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.

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52-Carat Golconda Diamond Sells For $10.9 Million

A rare 52.58-carat D-color internally flawless Golconda diamond fetched $10.9 million at Wednesday’s Christie’s New York Magnificent Jewels auction.

Diamonds from the ancient Golconda mines in India are revered for their type, color and degree of transparency that is rarely duplicated.

In addition, a collection of Leviev diamond jewelry under the heading “Property of an Elegant Lady” was sold for $10.2 million, led by a 26.72-carat D color internally flawless diamond that sold for $4.3 million.

The 495-lot auction, the final jewelry sale of the year for the auction house, realized more than $65.7 million, with 86 percent sold by lot and 92 percent by value. The results of the December Sale in combination with the results achieved by the New York jewelry auctions in April and October, brings the 2013 New York Magnificent Jewels total to nearly $193.9 million.

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Christie’s Hong Kong Auction Sets Several Records

A pair of round diamonds and emerald ear pendants both set auction records at Christie’s Hong Kong Magnificent Jewels sale Tuesday.

The auction brought in $82.7 million, the most ever for a jewelry auction in Hong Kong, said said Vickie Sek, director of Christie’s Asia Jewellery and Jadeite Department. Fine colored stones and natural pearls “fetched extremely strong prices.”

A total of 241 of the 310 offered were sold (78 percent) and 79 percent were sold by price.

A pair of near identical round diamonds (top picture) combined for the two top lots of the sale. A 35.77-carat D flawless type IIa brilliant-cut diamond fetched $8.27 million ($231,000 per carat). A 35.61-carat D flawless type IIa brilliant-cut diamond sold for $8.1 million ($228,000 per carat). The combined $16.4 million achieved for the two diamonds was the highest price ever for colorless diamonds in Asia, Sek said.

In addition, a pair of 25.38- and 23.12-carat cushion-shaped Columbian ear pendants (pictured above) fetched more than $4 million ($83,000 per carat), a world record for emerald-cut earrings.

Other big sales include the following:

A 26.41-carat cushion-shaped Kashmir sapphire and diamond brooch fetched more than $3.8 million, or $145,000 per carat.

A 52.12-ct. Burmese ruby and diamond cluster necklace by JW Currens that sold for more than $3.7 million.

A natural colored pearl and diamond bead necklace that sold for $3.1 million.

 

A 43.26-carat, cushion-shaped fancy vivid yellow diamond ring that sold for $2.64 million, or $61,000 per carat.

Christie’s To Offer 52-Carat Golconda Diamond

Christie’s New York will be offering a 52.58-carat D-color internally flawless diamond from the fabled Golconda mine, revered for producing diamonds of a type, color, and degree of transparency that is rarely duplicated. It has a high estimate of $12.5 million.

The octagonal diamond with “superior polish” is the top attraction among 500 lots being offered at the December 10 Magnificent Jewels sale at Christie’s Rockefeller Center headquarters.

The auction is expected to achieve in excess of $45 million and will include jewels by several private collections, including four pieces of diamond jewelry created by the Leviev diamond company. The top item among the four pieces is a cushion-cut D-color internally flawless diamond ring of 26.72 carats mounted in platinum, flanked on either side by a shield-shaped diamond. It has a high estimate of $6 million.

In addition, there’s a diamond pendant necklace with a suspended 22.12-carat pear-shaped d-color, VVS1 diamond. The necklace has a high estimate of $3.5 million.

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Sun-Drop Sells for a Record-Breaking $12.3 Million

The 110.03-carat Sun-Drop Diamond fetched $12.3 million Tuesday at Sotheby’s Sale of Magnificent Jewels in Geneva.The auction house said the price paid for what is considered to be the largest known pear-shaped fancy vivid yellow diamond in the world set a world auction record for yellow diamonds.

The previous record for a yellow diamond was achieved by “The Vivid Yellow,” a 32.77-carat pear‐shaped fancy vivid yellow diamond, VS2, which sold for nearly $6.6 million at Christie’s New York in October. The previous world auction record price per carat for an emerald was achieved by a 10-carat emerald ring, sold for $113,000 per carat, at Christie’s Hong Kong in May 2000.

The Sun-Drop is graded fancy vivid yellow, the highest color grading for a yellow diamond, and has a purity of VVS1. The stone was exhibited earlier this year at London’s Natural History Museum. The rough for the Sun‐Drop was discovered in South Africa in 2010, and was cut and polished by Cora International, a New York diamond manufacturer.

