnificent Jewels and Noble Jewels sale in May. 

The Cullinan Dream, a 24.18-carat mixed-cut fancy intense blue diamond, sold for more than $25.3 million. It is the largest fancy intense blue diamond ever to be offered at auction. It was sold at Christie’s New York Magnificent Jewels & the Cullinan Dream sale in May.

A 17.07-carat fancy intense pink diamond with a step-cut sold for more than $20.7 million at Sotheby’s Geneva Magnificent Jewels and Noble Jewels sale in November.

A 9.14-carat fancy vivid pink pear-shaped diamond sold for more than $18.2 million at Christie's Geneva Magnificent Jewels sale in November

Miroir de l'Amour (Mirror of Love), a pair of 52.55- and 50.47-carat pear-shaped D color, flawless type IIa diamond earrings, by Boehmer et Bassenge sold for nearly $17.7 million at Christie's Geneva Magnificent Jewels sale in November. They are the world’s largest perfect pear-shaped diamond drops ever to be offered at auction.

A 7.32-carat pear-shaped fancy vivid blue diamond sold for more than $17.1 million at Sotheby’s Geneva Magnificent Jewels and Noble Jewels Sale in May.

The Sky Blue Diamond, an 8.01-carat fancy vivid blue diamond mounted on a diamond ring designed by Cartier, sold for more than $17 million at Sotheby’s Geneva Magnificent Jewels and Noble Jewels in November.

A 5.03-carat rectangular-cut fancy vivid green diamond, within a circular-cut pink diamond surround, sold for more than $16.8 million at Christie’s Hong Kong Magnificent Jewels sale in May. 

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The ‘Ratnaraj’ 10-Carat Ruby Could Achieve $12.5 Million At Christie’s

A rare 10.05-carat Burmese Pigeon’s Blood ruby ring will be the lead item at Christie’s Hong Kong Magnificent Jewels sale on November 29. It has a pre-sale estimate of $8.8 million to $12.5 million.

Known as the “Ratnaraj” (“King of Precious Stones” in Sanskrit), the auction house says it boasts “significant size, illuminating redness and flawless crystal structure.”

The gem comes from the House of Faidee, a century-old gem and jewelry firm known for its trophy collection of Burmese rubies and Kashmiri sapphires. Only a few appear on the market each year.

Christie’s says it is extremely rare for a ruby over 5 carats to exhibit exceptional saturation and natural red fluorescence categorized as “pigeon’s blood.”

The Magnificent Jewels auction will be held at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre. 

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Verdura Cuff For Coco Chanel Sells For $100,000 At Christie’s

One of Fulco di Verdura’s earliest jewelry works for the famed fashion designer, Coco Chanel, was sold at Christie’s New York Magnificent Jewels sale Thursday. The buyer was the Verdura brand.

The cuff, made circa 1935, was part of the the collection of Gabrielle “Coco” Chanel. The New York-based jewelry brand, Verdura, said it purchased the bangle for $100,000, nearly three times its high estimate of $35,000. 

The cream colored enamel hinged bangle is set at the top with cabochon red and green simulated gemstones, accented on either side by a line of graduated caliber-cut green simulated gemstones, to the rectangular-cut blue simulated gemstones. The silver jewel was unsigned. However, the gem “is accompanied by a letter from Verdura confirming that in their opinion, the cuff bracelet was made from a design by Duke Fulco di Verdura for his friend Gabrielle (Coco) Chanel.”

Verdura said in a statement that the newly acquired cuff be part of the Verdura Museum Collection. It will join Chanel’s original “Maltese Cross” Cuffs, circa 1930, made by the influential jewelry designer for Coco Chanel, which are already part of the collection.

“It’s an early and important example of Duke Fulco di Verdura’s design influence on one of the 20th Century’s most iconic couturiers,” said Nico Landrigan, president of Verdura. “Coco Chanel looked to Fulco for great design in jewelry and this is an important example of their collaboration.”

The brand Verdura, purchased the Verdura business, including all of the artist’s drawings, in 1985 and has since been collecting and selling original Verdura pieces and creating and selling new pieces based on the original drawings under the Verdura name. 

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24-Carat ‘Cullinan Dream’ Fetches $25.3 Million

The “Cullinan Dream,” the largest and most expensive fancy intense blue diamond ever sold at auction, fetched $25.3 million Thursday at Christie’s New York Magnificent Jewels sale. 

The 24.18-carat cut-cornered rectangular mixed-cut gem was the top item. Its price was at the low end of its $23 – $29 million estimate.

The diamond, set on a platinum ring flanked with classic baguette-cut diamonds, is nearly 10 carats larger than the 14.62-carat “Oppenheimer Blue,” which sold for a world auction record of $57.5 million and was previously the largest blue diamond ever sold at auction.

