There was a new world record for any jewellery sale at Sotheby’s in Geneva on May 17. The auction of magnificent jewels and nobel jewel realized US$175,097,419. The auction was led by the Unique PInk, a rare fancy vivid pink diamond of 15.38 carats which sold for US$31,561,2000.
A new record was set also for an online purchase in a live auction at Sotheby’s when a pair of fancy blue and orangy pink diamond earrings sold for US$6 million. The auction was viewed online by people from 155 countries and there were participants from 45 countries, 25% of these from Asia. And there was a 41% increase in lots sold online compared to the equivalent sale last year.
David Bennett, Worldwide Chairman of Sotheby’s International Jewellery Division, commented: “Exactly one year after having set the world record for a jewellery sale, Sotheby’s Geneva has raised the bar once again with a great sale and a great result for the Unique Pink. It is difficult to imagine a diamond that better illustrates the term Vivid Pink than this outstanding stone. The colour is simply astonishing and, for its size, it is in my experience truly unique. We set out to curate a sale that would speak to today’s collectors and the response has been overwhelming – confirmation, if ever it were needed, that when you have the right material, demand is as deep as it’s ever been. This was a sale that had the perfect mix of great gemstones and jewels, the vast majority of which were sourced from private collections.”
The Unique Pink sold for US$31.5 million.
These diamond earrings set an online record price of US$6 million at Sotheby’s.
The Oppenheimer Blue, the largest and finest Fancy Vivid Blue diamond ever offered at auction, comes up at
