Auctions

‘Fortune Pink’ Falls Short of Lofty Expectations at Auction

AuctionsNov 09, 2022

‘Fortune Pink’ Falls Short of Lofty Expectations at Auction

Estimated to sell for $25 million-$35 million, the 18.18-carat fancy vivid pink diamond went for $28.8 million.

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The 18.18-carat fancy vivid “Fortune Pink” diamond went up for auction at Christie’s Geneva Tuesday, selling for $28.8 million against an estimate of $25 million to $35 million. It was sold mounted in a platinum and 18-karat rose gold ring flanked by triangular-shaped diamonds.
Geneva—The “Fortune Pink,” the largest pear-shaped fancy vivid pink diamond ever brought to auction, did not bring as much fortune as expected Tuesday at Christie’s Geneva.

The estimated sale price for the 18.18-carat diamond, a modified pear cut, was $25 million to $35 million, and its auction appearance came just one month after the record-breaking sale of another fancy vivid pink diamond, the “Williamson Pink Star” at Sotheby’s Hong Kong.

That diamond, a 11.15-carat fancy vivid pink diamond, had a pre-sale estimate of $21 million, well below its ultimate $57.7 million sale price.

While CBS News described a “tense bidding war” for the “Fortune Pink” among three telephone bidders at auction, the final sale price for the VVS2 stone was $28.8 million, at the low end of its estimated range. 

A private buyer from Asia purchased the diamond. 

The Fortune Pink was sold as part of Christie’s “Magnificent Jewels” auction.

Other highlights from the sale included a 41.36-carat diamond ring from Graff ($3.8 million), and a diamond riviere necklace from the collection of Lord and Lady Weinstock ($882,816) 

Four jewels from what Christie’s described as a “European Princely Family” sold for a total $1.4 million. 

The highlight was a Bulgari Art Deco natural and cultured pearl necklace. A wedding gift from Prince Gaetano of Bourbon-Parma to his wife, Princess Margarete of Thurn and Taxis, it sold for $511,779.  

In total, Magnificent Jewels earned $57.3 million, with the sale of the Fortune Pink accounting for half of that. The auction sold 96 percent by value and 87 percent by lot.

 Related stories will be right here … 

The Magnificent Jewels sale was part of Christie’s “Luxury Week,” which also included two watch auctions and a sale of rare wines in Geneva, as well as an upcoming auction of art from the estate of Microsoft co-founder Paul G. Allen in New York. 

“Legendary and Unique Watches” took place Nov. 6, totaling $31.7 million and selling 100 percent by lot. 

The top lot was a sapphire and titanium Richard Mille RM56-01, which sold for $3.6 million. 

“Rare Watches” was Nov. 7 and totaled $23.9 million, selling 99 percent by lot. 

The top lot was a circa 1969 Rolex “Lemon Paul Newman Daytona,” ref. 6263, which sold for $3.5 million. 

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