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
CollectionsJul 17, 2026
HOWL Taps Shailene Woodley for ‘Home Sweet Home’ CampaignWoodley is seen in the campaign wearing our Piece of the Week, the “Frida” collar featuring 13 pieces of hand-carved Venetian glass.
SourcingJul 17, 2026
U.K. Woman Pays £5 for £15K Diamond Ring at Car Boot SaleA WeBuyVintage jewelry expert uncovered how much the flea market find was actually worth.
SourcingJul 17, 2026
Diamond Dealer Jeff Pancis Pens MemoirThe founder of natural colored diamond wholesaler Pancis Gems shares stories from his five decades in the industry.
Brought to you by
Wedding Band Trends 2026: Personalization Takes Center StageColored gemstones, artisan finishes, mixed metals, and meaningful details are shaping demand in bridal jewelry.
Events & AwardsJul 17, 2026
Gem Awards Opens 2027 Nomination PeriodSubmissions for the milestone 25th annual Gem Awards will be accepted across three categories from now through July 31.
Weekly QuizJul 17, 2026
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
EditorsJul 16, 2026
Q&A: Guzema’s Co-Owners On Its US Expansion, 10-Year AnniversaryValeriya Guzema and Mariana Lenha look back on the last decade and discuss the Ukrainian brand’s first U.S. store.
SourcingJul 16, 2026
Ekati to Close, Leaving Canada With One Diamond Mine The diamond mine, which opened nearly 30 years ago in Canada’s Northwest Territories, is expected to shut down by mid-August.
Brought to you by
Building the Future of Jewelry Retail: DCA Expands Education, Leadership Development, and Workforce SolutionsDCA is preparing the next generation of professionals by supporting workforce development, leadership growth, and career advancement.
FinancialsJul 16, 2026
Richemont’s Jewelry Sales Soar for the Seventh Quarter in a RowJewelry sales for the company, which owns Cartier, Van Cleef & Arpels, Vhernier, and Buccellati, rose 21 percent in the first quarter.
Events & AwardsJul 16, 2026
MJSA Mentor & Apprenticeship Program Certifies First Advanced Apprentice GraduateThe graduate, Grace Barden, credited the program with helping her secure a job as a bench jeweler.
Events & AwardsJul 16, 2026
Jewelers of Louisiana to Host 80th ConventionThe event, scheduled for next month in New Orleans, will include dinner, a custom jewelry design contest, and education sessions.
SourcingJul 15, 2026
1,305-Carat Diamond Recovered from Mine in BotswanaThe yet-to-be named stone is the 10th diamond weighing more than 1,000 carats to come out of Lucara’s Karowe mine.
IndependentsJul 15, 2026
New Jersey Jeweler Barry Berman Dies at 81The founder of Fords Jewelers, Berman is remembered for his love of connecting with his community.
FinancialsJul 15, 2026
Watches of Switzerland’s US Sales Jump 18%, Declines to Comment on Sale Report The watch and jewelry retailer had a strong fiscal year despite what its CEO described as a “complex operating backdrop.”
Events & AwardsJul 15, 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.
CollectionsJul 15, 2026
Pomellato’s New High Jewelry Is LiberatingBold color, expressive gem-setting, and sculptural form define the three chapters that make up “Stile Libero.”
IndependentsJul 14, 2026
Foundrae Opens First Standalone Store Outside USThe New York-based jewelry brand has expanded overseas, opening a store in London’s Mayfair district.
ColumnistsJul 14, 2026
Sherry Smith: What Today’s Jewelry Consumer Is Telling Us Rising revenue does not automatically mean a healthy business, particularly in the current economic landscape, Smith writes.
TrendsJul 14, 2026
Amanda’s Style File: Shoulder Dusters These long, fluid drop earrings are sure to catch the eye.
CrimeJul 14, 2026
Man Charged in $1M Jewelry Store Heist Lands on FBI Most Wanted ListAlberto Perez-Elias is one of four men charged with robbing a Cape Coral, Florida, jewelry store and is the only one still at large.
Events & AwardsJul 14, 2026
Conference on Mining, Sustainability Kicks Off in NYCInitiatives in Art and Culture is hosting its 16th annual Gold and Diamond Conference, with the theme of “Resilience.”
Lab-GrownJul 13, 2026
Stephanie Gottlieb Changes Her Mind on Lab-Grown DiamondsThe designer, who once said she’d never sell lab-grown diamonds, debuted two capsule collections designed to be fun and easy to wear.
SourcingJul 13, 2026
De Beers Announces Potential Layoffs, 2-Year Production Pause at VenetiaThe diamond miner and marketer is undergoing another round of cost-cutting measures ahead of its sale by Anglo American.
Events & AwardsJul 13, 2026
Registration Opens for JIS Fall 2026 ShowThe annual trade-only buying event is slated for Oct. 16-19 in Miami Beach, Florida.
Events & AwardsJul 13, 2026
AGTA Accepting Entries for Spectrum 2026AGTA also has announced the lineup of judges for the colored gemstone cutting and jewelry design contest’s various categories.
TechnologyJul 10, 2026
There’s a New Blind Box for Luxury Watches Collectibles platform Arena Club’s new Time Boxes could contain a Rolex or Patek Philippe watch.
TrendsJul 10, 2026
Jade Trau Creates a Constellation of DiamondsThe “Constellation Plié” collar, our Piece of the Week, features diamonds arranged in a constellation of shining stars.
