AuctionsMar 25, 2021
Queen Victoria’s Mourning Jewels Find New Life at AuctionAuctionsMar 29, 2021
Take a Peek at All the Big Stones Heading to Auction This Spring
The largest Kashmir sapphire to hit the block, according to Sotheby’s, and several stones weighing more than 100 carats are on offer.
Sotheby’s Geneva’s May Magnificent Jewels and Noble Jewels auction will feature two exceptional emeralds: an 80.45-carat step-cut Colombian emerald and a 104.40-carat pear-shaped Colombian emerald.
New York—It’s shaping up to be a great auction season for large stone lovers.
Sotheby’s will have several notable colored gems and diamonds hitting the block at various sales this spring.
The highlight must be a sapphire that will be sold in Geneva in May, which Sotheby’s has called the largest Kashmir sapphire to appear at auction.
The 55.19-carat oval gem is set alongside a 25.97-carat Kashmir sapphire and diamond accents in a 1930s brooch formerly in the collection of Maureen Constance Guinness, Marchioness of Dufferin and Ava (1907-1998). The lot is expected to sell for between $2 million and $3 million.
The jewel will be part of the house’s Magnificent Jewels and Noble Jewels auction in Geneva on May 11, where a number of other exceptional jewels will hit the block, including two significant pieces from an important noble collection.
The first is a Harry Winston brooch/pendant circa 1974, set with a 104.40-carat pear-shaped Colombian emerald, estimated to sell for between $1 million and $1.5 million.
A 1930s sapphire and diamond brooch, featuring the largest Kashmir sapphire ever to appear at auction—a 55.19-carat oval gem—and a 25.97-carat cushion-shaped Kashmir sapphire (pre-sale estimate between $2 million and $3 million)
At left, an 80.45-carat step-cut Colombian emerald ($2.5 million-$3.5 million) and at right, a 104.40-carat pear-shaped Colombian emerald ($1 million-$1.5 million). Both will be up for auction in Geneva in May.
The sale will also include an 80.45-carat step-cut Colombian emerald and diamonds set in a brooch/pendant estimated to go for between $2.5 million and $3.5 million.
Also heading to the block in Geneva in May is a necklace featuring a 111.73-carat cushion-shaped Ceylon sapphire and diamond accents. It has a pre-sale estimate of between $1.5 million and $2.5 million.
That auction will also have a Harry Winston necklace with a detachable 126.43-carat cushion-shaped Ceylon sapphire and diamond accents that could garner between $1.2 million and $1.8 million.
Related stories will be right here …
Meanwhile, at the Sotheby’s New York Magnificent Jewels sale on April 15, bidders will have the chance to own an 82.54-carat oval-shaped Madagascar sapphire and diamond necklace.
The lot is estimated to garner between $200,000 and $300,000 but will sell with no reserve, meaning there is no minimum price for it.
Not to be left out is the upcoming Magnificent Jewels auction in Hong Kong on April 20, starting with a diamond and rock crystal bangle from Cartier, featuring a 63.66-carat pear-shaped internally flawless, D color, Type IIa diamond (pre-sale estimate between $5.2 million and $8.4 million).
A necklace with a detachable pendant set with a 111.73-carat cushion-shaped Ceylon sapphire ($1.5 million-$2.5 million)
Cartier diamond and rock crystal bangle centered on a 63.66-carat pear-shaped D color diamond ($5.2 million-$8.4 million)
Cartier ring centered on a 43.35-carat emerald-cut fancy vivid yellow diamond ($2.39 million-$3.1 million)
The jewelry auction will also offer a Cartier ring set with a 43.35-carat emerald-cut fancy vivid yellow diamond ($2.39 million-$3.1 million) and an unmounted 39.88-carat emerald-cut D color, flawless, Type IIa diamond ($3.9 million-$5.2 million).
The auction house said interest in gems of “exceptional size” is growing to include a wider range of collectors, buoyed by a growing understanding of the scarcity and value of these stones.
To see all lots in the three upcoming Sotheby’s jewelry auctions, visit the websites for the New York sale on April 15, the Hong Kong sale on April 20 and the Geneva auction on May 11.
More on Auctions
The Latest
MajorsDec 27, 2024
Buccellati to Expand Workforce by 500 Employees Over Next Three YearsThe Richemont-owned company is investing in its jewelry production and watchmaking workshops.
SourcingDec 27, 2024
IDCA Announces 2025 Board MembersManoj Bhandari, a principal of RMC Gems Inc., is the new president of the Indian Diamond & Colorstone Association.
Events & AwardsDec 27, 2024
18 Designers Graduate from WJA’s Jewelry Loupe ProjectThe designers participated in a six-month business development and mentorship program to develop and launch their jewelry collections.
Brought to you by
A Diamond Is Forever Celebrates "Forever Present" Holiday CampaignA Diamond is Forever hosted a holiday celebration in honor of their new marketing campaign, ‘Forever Present.’
