Christie’s 2016 Geneva Sale led by pink pear-shaped diamond

Christie’s Magnificent Jewels sale concluded the company’s 250th anniversary sale season in Geneva. The top lot of the jewellery auction was the extraordinary fancy vivid pink pear-shaped diamond of 9.14 carats, achieving the second highest price for a pink pear-shaped diamond sold at auction at $18,174,631, price per carat: $2,000,000.

The sale overall garnered CHF 96,860,750, bringing the total for all Geneva auctions throughout 2016 to CHF282,534,174. The sale was driven by international interest and appeal for exceptional and privately sourced objects.

Rahul Kadakia, International Head of Christie’s Jewellery Department commented on the auction and state of the jewellery auction market: “The sale showed depth and stability of the market, combined with international interest for the best lots offered in the auction market. The two outstanding lots by Boehmer et Bassenge established the highest price for any pair of earrings ever sold at auction. The PINK established the second highest price for a pear shaped pink diamond sold at auction and also demonstrated the continued demand for exceptional stones. The sensational diamond necklace by Harry Winston was bought back by Nayla Hayek, Winston CEO for CHF8.3 million, commenting on the purchase: “a masterpiece, which we are delighted to own again”. Quality and rarity, combined with provenance and freshness to the market defined the success of the auction.”

The revival of the Parisian 18th century Boehmer et Bassenge haute joaillerie house was heralded by two lots, establishing a new record price for a pair of earrings sold at auction (CHF17,567,500) and achieving CHF8,327,500 for the D Colour diamond necklace, entitled Le Jardin d’Isabelle. The third piece ever made by the house – another pair of earrings with the main D-colour flawless diamonds weighing 11 carats each - will be sold in Hong Kong on 29 November.

To mark Christie’s 250th anniversary, the November Magnificent Jewels auction offered eight lots which have passed once or twice already through our salerooms at some point in its long history. The section was highlighted by an Art Déco ruby and diamond bracelet, by Van Cleef & Arpels, selling for CHF 1,291,500 /$1,294,857, four times its pre-sale estimate. Overall 35 lots sold over 1$ Million throughout 2016 with the top three lots being: The Oppenheimer Blue, selling for $57.5 million in May 2016, setting the auction record for the most expensive jewel ever sold at auction; a pear-shaped, fancy vivid pink diamond, weighing 9.14 carats, selling for $18,174,631 in November 2016; Miroir de l’Amour, a pair of pear-shaped D coulour flawless diamond earrings, weighing 52.55 and 50.47 carats, by Boehmer et Bassenge, selling for $17,613,175, setting a new world auction record for a pair of earrings.