Big Pink and Orange Diamonds to Lead Geneva Auctions

The 59.6 carat "Pink Star."

If one would compare major jewelry auctions to prizefights (like I’m doing), than the large, statement diamonds would be the heavyweight contenders. The top prizes in the heavyweight division this year are extremely rare fancy colored diamonds that will be put up for auction in Geneva this week by Sotheby’s and Christie’s.

Sotheby’s on Wednesday will be offering what it calls “the most valuable diamond ever to come to auction” as part of its Magnificent Jewels sale. The Pink Star is a 59.6 carat internally flawless fancy pink vivid diamond and has a pre-sale estimate in excess of $60 million.

The diamond is graded as Type IIa, which rare for a pink diamond of this size and color. Cut over a period of two years, The Pink Star is more than twice the size of the Graff Pink—a 24.78-carat fancy intense pink diamond that established a world auction record for a diamond and any gemstone or jewel at $46.2 million, at Sotheby’s Geneva in 2010. The current record price per carat for a fancy vivid pink diamond ($2,155,332) set by a 5-carat diamond, sold in Hong Kong in January 2009.

Cut by Steinmetz Diamonds from a 132.5-carat rough, the diamond was first unveiled to the public in May 2003 as the “Steinmetz Pink.” The stone was first sold privately in 2007 and renamed The Pink Star.

In total, the Sotheby’s Magnificent Jewels sale will comprise over 370 lots, including iconic jewels, such as the “Walska Briolette Diamond” brooch with an estimate in excess of $8 million. The total sale has a pre-sale estimate of $123 million to $167 million.

The 14,82 carat "Orange"

Meanwhile, on Tuesday, not to be outdone, Christie’s will sell the largest fancy vivid orange diamond ever to appear at auction at its Magnificent Jewels sale. Weighing approximately 14.82 carats, this diamond, called simply “The Orange,” is expected to fetch between $17 million and $21 million.

Pure orange diamonds are exceptionally rare, the auction house said. It is more common to find orange diamonds with secondary colors. The orange color is the result of the presence of nitrogen during the diamond’s creation. Among the very few fancy vivid orange diamonds that were ever sold at auction, the largest was the “Pumpkin Diamond” 5.54 carats. The Orange is more than double that size. A 4.19 carat fancy vivid orange diamond sold at auction for a record price of $2.95 million in October 2011.

Other items being presented at Christie’s Magnificent Jewels auction include three jewels from the world famous collection of Bolivian tycoon Simón Itturi Patiño, with the highlight being an emerald and diamond necklace by Cartier, 1937. The ‘Property of Hélène Rochas’ will include 18 lots, with a rare diamond and colored diamond ‘Tiger’ shoulder brooch, by Boivin. The Art Deco period will be represented by HRH Princess Faiza of Egypt emerald drop and diamond necklace by Van Cleef & Arpels, 1929, and an “Orientalist” emerald and diamond sautoir by Cartier, 1926.

Please join me on the Jewelry News Network Facebook Page, on Twitter @JewelryNewsNet and on the Forbes Website.

The 59.6 carat "Pink Star."

If one would compare major jewelry auctions to prizefights (like I’m doing), than the large, statement diamonds would be the heavyweight contenders. The top prizes in the heavyweight division this year are extremely rare fancy colored diamonds that will be put up for auction in Geneva this week by Sotheby’s and Christie’s.

Sotheby’s on Wednesday will be offering what it calls “the most valuable diamond ever to come to auction” as part of its Magnificent Jewels sale. The Pink Star is a 59.6 carat internally flawless fancy pink vivid diamond and has a pre-sale estimate in excess of $60 million.

The diamond is graded as Type IIa, which rare for a pink diamond of this size and color. Cut over a period of two years, The Pink Star is more than twice the size of the Graff Pink—a 24.78-carat fancy intense pink diamond that established a world auction record for a diamond and any gemstone or jewel at $46.2 million, at Sotheby’s Geneva in 2010. The current record price per carat for a fancy vivid pink diamond ($2,155,332) set by a 5-carat diamond, sold in Hong Kong in January 2009.

Cut by Steinmetz Diamonds from a 132.5-carat rough, the diamond was first unveiled to the public in May 2003 as the “Steinmetz Pink.” The stone was first sold privately in 2007 and renamed The Pink Star.

In total, the Sotheby’s Magnificent Jewels sale will comprise over 370 lots, including iconic jewels, such as the “Walska Briolette Diamond” brooch with an estimate in excess of $8 million. The total sale has a pre-sale estimate of $123 million to $167 million.