The sale of diamonds, gemstones and jewelry took in nearly $70.2 million with a sell‐through rate of 82 percent by lot. It was one of Sotheby’s highest totals ever for a jewelry auction.

“We are thrilled with the price achieved by this spectacular daffodil yellow diamond; it is one of the most impressive I have had the pleasure of selling,” said David Bennett, chairman of Sotheby’s Jewellery Department in Europe and the Middle East and co‐chairman of Sotheby’s Switzerland. “Today’s strong sell‐through rates are a reflection of the continued strength and resilience of the international jewelry market.”

Other colored diamonds and gemstones that achieved strong results included:

* A 38.88-carat, cushion‐shaped diamond that fetched nearly $7 million. The D color, flawless clarity stone is part of the Type IIa subgroup, which comprise less than 2 percent of all gem diamonds. They are chemically the purest of all diamond crystals and often have extraordinary optical transparency.

* A 4.16-crata fancy vivid blue cut‐cornered rectangular modified brilliant‐cut diamond sold for $4.2 million.

* A 12.01-carat Muzo emerald which sold for $1.4 million, smashing its pre‐sale estimate of $400,000 to 600,000 and setting a per carat record price for emeralds at auction.

Top selling period and signed jewels included:

* A Cartier natural pearl and diamond necklace designed in the 1930s, which sold for $3.3 million, smashing its pre-auction estimate of $765,000 to $1.2 million.

* A 1987 JAR rock crystal and diamond brooch, which sold for $370,874.

* A 1984 JAR morganite and diamond pendent, which sold for $370,874, beating auction estimates.

World Record for a Colorless Diamond: 76-Carat Archduke Joseph Diamond Sells For $21.5 Million

The 76-carat diamond is considered is the largest D-color, Internally Flawless diamond from the historic Golconda region. It was the property of the Archduke Joseph August of Austria, Palatine of Hungary (1872-1962). Photo credit: Tony Falcone

A large, D-color, Internally Flawless diamond with outstanding pedigree in origin and ownership sold for $21.5 million at Christie’s Geneva Magnificent Jewels auction on Tuesday, setting a world record for the sale of a colorless diamond.

The 76-carat Archduke Joseph Diamond was sold to a phone bidder during the auction held at the Four Seasons Hotel des Bergues, Geneva. The unmounted, cushion-shaped gem is from the historic Golconda region of India, one of the oldest diamond mining regions in the world and where some of the most storied diamonds on earth were discovered. The Gemological Institute of America said it is the largest D-color, IF diamond it ever graded from the historic region. It was the property of the Archduke Joseph August of Austria, Palatine of Hungary (1872-1962), a member of the House of Habsburg. 

“I am thrilled but not surprised that the Archduke Joseph Diamond should have fetched such a high price,” said the former owner of the diamond, Alfredo J. Molina, CEO of America’s Black, Starr & Frost jewelers. “I was blessed to be the Archduke’s guardian and champion for the past 13 years, and indeed it has become part of my very identity.”

The auction took in more than $85 million, selling 84 percent by lot and 86 percent by value. This result, combined with the total achieved for the category in May, concludes the most successful year for Christie’s jewelry department in Switzerland, with annual sales exceeding $195.2 million.  

Highlights of the sale include: 

A Pair of Unmounted Brilliant-Cut Diamonds. The twin gems sold in separate lots each for $2.1 million. The diamonds were each 25.28 carats and have identical G color, VVS1 clarity characteristics. Each gem also has the same estimate of $2.3 million to $2.5 million.

Photo Credit: CHRISTIE'S IMAGES LTD. 2012

Colored Diamond and Diamond Brooch by Wartski. The shield shaped fancy intense blue diamond center, SI1clarity, weighing approximately 3.33 carats, flanked on either side by single old-cut pear-shaped diamonds with a suspended diamond. Wartski, the London antique jeweler, is a “royal warrant of appointment” for the British Royal Family. Estimate: $1 million - $1.4 million. Sold for $2.4 million.

Photo Credit: CHRISTIE'S IMAGES LTD. 2012

Sapphire and Diamond ‘Transcendence’ Butterfly Brooch by Cindy Chao. The body of the pavé-set diamond butterfly is a pentagonal-cut diamond, weighing approximately 3.01 carats, the wings are enhanced by briolette diamonds, sapphire beads and vari-cut sapphires. It is mounted in titanium and gold and signed by artist.

