Christie’s Auction House is having two very impressive jewelry auctions, both on November 16 at the Four Seasons Hotel Des Bergues in Geneva, Switzerland. “Magnificent Jewels” will showcase over 300 lots of haute joaillerie from Cartier, Harry Winston, Fraff, Boivin, JAR, Van Cleef & Arpels, Tiffany & co and a dedicated selection of over 40 BVGARI pieces.
A separate selection remarkable enough to warrant attention from the already impressive line-up is entitled “Timeless Elegance”. It features a single large private collection from a non-disclosed European family, containing 67 pieces from top jewelry houses such as Cartier, Harry Winston, Boucheron, Mauboussin, Ostertag, Van Cleef & Arpels and Tiffany & Co. The two auctions are expected to fetch in excess of $50 million, below are various highlights from these spectacular collections, with the estimated selling prices in USD.
UPDATE: The following actions have closed, with 77% of the lots sold (279 out of 261). The expected $50 million total sales was beaten, with an final total of $61,268,528! Each lot shows its estimate and along with its final selling price.
Christie’s Geneva: Magnificent Jewels
Burmese red ruby and yellow diamond ring, Lot 351, $2,058,000 – $2,573,000 SOLD FOR: $2,285,811
This important piece features an oval ruby weighing 8.11 carats, sourced from Burma. The ruby is a uniform and highly saturated “pigeon blood” red with no signs of heating or enhancement. It is surrounded by yellow diamonds on a size 6 gold ring.
Pair of multi-gem butterfly brooches by JAR, Lot 287, $63,000 – $80,000 SOLD FOR: $267,014
This pair of brooches is made by ultra-exclusive jeweler Joel Arthur Rosenthal, know as JAR, considered by many as the most talented jewelry craftsman alive. These butterflies have circular cut sapphire and amethyst wings, with a pave-set colored diamond body, with a single-cut diamond antenna. The amazingly fluid blend of colors achieved by the tight-knit stones is a showcase of JAR’s signature pavé technique. They are mounted on silver and gold and come with a signed JAR red leather case.
Natural pearl, diamond and rock crystal necklace by Van Cleef & Arpels, Lot 308, $686,000 – $915,000 SOLD FOR: $794,451
This elegant necklace uses alternating big and small natural pearls that get smaller as from the front to the back. Each pearl is divided by diamond and rock crystal rondelles. It’s made by Van Cleef & Arpels, the French jewerly house also known for their watches and perfume and made famous by their history of innovations and royal and celebrity clientele.
Emerald and diamond earrings, Lot 307, $1,773,000 – $2,573,000 SOLD FOR: $3,106,379
Two hypnotic green pear-shaped emeralds, weighing 23.55 and 23.66 carats are found floating beneath two pear-shaped diamonds, weighing 2.01 and 2.14 carats. The hooks are pave-set with small diamonds and are mounted on platinum.
Diamond flower brooch by BVLGARI, Lot 200, $114,000 – $228,000 NOT SOLD
This brooch follows a spray design with oval marquise and brilliant-cut diamonds to form two flower heads. The flower heads are se on baguette-cut diamond stems and ribbon, mounted in platinum. This piece is brought to us by Italian jewelry and luxury goods house Bulgari. Founded in the late 1800s, it has been recently purchased by French firm LVMH for $6 billion, the most expensive acquisition by the dominating global luxury conglomerate.
Yellow diamond pendant, Lot 300, $1,375,000 – $1,573,000 SOLD FOR: $2,183,365
This massive brilliant-cut yellow diamond weights in at 67.54 carats, with a baguette-cut diamond frame, mounted in platinum and gold. It can be worn as a brooch or as a pendant with a ropework gold chain.
Diamond necklace by Rene Boivin, Lot 336, $350,000 – $466,000 SOLD FOR: $609,848
This piece was ordered in the 1960s from the jewelry house of Rene Boivin. This jewelry house has been one of the most significant since its inception in the late 19th century. What makes Rene Boivin even more special is that his wife Jeanne Boivin took over the house in 1917, following his death. Her unique style continued Rene Boivin’s success in an industry dominated by men. This piece displays 5 cushion-shaped diamonds, weighing between 5.5 and 10 carats, each with a circular and baguette-cut diamond frame. A detachable circular and baguette-cut fringe connected to the diamond neck chain. It also comes in the original 60s brown suede fitted Rene Boivin case.
Christie’s Geneva: Timeless Elegance
Ruby and diamond brooch by Van Cleef & Arpels, Lot 267, $315,000 – $525,000 SOLD FOR: $609,848
This complex piece is styled after a Japanese Chrysanthemum and is set with diamond strolling lines and mystery-set rubies. For those not familiar with Van Cleef & Arpels techniques, the “mystery setting” is their patented stone paving technique that shows no visible claws. The stones are actually set on an extremely fine platinum or gold net. This also requires a very strict criteria to select the right grade and then the cut of each stone. This is so the colors and reflection of each stone work in synergy as one piece. This piece dates back to the 1930s.
Diamond Necklace by Harry Winston, Lot 266, $1,573,000 – $2,622,000 SOLD FOR: $1,163,656
This shimmering necklace is from the 1960s, made by the legendary American jewelry and watchmakers of Harry Winston. The flexible garland is filled with marquise-cut diamond clusters, centering around their own pear-shaped diamond, each then surmounted with a brilliant-cut diamond, mounted on platinum. Each pear-shaped diamond weighs between 2.1 to 3.1 carats.
Emerald, onyx and diamond bracelet by Gattle, Lot 236, $210,000 – $315,000 NOT SOLD
This art deco-style piece dates back to the 1920s, making it a very modern and fashionable looking piece for the time. This centerpiece is a square-cut diamond, with pear-shaped emeralds by its side. The band features diamonds with emerald and onyx detail. Gattle was a popular jewelry maker in the later 1800s and early 1900s found on Fifth Avenue in New York City. Due to the financial troubles of the time, it was forced to close their doors in the late 1940s.
Diamond earrings by Van Cleef & Arpels, Lot 265, $1,573,000 – $2,097,000 NOT SOLD
Another magnificent piece by Can Cleef & Arpels, this pair of earrings feature two large pear-shaped diamonds weighing in at 7.57 and 7.60 carats. Each is hanging from a brilliant-cut diamond link which is suspended by a diamond cluster top that uses several cuts.
Set of diamond and ruby jewelry by Cartier, Lot 264, $839,000 – $1,282,000 SOLD FOR: $1,691,092
This matching set by Cartier features a necklace, earrings and a pendant, featuring diamonds and rubies. A unique feature is the five shield-shaped motifs on the necklace can be detached and be worn as individual brooches.
ForChristie’s Geneva press release and complete auction results, please click here. And make sure to check out Luxury Bazaar’s selection of jewelry for some great gift ideas for the upcoming holiday season.