Among those in the audience was Mark Cullinan, an international jewelry dealer and the great grandson of Sir Thomas Cullinan, who discovered Petra's Cullinan Diamond Mine in 1898, where the Cullinan Dream originated. The Cullinan mine has been associated with some of the most significant blue and pink diamonds to come to market, including the 10.1-carat “De Beers Millennium Jewel 4,” that sold for $31.8 million at Sotheby’s Hong Kong in April; and the 12.03-carat “Blue Moon” that sold for $48.4 million at Sotheby’s Geneva in November 2015.

“It was a great pleasure to be in New York for this exciting auction and to see the fantastic price achieved for a diamond representing a new generation of discoveries from Petra's Cullinan Diamond Mine,” Mark Cullinan said. “My great-grandfather would be delighted to see how one of the newest exceptional blue diamonds from the mine he discovered resonates with top collectors in the market today.”

The Cullinan Dream is the top item among the 260 lots on offer at Christie’s New York sale that achieved more than $42.2 million, including four items that sold for more than $1 million. 

The other top lots of the auction include:

* A 52.76-carat oval brilliant-cut diamond mounted on a platinum ring that sold for just over $2 million.

* A 51.06-carat cut-cornered square modified brilliant-cut fancy intense yellow diamond mounted in 18k gold that sold for more than $1.6 million. 

* Diamond earrings, each suspending a cushion brilliant-cut diamond, weighing approximately 21.21 and 20.80 carats, from a graduated trapezoid-cut diamond line to the circular-cut diamond French wire, mounted in platinum, which sold for $1.3 million. 

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5-Carat Green Diamond Sets New Auction Records

The “Aurora Green,” a 5.03-carat rectangular-cut fancy vivid green diamond smashed auction records Tuesday at Christie’s Hong Kong Magnificent Jewels sale. 

The green diamond, with VS2 clarity mounted on a gold ring surrounded by circular-cut pink diamonds, sold for $16.8 million and for more than $3.3 million per carat, both world auction records. 

The diamond was purchased by Hong Kong-based by Chow Tai Fook Jewellery Co LTD, one of the largest jewelry retailers in the world. 

Despite the price being at the low end of its estimate, the diamond shattered the previous records for a green diamond, which was set earlier this month for “The Ocean Dream,” a 5.5-carat fancy vivid blue-green diamond that sold for $8.6 million ($1.5 million per carat).

The Aurora Green was the top lot of the sale and one of four lots that set world auction records. The sale totaled more than $85 million with 10 lots exceeding more than $1 million. Colored diamonds, colored gems, jadeite and white diamond were among the top lots. A total of 72 percent of items were sold by lot and 73 percent by value.

The sale attracted 197 buyers from 19 countries across five continents.

The three other items that set auction records are as follows:

* Burmese oval-shaped ruby ear pendants of 10.02 and 9.09 carets by Etcetera sold for $11.6 million ($607,053 per caret), a world auction record for a pair of ruby earrings. 

* An Art Deco sapphire and diamond bracelet by Cartier sold for $7.2 million, a world auction record for a bracelet.

* A multi-gem pendant necklace by Wallace Chan sold for $967,164, a world auction record for a jewel by Wallace Chan. 

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$29 Million Estimate For 24-Carat Blue Diamond At Christie’s

It’s just another jewelry auction that features another superb blue diamond.

This time it’s the “Cullinan Dream,” the largest fancy intense blue diamond ever offered at auction. It is the lead item at Christie’s New York Magnificent Jewels sale on June 9 with an estimate of $23 - $29 million.

The 24.18-carat cut-cornered rectangular mixed-cut gem is set on a platinum ring flanked with classic baguette-cut diamonds. It is nearly 10 carats larger than the “Oppenheimer Blue,” which sold for a world auction record of $57.5 million and is currently the largest blue diamond ever sold at auction.

The Cullinan Dream has a VS2 clarity grade (very slightly included with inclusions observed with effort under 10x magnification), two grades below flawless.

The Cullinan Dream is the largest of four blue diamonds cut from a 122.52-carat rough diamond discovered in 2014 at the legendary Cullinan mine, famous for yielding the 530.20 Cullinan I, the largest polished white diamond in existence and is part of the British Crown Jewels housed in the Tower of London.

In recent years, the Cullinan mine has been associated with some of the most significant blue and pink diamonds to come to market, including the 10.1-carat “De Beers Millennium Jewel 4,” that sold for $31.8 million at Sotheby’s Hong Kong in Spril; and the 12.03-carat “Blue Moon” that sold for $48.4 million at Sotheby’s Geneva in November 2015, the second largest amount ever for a diamond at auction.

The Cullinan Dream is the top item in the 260 lots on offer at Christie’s New York sale. It includes fancy colored and colorless diamonds; colored gemstones; natural pearls; and signed jewels from Buccellati, Bulgari, Cartier, David Webb, Graff, Tiffany & Co. and Van Cleef & Arpels. 

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