AuctionsMar 24, 2023
Piece of the Week: The $5.8M Patek Philippe ‘Sky Moon Tourbillon’AuctionsMar 31, 2023
Piece of the Week: The Extraterrestrial Lunar Necklace
Artisan Martin Roberts fashioned lunar meteorites into 48 beads to create this out-of-this-world necklace.
The “Lunar” necklace was the top lot of a recent Christie’s auction, selling above estimate for $201,600. (Image credit: Christie’s Images Ltd. 2023)
This Piece of the Week pick is reminiscent of one of the most memorable scenes in “It’s a Wonderful Life,” when George Bailey asks his sweetheart Mary Hatch what she wished for, but she won’t say.
“What do you want? You want the moon? Just say the word, and I’ll throw a lasso around it and pull it down,” he offers in a goofy, albeit romantic, gesture.
The “Lunar” necklace does just that and is much more wearable.
It was the top lot of Christie’s recent online sale, “Deep Impact: Lunar, Martian, and Other Rare Meteorites,” selling for $201,600, topping pre-sale estimates.
The necklace is a single strand of lunar beads, which are just what they sound like—pieces of the moon.
The story of how these beads came to be is like a fairytale for space aficionados.
For starters, substances from the moon are some of the rarest on Earth. There’s less than 1400 kg of the moon known to be on Earth, just about enough to fit in the trunk of a large SUV, said Christie's.
Apollo astronauts brought back nearly 400 kg of that material via moon rocks, while the rest of it comes from lunar meteorites, or pieces of the moon that fall off the moon’s surface after an asteroid impact. (That’s also how the moon gets most of its craters.)
The lunar meteorites used to craft these beads were discovered in 2017 by nomads in the desert, specifically the northwest African corridor of the Sahara Desert.
Related stories will be right here …
“What do you want? You want the moon? Just say the word, and I’ll throw a lasso around it and pull it down,” he offers in a goofy, albeit romantic, gesture.
The “Lunar” necklace does just that and is much more wearable.
It was the top lot of Christie’s recent online sale, “Deep Impact: Lunar, Martian, and Other Rare Meteorites,” selling for $201,600, topping pre-sale estimates.
The necklace is a single strand of lunar beads, which are just what they sound like—pieces of the moon.
The story of how these beads came to be is like a fairytale for space aficionados.
For starters, substances from the moon are some of the rarest on Earth. There’s less than 1400 kg of the moon known to be on Earth, just about enough to fit in the trunk of a large SUV, said Christie's.
Apollo astronauts brought back nearly 400 kg of that material via moon rocks, while the rest of it comes from lunar meteorites, or pieces of the moon that fall off the moon’s surface after an asteroid impact. (That’s also how the moon gets most of its craters.)
The lunar meteorites used to craft these beads were discovered in 2017 by nomads in the desert, specifically the northwest African corridor of the Sahara Desert.
Darryl Pitt, curator of the Macovich Collection of Meteorites, came up with the idea and consigned the piece.
“Today, we set a benchmark result for extraterrestrial jewelry with the landmark sale of the Lunar Necklace,” said Pitt. “This necklace is a game-changer in the market.”
Artisan Martin Roberts, known as a master sphere fabricator, fashioned the material into beads.
As with diamonds and colored gemstones, the cutting and polishing of lunar meteorites leads to a lot of the material being lost in the process, said Christie’s.
It features 48 beads, each around 8.25 mm in diameter and weighing 3.66 carats, fastened with a white gold clasp.
As with similar varieties of meteorite, the beads contain fragments of olivine, pigeonite, augite, ilmenite and signature white anorthite, incredibly rare substances on Earth though common on the moon, said the auction house.
A majority of the available specimens, because of their rarity, are housed in museums and research institutions, so the opportunity to wear pieces of the moon is extra special.
Editors' Picks
Sponsored by
More on Auctions
The Latest
Policies & IssuesApr 28, 2026
Tariff Refunds: How to File, What to Expect Importers can submit claims now to receive money back for the IEEPA tariffs they’ve paid, with refunds expected to take up to 90 days.
IndependentsApr 28, 2026
This North Carolina Jeweler Is Passing the TorchThe owners of Gregory Jewelers in Morganton, North Carolina, are heading into retirement.
SourcingApr 28, 2026
Doug Hucker Retires From ICAThe colored gemstone industry leader is heading into retirement after four years as the association’s CEO.
Brought to you by
Discover Timeless Treasures: A Showcase of Antique Jewelry & Timepieces in Las VegasGain access to the most exclusive and coveted antique pieces from trusted dealers during Las Vegas Jewelry Week.
