Rings

the was auctioned by Sotheby for a massive US$83m in Geneva, Switzerland, in November 2013. However, after the buyer defaulted, Sotheby’s re-acquired Lords of the ring the diamond. Upward Curve visits auction houses Sotheby’s and Christie’s to marvel at five of The Oppenheimer Blue the world’s most expensive ring-mounted jewels ever auctioned Diamond is a sensational, 14.62- rectangular-cut coloured diamond ring (Fancy Vivid Blue/VVS1), flanked on either side by a trapeze-shaped diamond and set in the original ‘Eight Blades’ platinum ring mount by Verdura. It sold for $58,002,681 ($3,935,826 per carat) with Christie’s in Geneva in May 2016, attesting to the rarity and provenance of the stone. Further accompanied by a hardbound monograph from the GIA Gemological Institute of America, it features additional photography, data collection charts and gemological research. ➤

elcome to the blue blood auction sales (the rest comes from The 59.60-carat flawless diamond of the elite mineral; private sales they broker). is oval in shape and mounted W the diamond. Where Below are five of the most on a ring. Measuring there is a rare diamond, one can expensive lot prices for a ring- 2.69cm by 2.06cm, expect Sotheby’s and Christie’s mounted jewel ever sold. Special to be selling it. The two largest mentions also go to rings sold by houses of the western world have Christie’s (lot prices in brackets been in business for a combined rounded to the nearest $m); The 522 years. Sotheby’s is a British Cullinan Dream ($25m), Winston multinational corporation head- Blue ($24m) and The Aurora quartered in New York. Christie’s, Green ($17m) – the latter, a with its primary premises in regular-cut coloured diamond ring, St James’, London, is a private (5.03 ct. Fancy Vivid Green/VS2) company owned by a French going for $3.34m per carat. luxury-goods billionaire, ​The ‘CTF Pink Star’, a Fancy François Pinault. Vivid Pink Internally Flawless The majority of the most diamond weighing 59.60 carats prolific jewellery auctions take sold for $71,192,517 ($1,194,505 place in Hong Kong, Geneva, New per carat) in Sotheby’s Hong York and London, with around Kong in April this year. This was 750 auctions a year (across all the world auction record for any strands of the business) in more diamond or gemstone. than 80 categories between them. Together they run over 140 offices Above: The Pink Star is in 40 countries, and have 22 a stunning piece of jewellery salerooms. They amass something Right: The Blue Moon of in the region of $6bn a year in Josephine sold for almost $50m

74 Upward Curve July-September 2017 Portfolio RINGS

– per carat – currently sits with division, set a record for the Left: The Unique Pink broke The ‘Blue Moon of Josephine’, highest-ever price per carat and a the world record auction The ‘Graff Pink’ is a Fancy a sensational Internally Flawless it made the diamond both the price for a Fancy Vivid Pink Intense weighing Fancy Vivid Blue diamond, most expensive jewel ever sold Diamond Below: The Graff Pink 24.78 carats. It was sold for weighing 12.03 carats. It sold at auction and the world’s most was auctioned at Sotheby’s in $46,158,674 ($1,862,739 per for $48,468,158 ($4,028,941 expensive diamond, regardless November 2010 Bottom left: carat) at a Sotheby’s auction in per carat) at Sotheby’s in of color. The diamond exhibits The Oppenheimer Blue is Geneva in November 2010 at Geneva in November 2015. The red phosphorescence when auctioned for more than a then-world-record auction price 2.406g blue diamond, described observed under ultraviolet light. $58m at Christie’s in Geneva for a pink diamond. The majestic as ‘flawless’ by experts, was ‘The Unique Pink’ was the star 24.78-carat pink diamond is one discovered in South Africa in lot of the Sotheby’s Magnificent exceptionally pure structure. No of the very few flawless January 2014. The diamond is Jewels & Noble Jewels auction surprises that it went for a world existing in the world. The diamond the largest cushion-shaped blue in Geneva in May 2016. The auction record for a Fancy Vivid was sold to the British billionaire stone classified as ‘fancy vivid’ stone combines an exceedingly Pink Diamond at $31,561,200 jeweller Laurence Graff in 2010 ever to appear at auction. The rare and sought-after Fancy ($2,052,094 per carat). “When who named it ‘The Graff Pink.’ ‘Blue Moon’ sale, according Vivid pink colour (Type 2a), I first saw the ‘Unique Pink’ The world auction record for to David Bennett, the head a remarkable 15.38-carat weight, diamond the colour really did jump any diamond or any gemstone of Sotheby’s international jewellery as well as stunning clarity and an out at me,” explained Joanna Hardy in The Daily Telegraph. “To think nature has created this gem is quite awe-inspiring.” The diamond was cut by Cora International, a company known worldwide for producing rare diamonds of large sizes and vivid fancy colours. ■

76 Upward Curve July-September 2017