The 14,82 carat "Orange"

Meanwhile, on Tuesday, not to be outdone, Christie’s will sell the largest fancy vivid orange diamond ever to appear at auction at its Magnificent Jewels sale. Weighing approximately 14.82 carats, this diamond, called simply “The Orange,” is expected to fetch between $17 million and $21 million.

Pure orange diamonds are exceptionally rare, the auction house said. It is more common to find orange diamonds with secondary colors. The orange color is the result of the presence of nitrogen during the diamond’s creation. Among the very few fancy vivid orange diamonds that were ever sold at auction, the largest was the “Pumpkin Diamond” 5.54 carats. The Orange is more than double that size. A 4.19 carat fancy vivid orange diamond sold at auction for a record price of $2.95 million in October 2011.

Other items being presented at Christie’s Magnificent Jewels auction include three jewels from the world famous collection of Bolivian tycoon Simón Itturi Patiño, with the highlight being an emerald and diamond necklace by Cartier, 1937. The ‘Property of Hélène Rochas’ will include 18 lots, with a rare diamond and colored diamond ‘Tiger’ shoulder brooch, by Boivin. The Art Deco period will be represented by HRH Princess Faiza of Egypt emerald drop and diamond necklace by Van Cleef & Arpels, 1929, and an “Orientalist” emerald and diamond sautoir by Cartier, 1926.

Please join me on the Jewelry News Network Facebook Page, on Twitter @JewelryNewsNet and on the Forbes Website.

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Graff Luxury Watches At Basel

Diamond MasterGraff Tourbillon

Graff Diamonds doesn’t sell wholesale or deal with the watch and jewelry trade. So there was no reason for the brand founded by Laurence Graff to have a presence at Baselworld 2013. However, company representatives did come to Basel during the fair to show its newest collection of luxury timepieces to press members in a nearby hotel suite.

As one would expect from the London-based jeweler—known for purchasing some of the most valuable diamonds and gems in the world—the watches on display were big and bold with plenty of diamonds and gems. Gold and DLC were used for bezels shaped in a notable faceted motif that has the appearance of a single diamond, with lugs serving as prongs that would hold the “diamond” in place. These are more than just show pieces, however, as the majority of these watches contain branded calibers and high-end complications.

Even when adding the bling factor, there’s also a refinement to the pieces, a notable design trait of Graff products.

MasterGraff Minute Repeater Tourbillon
This 47mm mechanical timepiece showcases two horological complications. The dial is made of mother of pearl dial in a radial-carved motif. In addition to navy blue, the dial is available in black and white. The minute repeater element is triggered by an upward push on a slide positioned on the side of the case. Two hammers striking two gongs sound the hours, quarter hours and minutes. A flying tourbillon is revealed at 6 o’clock encircled by a small seconds disc. It’s limited to 100 pieces.


Diamond MasterGraff Tourbillon (top photo)
The mechanical movement of this 45mm watch has complications that include a tourbillion displayed at 9 o’clock. But really, this timepiece is about Graff’s diamond expertise. A total of 634 diamonds in 20 shapes weighing 47 carats were used to cover the watch. The dial features a radiating pattern of baguette cut diamonds, with the 120 hour power reserve displayed in emerald, yellow sapphire and ruby. Emeralds circle the dial, acting as hour markers. The case and strap are covered with more diamonds in Graff’s patented mosaic design, framed by diamond set lugs and baguette links. It’s limited to 30 pieces.

GraffStar Grand Date
The Graff Caliber 1 mechanical movement, made in Switzerland for Graff, powers this watch. Along with hours and minutes, the movement provides the date– shown in large numerals at 12 o’clock, the seconds on a sub-dial at 9 and a 50-hour power reserve indicator at 6. The DLC case (also available in white and rose gold) is faceted to appear as a single diamond with the lugs serving as prongs. The dial is in black guilloché with a multi-level design and gold indicators. It is limited to 100 pieces.

 

GraffStar Slim
The black dial set with a triangular emerald at 12 o’clock has gold hour markers set in gold. Inside the 43mm white gold case is the mechanical Graff Calibre 3 Swiss movement. The faceted case has a thickness of 6.35mm. It is also available in rose and with a white dial.

ChronoGraff 45mm
The black dial has a guilloché pattern that contrasts against gold disks that move to reveal each chronograph indicator and the 60 second dial. At 12 o’clock is a triangular emerald marker. It’s housed in Graff’s signature faceted case, available in various combinations of yellow gold, white gold and DLC. The dial also is available in white. It’s limited to 300 pieces.

Please join me on the Jewelry News Network Facebook Page, on Twitter @JewelryNewsNet and on the Forbes Website.

Diamond MasterGraff Tourbillon

Graff Diamonds doesn’t sell wholesale or deal with the watch and jewelry trade. So there was no reason for the brand founded by Laurence Graff to have a presence at Baselworld 2013. However, company representatives did come to Basel during the fair to show its newest collection of luxury timepieces to press members in a nearby hotel suite.

