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Blue, pink, and royal provenance were the overarching themes of the year’s top 10 lots at Christie’s and Sotheby’s, with colored diamonds taking seven of the slots.
1. The Mellon Blue diamond: $25.6 million
Christie’s Magnificent Jewels, Geneva, November 11
A 9.51-carat, fancy-vivid-blue, internally flawless diamond that once belonged to horticulturist Rachel “Bunny” Mellon.
2. The Mediterranean Blue diamond: $21.5 million
Sotheby’s High Jewelry, Geneva, May 13
A cushion modified brilliant-cut, 10.03-carat, fancy-vivid-blue diamond that originated in South Africa’s Cullinan mine.
3. The Royal Blue necklace: $16.1 million
Christie’s Magnificent Jewels, Hong Kong, November 25
A necklace with 16 cushion-shaped Kashmir sapphires ranging from 3.43 to 13.37 carats. World auction record for a Kashmir-sapphire necklace.
4. The Marie-Thérèse Pink diamond: $14 million
Christie’s Magnificent Jewels, New York, June 17
A kite-shaped,10.38-carat, fancy-purple-pink diamond, possibly once Marie Antoinette’s, on a ring by JAR. World record for a JAR jewel at auction.
5. A blue-diamond ballerina ring: $12.7 million
Christie’s Magnificent Jewels, Geneva, May 14
A platinum ring featuring an emerald-cut, 6.24-carat, fancy-deep-blue, VVS2-clarity diamond in a Boucheron mounting with round rubies and baguette-cut diamonds. Auction record for a deep-blue diamond.
6. The Regent Kashmir: $9.6 million
Christie’s Magnificent Jewels, Hong Kong, May 27
A cushion-shaped, 35.09-carat Kashmir sapphire on a ring with diamonds.
7. The Desert Rose diamond: $8.8 million
Sotheby’s Precision & Brilliance, Abu Dhabi, December 5
A 31.68-carat, fancy-vivid-orangy-pink, VVS1 diamond. Auction record for an orangy-pink diamond
8. An unmounted fancy-vivid-blue diamond: $6 million
Sotheby’s High Jewelry, Geneva, November 12
An oval mixed-cut, 4.50-carat, internally flawless diamond.
9. A blue-diamond Graff ring: $5.8 million
Christie’s Magnificent Jewels, Geneva, May 14
A platinum ring featuring an oval-shaped, 3.68-carat, fancy-vivid-blue diamond and pear-shaped diamonds.
10. Napoleon Bonaparte’s diamond brooch: $4.4 million
Sotheby’s Royal & Noble Jewels, November 12
A circular brooch that reportedly adorned Napoleon’s hat, featuring an oval, 13.04-carat diamond surrounded by old mine- and mazarin-cut diamonds.
Main image: The Boucheron ballerina ring. (Christie’s)
