At Christie's auction, the 'Marie-Thérèse Pink Diamond' garners a price of $14 million.
Let's chat about some splendid gems that left the crowd in awe at Christie's New York Magnificent Jewels auction!
The star of the show was the 10.38-carat Marie-Thérèse Pink Diamond, previously owned by none other than the infamous Queen Marie Antoinette herself. This fancy purple-pink modified kite brilliant-cut diamond fetched an impressive $13.9 million, nearly double its high estimate! It's been a journey for this blushing beauty, making its way through French, Bavarian and Austrian imperial and royal families, before ending up on a ring designed by renowned Franco-American jewelry artist, JAR.
If you think that's impressive, check out the number two lot – the 392.52-carat Blue Belle sapphire. One of the largest known sapphires in the world, it sold for over $11.3 million. The bidding took nearly 15 minutes, with auctioneer Max Fawcett coaxing two phone bidders to escalate their bids from $8.1 million to a final hammer price of $9.5 million.
The Blue Belle has Its Own captivating history: it was discovered in Pelmadula, Ratnapura in 1926 and boasts a "highly prized peacock blue color and excellent clarity." Macan Markar, a well-known gem and jewelry dealer in Colombo, owned it before British motor magnate, Lord Nuffield, added it to his collection.
The sale was a "white glove" sale, meaning all the lots sold, achieving more than $87.7 million. In addition to the stunning pink diamond and sapphire, three gem-set necklaces with historic Indian Mughal provenance fetched premium prices. These necklaces had ! colossal emeralds, spinels, and natural pearls, each telling a tale of royal provenance.
Diamonds also did exceptionally well in the auction, with a 66.74-carat round brilliant-cut diamond fetching $3.8 million and a platinum and 18k white gold Harry Winston necklace going for over $2.4 million.
The auction also featured a collection from Anne Hendricks Bass, which included pieces from esteemed brands like Van Cleef & Arpels, Bulgari, and Cartier, among others. Each piece, except one, sold for well above its high estimate, totaling more than $8.8 million.
Some highlights from this section of the sale include a pair of Van Cleef & Arpels earrings and a JAR necklace adorned with emeralds and sapphires. Intriguingly, a Van Cleef & Arpels ruby and diamond mystery-set brooch from the collection titled “Color and Ingenuity: The Collection of Lucille Coleman” set a new world record price for a mystery-set jewel sold at auction.
Signed jewels performed impressively, with Cartier Art Deco pieces like a multi-gem and diamond bracelet and shoulder brooch fetching high prices.
So, the next time you're in the market for a little sparkle, remember the mesmerizing stories that come with these gems, straight from the pages of history!
- In the realm of investments, particularly for those interested in luxury and fashion-and-beauty, a new opportunity presents itself: investing in rare and historical jewelry pieces, as demonstrated by the recent New York Magnificent Jewels auction where a Van Cleef & Arpels ruby and diamond mystery-set brooch set a new world record.
- The finance world has also shown an interest in real-estate, with some even diversifying their portfolios to include items like the Marie-Thérèse Pink Diamond, previously owned by Marie Antoinette, which doubled its high estimate at the auction.
- For those seeking a unique lifestyle accessory, one might consider looking into prestigious auctions such as the Magnificent Jewels event in New York, where you could find everything from Mughal necklaces to Cartier Art Deco pieces, offering colossal emeralds, spinels, natural pearls, and even a rare piece of Mughal provenance.
