It’s been a calm start to the 2014 auction season (particularly when compared with last year’s big-ticket items) but the market will be heating up with Christie’s Geneva Magnificent Jewels sale May 14.
Leading the sale at the Four Seasons Hotel des Bergues is “The Blue.” At 13.22 carats it is the largest flawless vivid blue diamond in the world, according to the auction house. It is estimated to fetch $21 to $25 million.
The 250 lot sale includes several statement diamonds, rare natural pearl necklaces, private collections and signed jewels. It is estimated to fetch a total of $80 million, Christie’s said.
Another highlight of the sale is what the auction house is calling the largest fancy vivid blue-green diamond in the world to come to auction. Known as “The Ocean Dream,” the 5.50-carat gem has an estimate of $7.5 to $9.5 million. “The combination of its size, natural origin, hue, and saturated color makes it an extremely unusual occurrence,” Christie’s said in a statement.
Other diamonds expected to generate strong interest is a 76.51-carat light pink cut-corned diamond set as necklace centerpiece by diamond dealer Lev Leviev with an estimate of $7 to $10 million; and a 75.97-carat pear-shaped D-color flawless diamond with an estimate of $13.5 million to $15 million.
other highlights of the auction include the following:
* A collection of 14 jewels from a “European Gentleman” under the heading, “A Passion for Jewels.” It includes the Rajah diamond, a 26.14-carat, old-mine brilliant-cut diamond with an estimate of $3 to $5 million.
* Another highlight of “A Passion for Jewels” collection is the Belle Époque Devant-de-Corsage brooch, crafted in 1912 by Cartier. It is estimated to fetch $7 million to $12 million.
* 20 pieces from the Estate of Baroness Thyssen-Bornemisza de Kaszon will be another highpoint of the auction led by a natural pearl and diamond necklace estimated at $550,000 to $700,000.
* A five-strand necklace composed of 87, 81, 76, seventy-one and 65 natural pearls with an estimate of $2 to $3 million.
* A 21.41-carat cushion-shaped Alexandrite with no indications of treatment and a distinct color-change from green to purple with an estimate of $500,000 to $700,000.
* A necklace made of seven Mughal engraved spinel beads that date back to the 17th century with an estimate of $1.5 to $2 million.
* A three rectangular-cut diamond ring designed by JAR with an estimate of $330,000 to $460,000. Proceeds will benefit Ospendale Pediatrico Bambino Gesu in Rome and the Pediatric department of the Ospedale San Paolo in Milan.
* Mystery-set ruby and diamond ear pendants, entitled Entrée en scène, was part of the Une journée à Paris collection Van Cleef & Arpels launched in 2006 as an homage to Paris. It has an estimate of $200,000 to $310,000.
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