Photo credit: Denis Hayoun - Diode SA

Bulgari Art Deco Sapphire and Diamond Sautoir. The circa 1930s baguette and circular-cut diamond geometric pendant is centered upon a star sapphire, suspended from a sautoir composed of cabochon sapphire and diamond cluster panels with diamond collet connecting links. Estimate: $320,000 - $530,000. Sold for $662,483.

A 70-carat unmounted rectangular-cut fancy vivid yellow diamond failed to sell. It had an estimate of $3.1 million to $5 million. 

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The Pink Star Diamond Fetches World Auction Record Of $83 Million

The 59.6-carat Pink Star diamond lived up to its hype by selling for a world record price of approximately $83.4 million at Sotheby’s Geneva Magnificent Jewels sale Wednesday.

When introducing the internally flawless fancy pink vivid diamond, David Bennett, chairman of Sotheby’s Jewellery Division in Europe and the Middle East, called it “one of the most remarkable gems to ever appear at auction.”

Bidding opened at 48 million Swiss francs and gradually climbed to 64 million Swiss francs. After a pause it quickly climbed to 67 million francs ($73.2 million), shattering its $60 million high estimate. Nervous laughter could be heard on Sotheby’s live feed as the bidding slowly pushed up to the winning bid 68 million Swiss francs. Commission fees pushed the final total to more than 76.3 million Swiss francs ($83.4 million).

The diamond is graded as Type IIa, which is rare for any pink diamond, much less one 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 of $2,155,332 is set by a 5-carat diamond, sold in Hong Kong in January 2009. The current record price for any colored diamond sold at auction is $2,398,151 per carat, for “the Orange,” a 14.82-carat fancy vivid orange diamond that sold a day earlier at Christie’s Geneva Magnificent Jewels auction. The per carat price for the The Pink Star has yet to be released and will be updated.

Cut by Steinmetz Diamonds over a period of nearly two years 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.

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World’s Largest Orange Diamond Sells For A World Record $35.5 Million

A 14.82-carat fancy vivid orange diamond set two world records as it sold for more than $35.5 million at Christie’s Geneva Magnificent Jewels sale held Tuesday.

Simply called “The Orange,” the gem set a world record for a fancy vivid orange diamond. And at $2,398,151 per carat, it also set a world record price per carat for any colored diamond sold at auction. It shattered its high estimate of $21 million.

“Time and again, a stone will appear on the market that is truly a miracle of nature,” said François Curiel, International head of Christie's Jewellery Department. “The 14.82-carat orange diamond is one such a stone, a rare gem, which will perhaps only be seen once in a lifetime. In the sale on Tuesday, it soared far above all previous records for any orange diamond ever sold at auction, placing The Orange among the greatest pinks and blues, which are traditionally the most appreciated colored diamonds.”

There was little question that the diamond was going to fetch a record price. It is believed to be easily the world’s largest orange diamond. It is approximately three times larger than the two other known large orange diamonds: The 5.54-carat “Pumpkin Diamond,” which was sold privately, and a 4.19 carat fancy vivid orange diamond sold at auction for a record price of $2.95 million in October 2011.

It was the last of the 286 lots that were up for sale at the auction held at the Four Seasons Hotel des Bergues. 

The bidding opened at 10 million Swiss francs and quickly reached $20 million francs before the bidding slowed and the increments of bids switched from 1 million francs to a half-million. It appeared on the Christie’s live Internet feed that several bidders were in the room competing with those on the phones. Applause followed the winning bid of 29 million francs ($31.6 million). The final total of $35,531,974 million includes fees and commissions.

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.

The Gemological Institute of America, which graded the diamond and issued its report, recently said: “Strongly colored diamonds in the orange hue range rarely exceed three or four carats in size when polished. (This diamond) is almost four times larger than that size range. In GIA’s colored diamond grading system, as the color appearance of strongly colored diamonds transitions from orangy yellow to orange the occurrence becomes progressively more rare—that is—the less yellow present the more rarely they occur.”

In the GIA report, the diamond was graded as VS1 clarity, and classified as a Type IA.

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Rapaport Auction Website for GIA Graded Diamonds

Martin Rapaport

The Rapaport Group has launched the Rapaport Certified Diamond Auction Web site offering continuous ongoing auctions of GIA graded diamonds.

