Sotheby’s Geneva Sales Garner $51M

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The 4.50-carat blue diamond at Sotheby’s

The recent Royal & Noble Jewels and High Jewelry auctions at Sotheby’s raked in CHF 41.2 million ($51.3 million) in total, and saw a blue diamond fetch CHF 4.8 million ($6 million).

The unmounted oval-mixed-cut, 4.50-carat, fancy-vivid-blue, internally flawless diamond took the spotlight at the November 12 High Jewelry sale, according to the auction house’s website. The ring sold within its presale estimates.

The sale saw 94% of lots sold, with 75% fetching above their high estimates.

Meanwhile, the Royal & Noble Jewels sale included items such as a brooch-pendant that belonged to Napoleon and a light-pink diamond ring owned by Empress Catherine I of Russia and later an Ottoman princess. Several of the jewels made multiple times their estimates.

Here are the rest of the top five lots from the High Jewels sale:

Scheiner designed these earrings sporting cushion modified brilliant-cut, fancy-vivid-yellow diamonds weighing 38.66 and 38.88 carats, suspended from rectangular modified brilliant-cut diamonds of 2 and 2.03 carats at Sotheby's image
Scheiner designed these earrings sporting cushion modified brilliant-cut, fancy-vivid-yellow diamonds weighing 38.66 and 38.88 carats, suspended from rectangular modified brilliant-cut diamonds of 2 and 2.03 carats. They fetched CHF 2.7 million ($3.4 million), within their presale price range.
A ring with a cushion-shaped, 12.78-carat Burmese ruby between triangular diamonds at Sotheby's image
A ring with a cushion-shaped, 12.78-carat Burmese ruby between triangular diamonds doubled its CHF 550,000 ($691,771) high estimate to bring in CHF 1.1 million ($1.4 million).
This Van Cleef & Arpels ring features a cushion-shaped, 7.69-carat Kashmir sapphire in a pear-shaped and brilliant-cut diamond frame at Sotheby's image
This Van Cleef & Arpels ring features a cushion-shaped, 7.69-carat Kashmir sapphire in a pear-shaped and brilliant-cut diamond frame. It achieved CHF 914,400 ($1.2 million), beating its CHF 650,000 ($817,602) upper price. 
This Van Cleef & Arpels Gazelle necklace comprises a series of graduated oval rubies between brilliant-cut diamonds, centering an oval, 5.20-carat Burmese ruby within brilliant-cut diamonds. It also suspends three detachable pendants containing oval Burmese rubies weighing 3.56, 3.39 and 2.79 carats at Sotheby's image
This Van Cleef & Arpels Gazelle necklace comprises a series of graduated oval rubies between brilliant-cut diamonds, centering an oval, 5.20-carat Burmese ruby within brilliant-cut diamonds. It also suspends three detachable pendants containing oval Burmese rubies weighing 3.56, 3.39 and 2.79 carats. It surpassed its high CHF 320,000 ($402,512) estimate, bringing in CHF 838,200 ($1.1 million).

Here are the top pieces from the Royal & Noble Jewels sale:

This brooch, which also functions as a pendant, dates back to the early 19th century and once belonged to Napoleon Bonaparte. It features an oval diamond weighing 13.04 carats in a surround of old mine- and mazarin-cut diamonds at Sotheby's image
This brooch, which also functions as a pendant, dates back to the early 19th century and once belonged to Napoleon Bonaparte. It features an oval diamond weighing 13.04 carats in a surround of old mine- and mazarin-cut diamonds. It smashed its CHF 200,000 ($251,577) high price to rake in CHF 3.5 million ($4.4 million).
A ring owned by Empress Catherine I of Russia, which Ottoman Princess Neslishah Sultan later received for her wedding, contains a brilliant-cut, 13.86-carat, light-pink, VS2-clarity diamond and old mine- and rose-cut embellishments at Sotheby's image
A ring owned by Empress Catherine I of Russia, which Ottoman Princess Neslishah Sultan later received for her wedding, contains a brilliant-cut, 13.86-carat, light-pink, VS2-clarity diamond and old mine- and rose-cut embellishments. It garnered CHF 2.9 million ($3.7 million), over seven times its CHF 400,000 ($503,161) upper estimate.
This Cartier necklace sports an octagonal step-cut, 11.78-carat Colombian emerald with an old mine-cut diamond surmount, swing-set within an old European-cut diamond frame. The necklace features a marquise-shaped, 5.54-carat, D-color, VS2 diamond at SOtheby's image
This Cartier necklace sports an octagonal step-cut, 11.78-carat Colombian emerald with an old mine-cut diamond surmount, swing-set within an old European-cut diamond frame. The necklace features a marquise-shaped, 5.54-carat, D-color, VS2 diamond. It surpassed its CHF 500,000 ($628,924), grabbing CHF 1.3 million ($1.7 million).
An unmounted cushion-shaped, 132.66-carat was said to be worn by Emperor Napoleon 1 at his coronation at Sotheby's image
An unmounted cushion-shaped, 132.66-carat was said to be worn by Emperor Napoleon 1 at his coronation. It flew past its CHF 48,000 ($60,377) high estimate, raking in CHF 838,200 ($1.1 million).
Created around 1840, this tiara with old mine- and rose-cut diamonds comes from Henrietta Scott, duchess of Portland. It’s designed as a garland of wild roses and can be transformed into five brooches and two pairs of ear clips at Sotheby's image
Created around 1840, this tiara with old mine- and rose-cut diamonds comes from Henrietta Scott, duchess of Portland. It’s designed as a garland of wild roses and can be transformed into five brooches and two pairs of ear clips. It more than doubled its CHF 170,000 ($213,829) upper price, going for CHF 393,700 ($495,202).

Main image: The 4.50-carat blue diamond. (Sotheby’s)

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Sotheby’s Geneva Sales Garner $51M

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