As one would expect from the London-based jeweler—known for purchasing some of the most valuable diamonds and gems in the world—the watches on display were big and bold with plenty of diamonds and gems. Gold and DLC were used for bezels shaped in a notable faceted motif that has the appearance of a single diamond, with lugs serving as prongs that would hold the “diamond” in place. These are more than just show pieces, however, as the majority of these watches contain branded calibers and high-end complications.

Even when adding the bling factor, there’s also a refinement to the pieces, a notable design trait of Graff products.

MasterGraff Minute Repeater Tourbillon
This 47mm mechanical timepiece showcases two horological complications. The dial is made of mother of pearl dial in a radial-carved motif. In addition to navy blue, the dial is available in black and white. The minute repeater element is triggered by an upward push on a slide positioned on the side of the case. Two hammers striking two gongs sound the hours, quarter hours and minutes. A flying tourbillon is revealed at 6 o’clock encircled by a small seconds disc. It’s limited to 100 pieces.


Diamond MasterGraff Tourbillon (top photo)
The mechanical movement of this 45mm watch has complications that include a tourbillion displayed at 9 o’clock. But really, this timepiece is about Graff’s diamond expertise. A total of 634 diamonds in 20 shapes weighing 47 carats were used to cover the watch. The dial features a radiating pattern of baguette cut diamonds, with the 120 hour power reserve displayed in emerald, yellow sapphire and ruby. Emeralds circle the dial, acting as hour markers. The case and strap are covered with more diamonds in Graff’s patented mosaic design, framed by diamond set lugs and baguette links. It’s limited to 30 pieces.

GraffStar Grand Date
The Graff Caliber 1 mechanical movement, made in Switzerland for Graff, powers this watch. Along with hours and minutes, the movement provides the date– shown in large numerals at 12 o’clock, the seconds on a sub-dial at 9 and a 50-hour power reserve indicator at 6. The DLC case (also available in white and rose gold) is faceted to appear as a single diamond with the lugs serving as prongs. The dial is in black guilloché with a multi-level design and gold indicators. It is limited to 100 pieces.

 

GraffStar Slim
The black dial set with a triangular emerald at 12 o’clock has gold hour markers set in gold. Inside the 43mm white gold case is the mechanical Graff Calibre 3 Swiss movement. The faceted case has a thickness of 6.35mm. It is also available in rose and with a white dial.

ChronoGraff 45mm
The black dial has a guilloché pattern that contrasts against gold disks that move to reveal each chronograph indicator and the 60 second dial. At 12 o’clock is a triangular emerald marker. It’s housed in Graff’s signature faceted case, available in various combinations of yellow gold, white gold and DLC. The dial also is available in white. It’s limited to 300 pieces.

Please join me on the Jewelry News Network Facebook Page, on Twitter @JewelryNewsNet and on the Forbes Website.

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Laurence Graff Buys 50-Ct. Diamond for Third Time, Pays $8.3 Million

50-ct. Graff diamond. Photo credit: CHRISTIE'S IMAGES LTD.

A 50-carat, rectangular-cut, D-color, potentially flawless diamond ring by Graff sold for $8.37 million at Christie’s New York Magnificent Jewels auction Tuesday. The buyer? Laurence Graff.

“This is the third time that I have owned this beautiful diamond and I am as thrilled today as I was the first time. Diamonds of this exceptional caliber have a life and legacy that carries on beyond us all,” Graff said in a statement after the sale. “This is one of the finest D-color diamonds in the world and I am delighted to have it back again.”

The diamond’s estimated sale price was $7-10 million. It sold for $167,400 per carat.

3.15-ct. reddish-orange diamond. Photo credit: CHRISTIE'S IMAGES LTD.

The final lot of the auction was a rare fancy reddish-orange diamond of 3.15 carats. The stone is the largest reddish orange diamond ever graded at the Gemological Institute of America. Exhibiting two of the rarest hues in the world of diamonds, the price soared beyond its low estimate of $700,000 to sell for nearly $2.1 million, setting a new world auction record for a reddish-orange diamond and a new per-carat record price of $666,200.

 Earlier in the sale, Christie’s realized a new per-carat record for a Kashmir sapphire at auction, with the sale of an 8.91 carat sapphire for $1.37 million, or $154,000 per carat (pictured left).

The day-long sale realized a total of $32.5 million, with sell-through rates of 84 percent by lot and 86 percent by value. This sale result, combined with results from Christie’s New York jewels auctions in April, June and October, brings the 2012 New York jewelry auction total to more than $163 million, the auction house estimated. The full 2012 total for the jewelry category will be announced in January 2013 as part of Christie’s annual corporate figures release.

10.5-ct. ring set with a rectangular-cut diamond flanked on either side by three baguette-cut diamonds mounted in platinum. Gemological Institute of America report states that the diamond is D color, VVS1 clarity. Estimate $800,000 - $1.2 million. Price realized, $938,500. Photo credit: CHRISTIE'S IMAGES LTD.

For the year in New York, Christie’s said it sold 29 jewels over the $1 million mark, of which four jewels sold for more than $7 million. In April, Christie’s sold a collection of 17 Art Deco period jewels from the estate of the reclusive American copper heiress Huguette M. Clark. The sale realized $20.8 million and saw a new U.S. auction record achieved for The Clark Pink, the most expensive pink diamond ever sold at auction in the United States.

Art Deco sapphire and diamond Bracelet by Paul Flato. Designed as an openwork rectangular-cut sapphire and diamond bricklink band, mounted in platinum, circa 1935. Estimate $120,000 - $180,000. Price realized, $338,500. Photo credit: CHRISTIE'S IMAGES LTD.

Diamond and onyx cuff bracelet by Verdura. The wide onyx cuff set at the top with an old mine and rose-cut diamond plaque, mounted in silver and gold. Estimate $35,000 - $55,000. Price realized, $47,500. Photo credit: CHRISTIE'S IMAGES LTD.

 Please join me on the Jewelry News Network Facebook Page, on Twitter @JewelryNewsNet and on the Forbes Web site.

50-ct. Graff diamond. Photo credit: CHRISTIE'S IMAGES LTD.

A 50-carat, rectangular-cut, D-color, potentially flawless diamond ring by Graff sold for $8.37 million at Christie’s New York Magnificent Jewels auction Tuesday. The buyer? Laurence Graff.

“This is the third time that I have owned this beautiful diamond and I am as thrilled today as I was the first time. Diamonds of this exceptional caliber have a life and legacy that carries on beyond us all,” Graff said in a statement after the sale. “This is one of the finest D-color diamonds in the world and I am delighted to have it back again.”

The diamond’s estimated sale price was $7-10 million. It sold for $167,400 per carat.

3.15-ct. reddish-orange diamond. Photo credit: CHRISTIE'S IMAGES LTD.

The final lot of the auction was a rare fancy reddish-orange diamond of 3.15 carats. The stone is the largest reddish orange diamond ever graded at the Gemological Institute of America. Exhibiting two of the rarest hues in the world of diamonds, the price soared beyond its low estimate of $700,000 to sell for nearly $2.1 million, setting a new world auction record for a reddish-orange diamond and a new per-carat record price of $666,200.

 Earlier in the sale, Christie’s realized a new per-carat record for a Kashmir sapphire at auction, with the sale of an 8.91 carat sapphire for $1.37 million, or $154,000 per carat (pictured left).

The day-long sale realized a total of $32.5 million, with sell-through rates of 84 percent by lot and 86 percent by value. This sale result, combined with results from Christie’s New York jewels auctions in April, June and October, brings the 2012 New York jewelry auction total to more than $163 million, the auction house estimated. The full 2012 total for the jewelry category will be announced in January 2013 as part of Christie’s annual corporate figures release.

10.5-ct. ring set with a rectangular-cut diamond flanked on either side by three baguette-cut diamonds mounted in platinum. Gemological Institute of America report states that the diamond is D color, VVS1 clarity. Estimate $800,000 - $1.2 million. Price realized, $938,500. Photo credit: CHRISTIE'S IMAGES LTD.

For the year in New York, Christie’s said it sold 29 jewels over the $1 million mark, of which four jewels sold for more than $7 million. In April, Christie’s sold a collection of 17 Art Deco period jewels from the estate of the reclusive American copper heiress Huguette M. Clark. The sale realized $20.8 million and saw a new U.S. auction record achieved for The Clark Pink, the most expensive pink diamond ever sold at auction in the United States.

Art Deco sapphire and diamond Bracelet by Paul Flato. Designed as an openwork rectangular-cut sapphire and diamond bricklink band, mounted in platinum, circa 1935. Estimate $120,000 - $180,000. Price realized, $338,500. Photo credit: CHRISTIE'S IMAGES LTD.

Diamond and onyx cuff bracelet by Verdura. The wide onyx cuff set at the top with an old mine and rose-cut diamond plaque, mounted in silver and gold. Estimate $35,000 - $55,000. Price realized, $47,500. Photo credit: CHRISTIE'S IMAGES LTD.

 Please join me on the Jewelry News Network Facebook Page, on Twitter @JewelryNewsNet and on the Forbes Web site.

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