November 9, 2015: Sotheby’s upcoming Geneva sale of Magnificent Jewels and Noble Jewels on November 11 includes some fine jewels from Cartier, Chaumet, Van Cleef & Arpels and more. It is led by the superlative Blue Moon Diamond, a 12.03-carat stone boasting flawless clarity and truly outstanding colour.
The rough diamond which yielded the Blue Moon was discovered by Petra Diamonds (owners of the famous Cullinan Mine in South Africa) in January 2014. The magnificent rough was purchased through a competitive tender by New York-based Cora International. Cora has cut and polished the Blue Moon – a highly skilled and complex process which took over six months. The stunning diamond comes to the market with an estimate of CHF 34.2 – 53.7 million ($35-55 million).
The Queen Maria-José Ruby Ring is another exceptional piece to consider. It was formerly part of the personal collection of the last Queen of Italy, Maria-José (1906-2001). The ring is set with an exquisite Burmese ruby weighing 8.48 carats, with no evidence of heat treatment, boasting the most sought-after hue for rubies: “pigeon’s blood”. According to the Gemological Institute of America (GIA), “Any Burmese ruby in excess of 5 carats is considered very rare even today; thus, in the nineteenth century, one such as this – being over 8 carats and such a fine colour – would have been held as truly exceptional.” (CHF 5,860,000 – 8,780,000 / USD 6,000,000 – 9,000,000).
A fancy vivid purple-pink diamond ring weighing 8.24 carats of exceptional colour (CHF 12,150,000 – 16,000,000 / USD 12,500,000 – 16,500,000) and an extraordinary yellow diamond ring weighing 22.43 carats (CHF 1,270,000 – 1,560,000 / USD 1,300,000 – 1,600,000) are also a part of the auction.
Offered from the beautiful jewellery collection of the late Dolores Sherwood Bosshard is an emerald and diamond necklace, designed by Harry Winston in 1959 (CHF 1,960,000 – 3,920,000 / USD 2,000,000 – 4,000,000).
Take note of tiaras by Cartier and chokers by Chaumet – all having noble or high provenance.
