antiquesandartireland.com

Christie’s Magnificent Jewels sale in Geneva tonight achieved a total of CHF68,990,650 / $69,668,694 / €65,939,460, led by The Rock, which sold for CHF21,681,000 / $21,894,082 / €20,722,133. Weighing 228.31 carats, The Rock is the largest white diamond ever to be sold at auction.

The Red Cross Diamond realised CHF14,181,250 / $14,320,624 / €13,554,068, with a significant portion of the proceeds benefiting the International Committee of the Red Cross. The auction was 98% sold by value and 92% sold by lot, and witnessed global participation with registrants from 20 countries across 4 continents. The next generation of collectors were active with millennial collectors comprising 50% of new registrants to the sale.

The Rock, the largest white diamond seen throughout auction market history and The Red Cross Diamond will lead Christie’s sale of Magnificent Jewels in Geneva on May 11.  The sale will offer a superb selection of historic and modern jewellery, alongside two diamonds that are each considered among the most exceptional gemstones to ever appear at auction. The Rock is estimated at CHF19 million -30 million (€18.58 million – €29.33 million) and The Red Cross Diamond is expected to fetch as much as €10.05 million. 

The sale includes exceptional tiaras from the 19^th and 20^th centuries, among them the Fürstenberg Tiara, a pearl and diamond tiara bearing the mark of the famous Austrian jeweller Gustav Flach. It belonged to H.S.H. The Princess of Fürstenberg, née Countess Irma of Schönborn Buchheim (1867-1948), a member of one of the pre-eminent aristocratic families in the Habsburg Empire.  An important selection of Jewels by JAR showcase Mr. Rosenthal’s superior craftsmanship and passion for innovation and design including a sapphire bracelet of 27.37 carats and a pair of multi-gem ‘disc’ pendent earrings.

(See posts on antiquesandartireland.com for April 12 and March 25, 2022)