The Winston Blue breaks world record at Christie’s Geneva sale

Christie’s Magnificent Jewels sale in Geneva achieved a world record price per carat, with the WINSTON BLUE diamond selling for US$23,795,372/€17,359,728 (World Record Price $1,799,953 per carat). The stone is the largest flawless vivid blue diamond in the world and weighs 13.22 carats. It highlighted this auction of 250 lots and carried a pre-sale estimate of US$21,000,000. THE WINSTON BLUE was named by Nayla Hayek, CEO of Harry Winston. “In January 2013 we purchased Harry Winston and since then my ambition has been to acquire the most desirable and unique gems. When Christie’s announced they were offering the largest flawless fancy-vivid blue the GIA had ever graded, I had to buy it. Today, I am proud to own the most beautiful blue diamond in the world: THE WINSTON BLUE”, said Nayla Hayek – CEO Harry Winston.

Christie’s Geneva Magnificent Jewels sale realised a total of US$154,193,622 achieving the highest total ever for a Jewellery sale in auction history. Four world record prices were achieved.

Rahul Kadakia, International Head of Christie’s Jewellery Department: “Harry Winston continued buying the best at Christie’s with their acquisition of THE WINSTON BLUE. World auction prices were achieved in a record-breaking auction with intense bidding throughout the sale. The Cartier Devant de Corsage Brooch realised a staggering US$17,5M, a 660 percent increase having first sold for US$2.65M at Christie’s Geneva back in 1991. The Jewellery market continues to remain extremely vibrant and we look forward to a buoyant season as we move into auctions at Christie’s Hong Kong, London, Paris and New York”.

The sale offered important coloured and colourless diamonds such as The Ocean Dream, at 5.50 carats the largest fancy vivid blue-green diamond in the world to come to auction; The Light Pink square-cut diamond of 76.51 carats set as necklace center piece by Leviev; a pear-shaped D-colour Flawless diamond of 75.97 carats; the Collection of a European Gentleman’ comprises a total of 14 jewels; 20 pieces from the Estate of Baroness Thyssen-Bornemisza de Kaszon; the cushion-shaped Alexandrite of approximately 21.41 carats; a rare and important spinel bead necklace and contemporary jewels.