Auctions

‘Jubilee Ruby’ Sells for $14 Million

AuctionsApr 21, 2016

‘Jubilee Ruby’ Sells for $14 Million

The oval-shaped 15.99-carat gemstone topped Christie’s Magnificent Jewels sale, becoming the most expensive colored gemstone ever sold at auction in the U.S.

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The oval-shaped 15.99-carat “Jubilee Ruby” topped Christie’s Magnificent Jewels sale, becoming the most expensive colored gemstone ever sold at auction in the U.S. when it sold for $14.1 million.

New York--The oval-shaped 15.99-carat “Jubilee Ruby” sold for $14.2 million at Christie’s Wednesday, making it the most expensive colored gemstone ever sold at auction in the United States, according to Christie’s.

The ruby, set in a platinum and 18-karat gold ring by Verdura, topped the auction house’s Magnificent Jewels sale held Wednesday, with its final price falling within the range that Christie’s predicted when it announced the sale last month.

All told, Christie’s jewelry sale totaled $57 million.

Other top lots included a 10.07-carat brilliant-cut fancy intense purple-pink diamond selling for $8.8 million; a Type IIa, round brilliant-cut diamond weighing 40.43 carats garnering $7.2 million; and a ring set with a 54.62-carat fancy vivid yellow diamond that sold for $2.5 million.

There also was a ring set with a round brilliant-cut diamond weighing approximately 14.11 carats and set in platinum that went for $1.9 million, and another diamond ring with a 41.18-carat cushion brilliant-cut diamond that garnered $1.4 million.

Click through the slideshow below to see the auction’s top five lots.

Brecken Branstratoris the senior editor, gemstones at National Jeweler, covering sourcing, pricing and other developments in the colored stone sector.

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