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AUCTIONS SPRING 2016

MAGNIFICENT JEWELS AND FANCY COLOR DIAMONDS

Numerous records were set at jewelry auctions in 2015, including the 12.03 carat ‘Blue Moon’ diamond sold for $48.5m, a 100.30 carat ‘Ultimate Emerald Cut’ diamond sold for $22m, and a 16 carat ‘Fancy Vivid Pink’ diamond sold for $28.5m.  The amazing amount of money spent on diamonds at auctions is set to continue in 2016 with some amazing pieces being offered.

12 ct Blue Moon Josephine diamond, sold for 48 million – Photo courtesy of Christie’s

Records have already been broken in 2016 with the ‘Debeers Millennium Blue’ sold as the most expensive gemstone in Asia earlier this year.  At 10.10 carat, the world’s largest oval-shaped fancy vivid blue diamond sold for $31.8m in Hong Kong by Sotheby’s in April.

Recently the famous ‘Fancy Deep Blue’ diamond ring owned by the great Shirley Temple was put up for auction at Sotheby’s New York.  Bought for around $7,000 by Shirley Temple’s father in in the early 1940, it is now estimated to be worth around $30m. Bidding for the 9.54 carat gem opened at $19m, but stopped at $22m.  The reserve price was not met, and a buyer will have to be found another time.  However over $30m was spent across 300 items at the Sotheby’s Magnificent Jewel sale.

Fancy Vivid pink diamond

16 ct. Fancy Vivid pink diamond sold for $28.5 million – Photo courtesy of Christie’s

2016 seems to be the year of fancy colored diamonds.  Two auctions coming up this spring in Geneva underline this with the headlining gems that are being auctioned.

SOTHEBY’S MAGNIFICENT JEWELS AND NOBLE JEWELS – GENEVA, MAY 17

This May Sotheby’s Geneva will be auctioning ‘The Unique Pink’, the largest fancy vivid pink pear-shaped diamond ever auctioned.  Weighing 15.38 carats it is expected to fetch between $27m and $38m.  It looks like the year of fancy colored diamonds as a magnificent fancy vivid blue diamond weighing 7.32 carats will also be auctioned, which is expected to fetch between $14m and $24m atht eh Magnificent Jewels and Noble Jewels auction in Geneva.

CHRISTIE’S GENEVA MAGNIFICENT JEWELS – GENEVA, MAY 18

Straight after Sotheby’s auction in May will be Christie’s Magnificent Jewels auction also in Geneva.  If you still have money left over after the Sotheby’s auction you can bid on the ‘Oppenheimer Blue’, the largest ever fancy vivid blue diamond offered at auction ever.  Weighing in at 14.62 carat it is expected to fetch between $38m and $45m.  Given that it is 2 carats larger than the record breaking ‘Blue Moon’ sold for $48.5m it has the potential to become the world’s most expensive blue diamond.

2016 looks set to be a hot year for diamonds, with exceptional gems being made available to the public.

Rahul Kadakia, international head of Christie’s jewelry department

Rahul Kadakia, international head of Christie’s jewelry department,  “Winston Blue” diamond. Image: Christie’s

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