Multiple World Records Broken at Sotheby’s Jewelry Sale
Sotheby’s jewelry auctions never fail to bring excitement. In 2014, “The Graff Vivid Yellow” diamond caused quite the stir when it broke a world record for most paid for a yellow diamond. Sotheby’s listed the yellow diamond in the spring Magnificent Jewels and Noble Jewelry auction in Geneva. This jewelry sale broke several other world records as well. The jewelry world records include:
Highest Total Sales at Multi-Seller Jewelry Auction
This auction brought in a staggering $141.5 million in sales, setting the record for the highest amount brought in at a jewelry auction featuring various sellers.
The auction house reclaimed the record from Christie’s who previously held it for the $137.2 million sold at their 2011 auction featuring jewelry from Elizabeth Taylor.
Highest Price Paid for a Yellow Diamond
The stone to break the yellow diamond record was a massive 100.09ct yellow diamond known as “The Graff Vivid Yellow” which eventually sold for $16.3 million.
When the VS2 vivid yellow diamond first hit the auction block, it missed the auction house’s reserve price, so it was pulled from the sale much to the disappointment of Sotheby’s. A confused buyer then asked that the cushion cut diamond be brought back to the table because she wasn’t converting the currency correctly while bidding. Both the auction house as well as the private buyer were thrilled when the stone finally sold the second time around just below the low-end of the auction estimate.
Highest Price Per Carat for a Pink Diamond
A breathtaking marquise cut 12.07ct fancy pink diamond set the record for most paid per carat for a fancy pink diamond when it sold for $7.2 million.
Highest Price Per Carat for a Colorless Diamond
The sale also broke the record for price per carat paid for a colorless diamond when a 25.32ct D color, internally flawless diamond sold for $6.2 million.
That translates to a hefty $246,710 per carat price tag!
Other Sotheby’s Jewelry Auction Highlights
This auction was very competitive, with many lots selling well above the auction estimates. French pilot Jacqueline Auriol’s diamond necklace with a gold jet by Van Cleef & Arpels sold for $276,203 which was twelve times its auction estimate!
There were 19 pieces of jewelry from the private collection of Madam Picha-Eisenstein that were crafted by her friend and talented jeweler, Suzanne Belperron. The grouping of stunning Art Deco and Retro diamond pieces sold collectively for $1,033,620 which was more than double the high-end auction estimate.
Jewelry from Flora Sassoon sold for $3,342,335, more than triple its original auction estimate. The highlight from this grouping was a beautiful festoon diamond necklace from the turn of the century. The antique diamond necklace sold for more than triple its low-end auction estimate at $1.2 million.
Chairperson of Sotheby’s Geneva, David Bennett, said in regards to this thrilling auction,
Throughout the day, we witnessed intense bidding from all corners of the globe for exceptional diamonds, gemstones, and signed jewels. Once again, fine pieces with important provenance were highly sought after. We were particularly pleased by the excitement surrounding Suzanne Belperron’s creations, which further confirms her reputation as one of the greatest jewelry designers of the 20th century.