SourcingApr 28, 2026
NDC Hires Tapestry Exec to Head Global Marketing Susie Dewey joins the Natural Diamond Council as its new chief marketing officer.
Weekly QuizApr 23, 2026
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
ColumnistsApr 27, 2026
Stop Treating Mother’s Day Like an AfterthoughtEmmanuel Raheb says jewelers need to start marketing early and make it easy for customers to pick a gift for mom.
IndependentsApr 27, 2026
Longnecker Jewelry Celebrates 30 YearsIn honor of the milestone, the Nebraska jeweler has debuted Leslie & Co., its new in-house jewelry brand.
Brought to you by
Las Vegas Antique Jewelry & Watch Show: Showcasing the Most Collectible Merchandise from Across the GlobeGain access to the most exclusive and coveted antique pieces from trusted dealers during Las Vegas Jewelry Week.
MajorsApr 27, 2026
JBT Re-Elects Jeff Corey as Board ChairThe trade organization, which held its annual elections earlier this year, also added five new board members.
SurveysApr 24, 2026
Mother’s Day 2026 Jewelry Spending to Top $7B, NRF SaysNRF’s annual survey found that 45 percent of consumers plan to purchase jewelry for a loved one this Mother’s Day.
TechnologyApr 24, 2026
TwentyFour’s Digital-Age Locket Is a Virtual VaultThe “Vault” charm, our Piece of the Week, expands on the memories that can be stored in a locket by connecting to your phone.
Events & AwardsApr 24, 2026
Hamptons Jewelry Show to Return in JulyThe open-to-the-public luxury jewelry and timepiece show, in its second year, is slated for July 23-26.
IndependentsApr 23, 2026
Meet the Real Moms of Day’s JewelersThe jeweler’s Mother’s Day campaign highlights the women who work there—mothers, grandmothers, women who want to be mothers, and dog moms.
Supplier BulletinApr 23, 2026
JM® Shipping Solution: Smarter Shipping for High-Value GoodsSponsored by Jewelers Mutual
Lab-GrownApr 23, 2026
Charles & Colvard May Sell Assets for $1.5MThe proposed agreement follows the moissanite maker’s Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection filing last month.
CollectionsApr 23, 2026
Adam Neeley’s High Jewelry Collection Steps Into Salvador Dalí’s GardenThe “Dalí’s Garden” collection was inspired by a surreal dream Neeley had after cooking a recipe from Salvador Dalí’s 1973 cookbook.
IndependentsApr 23, 2026
Windsor Jewelers Names New Buying DirectorNatalie Feanny has been appointed to the role.
CrimeApr 22, 2026
New Mexico Couple Pleads Guilty to Selling Fake Native American JewelryThe pair falsely claimed their jewelry was made by Navajo artists, but it was imported from Vietnam.
AuctionsApr 22, 2026
Roberta Flack’s Jewelry Is Going Up for AuctionJulien’s Auctions is selling the musician’s fine and fashion jewelry alongside her clothing, gold records, and other memorabilia.
CollectionsApr 22, 2026
British Museum Curator Pens Book on ‘The Tudor Heart’Rachel King’s book dives into the history of the pendant believed to have belonged to Henry VIII and his first wife, Katherine of Aragon.
Events & AwardsApr 22, 2026
Here’s What Sy Kessler Has on Tap for Las Vegas The company will have deals on precious metals testers as well as the latest in lab-grown diamond detection technology and security.
WatchesApr 21, 2026
Coco Chanel Enters the Game with New Watch CollectionGabrielle “Coco” Chanel is a character in the “Coco Game” collection of watches and the queen in its first haute horlogerie chessboard.
IndependentsApr 21, 2026
Meet Jewelers of America’s 2026 ‘20 Under 40’ ClassThe annual list honors rising professionals on the retail and supply sides of the jewelry industry.
CrimeApr 21, 2026
Customs Nabs 1,500 Pieces of Counterfeit Jewelry Bound for NYCSeized in Kentucky, the packages include fake Cartier, Tiffany & Co., Chanel, and Fendi jewelry.
CrimeApr 20, 2026
Queens Man Convicted in Bludgeoning Death of Pawn Shop OwnerRodolfo Lopez-Portillo faces 25 years to life in prison after being found guilty in the March 2022 beating death of Arasb Shoughi.
TrendsApr 20, 2026
Beth Bernstein, Sonia Esther Soltani Pen New Jewelry Book“Jewelry Creators: Dynamic Duos and Generational Gems” highlights the relationships among 22 influential designers, brands, and gem dealers.
Events & AwardsApr 20, 2026
Atlanta Jewelry Show’s Spring Event Is Hitting the RoadThe AJS Spring 2027 show will be held in Savannah, Georgia, with future shows taking place in other Southeast cities.
