Christie’s to Offer 37ct. Aga Khan Emerald Again After 55 Years

A jewel that first went up for auction at the inaugural Christie’s Geneva jewelry sale in 1969 will once again hit the auction block, this time with an estimate of up to $8 million.

The Aga Khan emerald brooch — which Prince Sadruddin Aga Kahn commissioned from Cartier Paris in 1960 as a gift for his wife, socialite and model Nina Dyer — will be the star of the latest Geneva Magnificent Jewels auction on November 12.

The piece, which contains a 37-carat Colombian emerald in a diamond surround, sold for $75,000 at the 1969 Christie’s sale following Dyer’s death. Over the years, it passed through the hands of both Van Cleef & Arpels and Harry Winston before making its way back to Christie’s, the auction house said last week.

“The emerald brooch is not just a piece of jewelry; it carries with it the stories and charm of a bygone era,” said Max Fawcett, Christie’s head of jewelry for Europe. “We are thrilled to present it once again, not only because of its history, but also due to the increased interest in colored stones the market has witnessed in recent years. We believe it will attract a high level of interest from clients globally.”

Christie’s will also sell five lots belonging to the Sassoon family, who built their wealth in the finance and opium trades and became known as the “Rothschilds of the East.” Patriarch David Sassoon led the Jewish community in Mumbai after Jews from Baghdad emigrated there.

Here are the lots from the Sassoon collection: