RAPAPORT... Sotheby's garnered $78.2 million (CHF 74.8 million) at its auction of magnificent and noble jewels in Geneva this week. The auction was 87 percent sold by lot and 92 percent by value.
The top lot was a cushion-shaped modified brilliant-cut, 27.9-carat, D color, internally flawless diamond ring that fetched $4.4 million or $156,362 per carat. The stone, which was categorized a type IIa, sold to a private Asian buyer.
A cushion-shaped, 74.53-carat, fancy yellow, SI1 clarity diamond sold for $2.9 million, or $39,265 per carat, setting a world auction record for a fancy yellow diamond and world auction record price per carat for a fancy yellow diamond. Sotheby's noted that the sale of the diamond, which previously belonged to his late imperial majesty Sultan Ahmed Shah Qajar, the seventh and last ruler of the Qajar dynasty in Persia, confirmed the appeal of jewels of noble provenance and historical importance among international collectors.
Other highlights from the sale included a light pink diamond and diamond necklace that fetched $2.3 million. The necklace suspends a detachable pendant set with two marquise diamonds, a 6.93-carat brilliant-cut light pink diamond, two circular-cut diamonds, one 34.78-carat, J color, VS1 diamond, and a briolette diamond weighing 11.38 carats, from a graduated circular-cut diamond rivière with a step-cut diamond clasp.
An exceptional pair of natural pearl and diamond pendant earrings from the collection of screen legend Gina Lollongbrigida sold for $2.4 million, setting an auction record for a pair of pearl ear pendants. Jewels from the collection of Lollongbrigida sold for double their presale estimate and fetched $4.96 million.
Other top lots included a cushion-shaped, 31.35-carat, H color, VS2 diamond ring that sold for $1.8 million, or $57,095 per carat, while a fine diamond necklace by Graff featuring a pear-shaped, 12.60-carat, D color, internally flawless diamond fetched $1.8 million, or $148,363 per carat.
A 12.85-carat, fancy light purplish pink, VVS1 diamond ring fetched $1.5 million, or $115,347 per carat, and a 18.32-carat E, VVS2 diamond ring fetched $ 1.2 million or $67,468 per carat.
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