101ct. Yellow Pulled from Sotheby’s Geneva Auction

Sotheby’s garnered CHF 31.1 million ($34.3 million) from its most recent jewelry sale in Geneva, even as the consignor withdrew the top item, a 101.29-carat, fancy-vivid-yellow diamond. 

The round-cornered square brilliant-cut stone, known as the Allnatt diamond, was set in a brooch by Cartier as the center of a flower, with diamond petals and leaves. It was estimated to fetch up to CHF 6.5 million ($7.2 million) at the May 14 Magnificent Jewels and Noble Jewels sale.  

“It has been a privilege to present the Allnatt to collectors and connoisseurs over the past few months,” a Sotheby’s spokesperson told Rapaport News. “Following discussions with the consignor, they have elected to retain this jewel.” 

The top item to find a buyer was an unmounted round-cornered square brilliant-cut, 37.61-carat, E-color, internally flawless diamond. That piece brought in CHF 3.9 million ($4.3 million), well above its high estimate, Sotheby’s said Wednesday. 

Meanwhile, the Magnificent Jewels part of the sale included a collection called Iconic Jewels: Her Sense of Style, containing 46 signed items. That group saw a white glove result, selling for a total of more than twice its presale estimate. The top jewel was a statement Buddah necklace by Bulgari, which fetched more than six times its price prediction. 

Here are the rest of the top five items: 

Main image: The Allnatt diamond. (Sotheby’s)