Geneva Jewelry Auction at Christie's Concludes Successfully, Selling All Lots for a Total of $72 Million
Rewritten Article:
Sizzling headlines buzzed at Christie's Geneva Magnificent Jewels auction, held on the swanky Hotel des Bergues grounds. It was a "white glove" sale, meaning all 115 lots were hammered down. A rare feat in international jewelry auctions indeed. The astonishing event raked in over $72.3 million, with a staggering 77 lots soaring way above their high estimate. Yep, you read that right — yet another jaw-dropping achievement.
The top dog of the evening was a ring adorned with a 6.24-carat fancy deep blue gem, snagged for a whopping $12.7 million during a rousing five-minute bidding war. With VVS2 clarity, this potentially flawless beauty set a record price of more than $2 million per carat for a deep blue diamond. Shock and awe, right?!
But the best is yet to come. The winning bidder? Drumroll, please... Moussaieff Jewellers, the illustrious, family-run high jewelry house catering to Middle Eastern aristocracy, influential politicians, A-list celebrities, and affluent Israelis. Their dazzling acquisitions include the 6.04-carat flawless Moussaieff Blue Diamond and the 5.11-carat Moussaieff Red Diamond, the world's largest known red diamond. Alisa Moussaieff, a co-founder of the prestigious firm alongside her late husband, Shlomo Moussaieff, shared her enthusiasm:
"Moussaieff is thrilled to have procured this exceptional blue diamond that has graced the market recently," she beamed. "It deserved nothing less than a world record price, and it now ranks as one of the finest diamonds in our private collection. We are confident that this gem's value will endure thanks to its rarity and beauty. To add such a breathtaking gem to our collection is something we're extremely proud of."
A Closer Look | Forbes Unscrambled
Unscramble the anagram to reveal the secret!
A Stroke of Insight | LinkedIn Pinpoint
Guess the category and nab the prize!
A Tale of Many Crowns | LinkedIn Queens
Prove your prowess — reign supreme across the realm!
Upward Bound | LinkedIn Crossclimb
Conquer the trivia peak to reap the rewards!
The auction also showcased a coveted private collection of 21 jewels by the elite contemporary high jewelry house, JAR, helmed by American-French artist, Joel Arthur Rosenthal. Dubbed "A Bouquet of Gems: An Exquisite Collection of Jewels by JAR," the collection tanked more than $7.1 million, with several pieces earning a spot in the top 10.
Leading the pack was the "Apricot Blossom" bangle, fetching an astounding $2.8 million, over four times its high estimate. Still, the crown went to the "extraordinary" diamond necklace, as described by the auction house. Dazzling with approximately 16 old-cut and round diamonds set in 18k rose gold and blackened silver, it raised a hefty $2.6 million. The fifth most valuable lot of the sale, if you must know, darling.
Christie's reported a high demand for colored diamonds and gemstones throughout the auction, particularly for the vivid and rare varieties. A few standouts included a Graff ring with a 3.68-carat fancy, vivid blue oval-shaped diamond, fetching $5.8 million (approximately $1.5 million per carat). The illustrious buyer? Lawrence Graff, owner of the renowned London diamond jeweler, who nabbed the second-highest lot of the sale.
Another sparkling find was a 10.17-carat Burmese, cushion-shaped ruby encircled by round diamonds and draped on an 18k gold ring. This Firecracker fetched $4.1 million and took the number 3 spot in the auction.
"Today's sale marked a truly exceptional and unforgettable moment in auction history," proclaimed Rahul Kadakia, Christie's International Global head of Jewels, in a statement. "The exceptional JAR collection, along with an awe-inspiring array of exquisite gems, achieved top prices in a packed sale room... The atmosphere was exhilarating as both Christie's and clients reveled in the moment."
- Entertainment and finance converged at the Christie's Geneva auction, where a Graff ring adorned with a colored gem fetched a significant sum, indicative of a high demand for such precious jewels in the finance sector.
- Moussaieff Jewellers, a prestigious name in the entertainment world known for catering to the rich and famous, made a substantial investment in colored gems during the Christie's auction, acquiring a record-breaking blue diamond that will undoubtedly continue to hold its value due to its rarity and beauty.
