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Heidi Horten Collection Expected to Fetch over $150M at Christie’s

March 28, 2023  |  Leah Meirovich
Heidi Horten Christie's

A collection of pieces amassed by late Austrian billionaire Heidi Horten will become the most valuable private jewelry assortment ever to come to auction, according to Christie’s.

Christie’s will offer the collection, called The World of Heidi Horten, at its Geneva sale in May, the auction house said Tuesday. It carries a combined price estimate of $150 million. All proceeds will benefit the Heidi Horten Collection, a museum of modern and contemporary art Horten founded in Vienna, as well as medical research.

“The World of Heidi Horten is the collection of a lifetime,” said Rahul Kadakia, international head of jewelry for Christie’s. “From Bulgari to Van Cleef & Arpels, from a small personal memory piece to the Briolette of India, this is a collector’s dream. Building from extraordinary early pieces she acquired in the 1970s and 1980s, Mrs. Horten continued to grow and curate her sophisticated collection, eloquently combining vintage and modern designs from leading jewelry houses of the world that today represent some of the finest examples ever to come to market.”

The auction house will present 400 of the 700 jewels across two live auctions on May 10 and 12 as well as at an online sale from May 3 to 15. Another online sale featuring the remaining jewels is set for November.

Here are some of the top pieces:

The Sunrise Ruby by Cartier features a 25.59-carat, pigeon’s blood Burmese ruby center stone flanked by diamonds. The ring, which previously sold for a record $30.42 million at Sotheby’s in Geneva in 2015, is estimated at $15 million to $20 million.
This briolette-cut, 90.38-carat diamond necklace by Harry Winston, known as the Briolette of India, was originally sold by Cartier in 1909. The chain, which is set with marquise and pear-shaped diamonds, has two portions that are detachable and can be worn as bracelets. It is expected to bring in around $10 million.
A three-strand natural and cultured-pearl necklace by Harry Winston will also be featured at the sale. The piece contains a cushion modified brilliant-cut, 11.15-carat, fancy-light-pink diamond clasp and carries an estimate of $7 million to $10 million.
This diamond bracelet, created by Harry Winston, is expected to bring in between $5 million and $7 million at the sale.
The Great Mughal is a necklace set with an emerald pendant surrounded by diamonds. The jewel, created by Harry Winston, has a presale price range of $500,000 to $700,000.

Main image: Heidi Horten. (Christie’s)

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