It’s jewelry fever and Sotheby’s has set a record. The Magnificent Jewels & Noble Jewels auction held in Geneva has totaled 141.5 million dollars, or 103 million euros. And the long-awaited Graff Vivid Yellow has been sold for 16.3 million dollars (11.9 million euros). The diamond, an intense yellow, weighs 100.09 carats and is one of the largest fancy yellows in the world. A dazzling smile for David Bennett, president of Sotheby’s Switzerland and of the Jewelry Department for Europe and the Middle East: “100 carats is a magic number when it comes to diamonds. With its exceptional size and a superb daffodil color, the Graff Vivid Yellow is a truly extraordinary diamond. These rare qualities have led to the record price achieved”. Great enthusiasm at the Geneva auction also for the creations of Suzanne Belperron, one of the greatest designers of the 20th century. The Graff Vivid Yellow eclipsed the previous record ($12.3 million) of the Sun-Drop (renamed The Lady Dalal), also sold in Geneva by Sotheby’s in November 2011. In addition to the super yellow diamond, other important pieces were sold. A flawless 70.33-carat diamond was sold for $14.2 million. A spectacular diamond ring signed Graff, together with a 103.46-carat brilliant-cut diamond was sold for $4.8 million: it is one of the largest round diamonds in the world. The selection of colored diamonds included a toi et moi ring with two diamonds, fancy vivid blue of 3.08 carats and 2.83 carats ($6.2 million). A fancy pink diamond ring, with a marquise stone of 12.07 carats was sold for $7.2 million. Good demand also for colored gems. The auction also featured an assortment of gemstones, such as a large ruby and a diamond ring, mounted with a cushion-shaped ruby weighing 12.46 carats ($3.7 million). A ring with Kashmir sapphires and 10.96 carats of diamonds realized $1.7 million. Pearls also enjoyed renewed interest: a necklace of natural pearls and diamonds sold for $2.9 million, more than eight times its estimate.
Jewels from the Flora Sassoon collection (1859-1936) were also successful: they nearly tripled their pre-sale, with $3.3 million. As mentioned at the beginning, the Suzanne Belperron jewels from the Madame Picha-Eisenstein collection were well received, with all 19 items presented finding buyers ($1 million), more than doubling their estimate. Leading the pack was a diamond bracelet, “Mon Bracciale,” from 1942, composed of three bands with circular-cut diamonds ($178,000). Finally, the “fastest woman in the world” necklace: it is made of gold and diamonds and signed by Van Cleef & Arpels. It belonged to Jacqueline Auriol (1917-2000), one of the most daring pilots of the 20th century, the first to break the sound barrier. The necklace was sold for $276,000.