MajorsDec 24, 2024
Nordstrom Family, Partner to Take Retailer Private in $6B DealMembers of the founding family have partnered with Mexican retail company El Puerto de Liverpool to acquire Nordstrom.
Weekly QuizDec 27, 2024
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
MajorsDec 24, 2024
Boucheron Bets on Las VegasThe brand has opened its second U.S. location in the Fontainebleau resort and casino.
EditorsDec 24, 2024
The Spectrum Jewels I Want to Find Under the Tree Associate Editor Lauren McLemore highlights pieces from the AGTA Spectrum & Cutting Edge Awards she’d be thrilled to unwrap on Christmas.
Brought to you by
De Beers Group Launches Holiday Campaign for Natural Diamonds‘Forever Present’ campaign revives the iconic A Diamond is Forever tagline and celebrates the diamond dream.
SourcingDec 24, 2024
Gemfields to Temporarily Suspend Emerald MiningThe move is one of several cost-cutting measures outlined by the company as it faces a weaker luxury market and other challenges.
IndependentsDec 23, 2024
Philadelphia 76ers’ Tyrese Maxey Stars in The 1916 Company’s New CampaignThe retailer’s “On the Clock” campaign celebrates how time, precision, and purpose come together.
EditorsDec 23, 2024
My Favorite Piece of the Week Jewels of 2024Associate Editor Natalie Francisco chose her 12 favorite Piece of the Week picks from the year gone by.
GradingDec 23, 2024
GIA Adds Filler Identification to Emerald ReportsLab clients have the option to request this addition on their emerald reports.
Events & AwardsDec 20, 2024
Two Participants Complete Inaugural Ella Klein InternshipJamie Dunton and Gabriella Botelho are the first graduates of the program, created by the WJA Foundation and Julius Klein Diamonds.
CollectionsDec 20, 2024
Piece of the Week: Retrouvaí’s Ring for CharityIn the spirit of giving, Retrouvaí will donate $4,000 from the sale of this ring to the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank.
IndependentsDec 19, 2024
Michigan’s DeVries Jewelers Unveils New Location in Time for the HolidaysCo-owner Dan DeVries shared what it’s like moving into a space triple the size of its old store and how it feels to be a “real jeweler” now.
CollectionsDec 19, 2024
State Property Transforms Spain’s Generalife Gardens into JewelryAlong with the latest “Gardens” collection, the brand has released limited-edition designs offering more indulgent pieces.
CrimeDec 19, 2024
Alleged Jewelry Thieves Attempt Rowboat EscapeThe man and woman are accused of stealing jewelry from a shipping container then trying to flee by paddling a small boat out into a bay.
SourcingDec 19, 2024
The Second-Largest Diamond Ever Found Now Has a Name The 2,488-carat diamond recovered from a mine in Botswana has been dubbed “Motswedi” while its 1,094-carat sibling is “Seriti.”
SourcingDec 19, 2024
Gemfields Reports Record Ruby Auction Results Despite Challenges at SourceThe average price per carat hit a record high for the miner, which said it remains unaffected by the conflict in Mozambique.
WatchesDec 18, 2024
Historic Titanic Pocket Watch Winds Its Way Back to Tiffany & Co. More than a century after survivors gifted a Tiffany timepiece to the captain of the ship that rescued them, the jeweler has reclaimed it.
TechnologyDec 18, 2024
Picchiotti Utilizes AI in ‘Spotlight’ Video CampaignThe videos highlight how pieces from the “Xpandable” and “Reversible Xpandable” collections put the wearer in the spotlight.
IndependentsDec 18, 2024
Industry Veteran Steve Feldman Set to RetireFeldman reflected on 45 years in the jewelry industry and clarified that it’s not a total retirement.
Events & AwardsDec 17, 2024
Chanel to Receive Gem Award for High Jewelry ExcellenceThe luxury brand is being honored for excellence in high jewelry design in its “Haute Joaillerie Sport” collection.
SourcingDec 17, 2024
Frank Circelli, Founder of Gem Shopping Network, Dies at 75Circelli was a pioneer in the world of TV shopping who is remembered for his passion for gemstones and his big personality.
CrimeDec 17, 2024
‘Black Bin Crew’ Robbers Get 14-16 Years in Prison The three men, who got their nickname because they’d toss the jewelry they stole into black plastic bins, were arrested back in August.
TrendsDec 16, 2024
Marion Fasel’s New Book Delves Into the History of Engagement Rings“The History of Diamond Engagement Rings: A True Romance” is a 128-page small-format book containing more than 165 images.
WatchesDec 16, 2024
Take a Look Inside the New Rolex Boutique on Rodeo DriveGearys opened a 6,200-square-foot Rolex store with a design that pays homage to the brand’s connection to the ocean.
