Blue Diamond Fetches $8.8M at Christie’s
The nearly 6-carat stone headlined the recent jewelry auction, which also featured Mica Ertegun’s jewelry.

The auction, which took place in New York on Dec. 10, was 97 percent sold by lot, achieving a total of $49.2 million.
The top lot was a 5.72-carat fancy intense blue diamond, pictured at the top of the article, that outshone its high-end pre-sale estimate, selling for $8.8 million.
Christie’s said the sale marked the second highest price achieved for a jewel at auction globally this year.
The second highest-grossing lot was a pair of spinel and diamond earrings by Harry Winston, which sold for $2.2 million against an estimate of $400,000 to $600,000, followed by a pair of diamond cluster earrings from the jeweler that sold for $1.9 million, outshining their high-end estimate of $1.5 million.

The auction also featured the sale of other colored gemstones, as well as several private collections and pieces by jewelers including Suzanne Belperron, Cartier, Tiffany & Co., Van Cleef & Arpels, and more.
A collection of jewelry from tastemaker and philanthropist Mica Ertegun, who died last December, garnered $2.6 million, nearly six times the grouping’s low-end estimate of $461,000.
Each of the 16 lots sold.
Born Ioana Maria “Mica” Banu in 1926 to a prominent Romanian family, she settled in New York around the ‘60s. With her friend and former Vogue editor Chessy Rayner, she founded the successful interior design business, MAC II.
Her clients included Keith Richards, Henry Kissinger, Bill Blass, and Saks Fifth Avenue.
“Mica Ertegun’s taste in jewelry was the most refined, supremely cultivated, expertly chosen, and worn with exquisite restraint,” Stellene Volandes, editor in chief of Town & Country magazine, told the New York Times.
Prospective buyers were excited about the offering, the auction house said, noting lively and enthusiastic bidding coming globally from clients in the room, on the phones, and online.
The star of Ertegun’s collection, a Cartier Art Deco multi-gem and diamond brooch, pictured above, sold for $1.4 million following “a fierce bidding battle,” according to the auction house.
It was estimated to achieve $100,000 to $150,000.
Christie’s will continue with a series of auctions throughout December featuring Ertegun’s jewelry, design items, art, and more.
The auction also featured “Jewels as Art: Magnificent Jewels from a Private Collection,” a grouping of jewelry as wearable art curated by a collector with an eye for art and design, Christie’s said.
It achieved $9.2 million.
The highlight of this collection was one of the 15 Suzanne Belperron pieces on offer—the diamond “Tube” bracelet, which sold for $945,000 against an estimate of $400,000 to $600,000.
Another standout was a Bulgari multi-gem and diamond “Kilim” bracelet, which was estimated to achieve up to $150,000 and sold for $567,000.
The sale concluded with lots from the offering “Treasures of Love: Exceptional Jewels from a Private Collection,” which totaled $6.7 million.

The top lot of the group was a Van Cleef & Arpels “Ruban Mysterieux” necklace, which garnered $1.4 million.
It was estimated to sell for up to $800,000.
"Today's sale in New York was a testament to the vibrant market for jewelry of the highest caliber with singular provenance. We were particularly pleased with the result of the top lot - a fantastic fancy intense blue diamond ring that sold for $8.8 million,” said Rahul Kadakia, Christie's international head of jewelry.
“We also were deeply honored to sell jewels from several of the world's most esteemed private collectors, including Mica Ertegun. Offering this selection of jewelry hailing from the collection [of] Mica Ertegun was a tribute to her brilliant eye, and we are thrilled by the exceptional outcome."
The Latest

As anticipated, Anglo took another impairment charge on the diamond miner and marketer, which saw revenue sink 23 percent in 2024.

Ronald Winston is giving the 2.33-carat “Winston Red” to the Smithsonian, 67 years after his father donated the Hope Diamond.

Kirit Bhansali, a partner in Smital Gems and chairman of India Jewellery Park, will take on the role of chairman.

This year will feature a new MJSA Showcase and partnership with Piazza Italia.

Alisha Cornett, Nic Faini, Eric Stevens, and Seth Shipley have joined the organization’s board of directors for a three-year term.


The company has to pay the Justice Department and FinCEN for violating the Bank Secrecy Act, the U.S.’s main anti-money laundering law.

Petra Diamonds Ltd. CEO Richard Duffy resigned as the diamond miner reported a 30 percent drop in sales to start its fiscal year.

Colored stones are stepping into a jewelry spotlight typically reserved for diamonds—are you ready to sell color?

Pinterest is a potential gold mine for jewelry brands, Emmanuel Raheb writes, provided they follow these five tips.

The boutique is the French luxury brand’s first airport store on the West Coast.

The store’s facade now features the iconic swan logo and campaign images of the “Wicked” star.

Beginning in April, companies importing diamonds into the United States will have to list the country in which the diamonds were mined.

Assimon will be leaving at the end of February after nearly five years with De Beers.

Designs from the brand’s “Oera” collection have been reimagined with modern masculinity in mind.

The wholesale collection features material from the Rock Creek mine in a variety of colors.

The “Divinely Guided” collection, created in collaboration with Theresa Caputo, features symbols that celebrate the power of connection.

Show some love on Valentine’s Day with this 14-karat yellow gold ring that features pavé diamonds.

The employee confronted the thief, causing the suspect to flee and leave behind the suitcases full of jewelry.

Namib Desert Diamonds also put its security manager on leave following last month’s robbery that left one employee dead.

AGTA recently concluded its 2025 GemFair event in Tucson and is already gearing up for next year’s show, set for Feb. 2-6, 2026.

More than 400 new pieces are featured in the supplier’s latest catalog.

This curation celebrates love with heart-shaped jewelry of all shapes and sizes.

The fund is collecting money for jewelry businesses damaged by the wildfires in Los Angeles County.

From chunky bands to vintage diamond cuts and bezel settings, these are the trends experts are seeing take over the bridal market.

Fasel discusses researching her new book, the most enduring engagement ring styles, and the diamond shape Taylor Swift will pick.

The “Essence of Nature, Chapter One” collection echoes trees and roots, literally and figuratively, through three sets of high jewelry.

Late last year, the India-based diamond manufacturer recorded emissions per carat that are 34 percent lower than the industry average.