The new platform creates a global marketplace providing a direct link between diamond cutters in the manufacturing centers and diamond buyers worldwide, the company said. It offers a transparent, liquid, cash market designed to attract investors. And it provides an unprecedented opportunity for consumers seeking to obtain fair market value for the diamonds they wish to sell.

“The new Rapaport Certified Diamond Auction platform creates an unprecedented opportunity for the diamond trade to establish and communicate fair market prices as it promotes efficient global trading of fine quality diamonds. Furthermore, it provides an opportunity for consumers and investors to obtain fair market value for the diamonds they wish to sell. This important new initiative supports the development of honest, free, fair, efficient and competitive diamond markets,” Martin Rapaport, Rapaport Group chairman, said in a statement.

Buyers and sellers of GIA graded, excellent to very good cut, Round, 0.50 to 10.00 ct., D-K, IF-VS2 diamonds can participate in the auction by registering at www.rapaport.com/certauctions. Additional information is available through Rapaport Auction Support at email auctions@rapaport.com or telephone +1-702-893-9400.

The Rapaport Group operates in compliance with the U.S. Patriot Act and OFAC regulations and does not trade in diamonds from Marange, Zimbabwe.

24-Ct. Graff Diamond Ring Could Fetch $3.5 Million at Auction

Graff diamond ring. Photo credit: Denis Hayoun - Diode SA

Superb jewels, top-quality colorless diamonds, rare gemstones, natural pearls, and signed jewels from Bulgari, Cartier, Boivin, Graff, JAR, Tiffany & Co, Van Cleef & Arpels and Harry Winston will be part of Christie’s Geneva Magnificent Jewels auction on November 16.

Several private collections also will be part of the auction at the Four Seasons Hotel des Bergues, including the collection of Richard Burton’s former wife, Susan Hunt Burton, and a private collection featured in a separate catalog: “Timeless Elegance - Important Jewels from the Collection of a European Family.” (Follow link to read more about this collection).

The top piece among the 360 lots for sale is a 24.30-ct. oval cut diamond ring by Graff. The D color, internally flawless gem is estimated to fetch $2.9 million to $3.5 million (top picture).

The auction of haute joaillerie is expected to fetch more than $50 million.

Diamond “en tremblant” flower brooch, by Bulgari, 1960s. Estimate $110,000 - $220,000. Photo credit: Denis Hayoun - Diode SA

Bulgari will command its own section of more than 40 lots in the upcoming sale. It amounts to the largest sale of Bulgari jewels since a Christie’s Geneva auction in 1993. Among the highlights is an emerald, ruby and diamond sautoir suspending a hexagonal-shaped emerald of 44.90 carats, dated from the 1970s and estimated at $270,000 – $360,000. Also for sale will be a diamond and yellow gold necklace estimated at $73,000 – $89,000.

Diamond and yellow gold necklace by Bulgari. Estimate $70,000 - $90,000. Photo credit: Denis Hayoun - Diode SA

Among the colored gemstones and diamonds to be offered are an 8.11-carat, oval-cut Burmese ruby estimated at $2 million – $2.5 million, a pair of Colombian pear-shaped emerald and diamond earrings, weighing 23.66 and 23.55 carats, estimated at $1.8 million – $2.5 million, and a 55.98-carat Kashmir cabochon sapphire mounted with diamonds as ring by Mouawad, estimated at $800,000 – $1.2 million. A 30.15-carat, D color, VS1 clarity, Type IIa pear-shaped diamond with an antique cut is estimated to sell at $1.9 million to $2.3 million.

Pair of detachable 7.60 & 7.57cts pear-shaped diamond and diamond ear pendants by Van Cleef & Arpels has an auction estimate of $1.5 million - $2 million. Photo credit: Denis Hayoun - Diode SA

Richard Burton, the Welsh actor of stage and screen, was at the height of his fame when he married Susan Hunt, an international model, in August 1976. Among the jewels from the Susan Burton collection are 6.17 carats oval-cut diamond ring (estimate: $56,000 – $78,000), an emerald and diamond necklace by Van Cleef & Arpels (Estimate: $45,000 – $67,000) and a two row cultured pearl, pink tourmaline and diamond necklace with cultured pearl, sapphire and ruby ear pendants (Estimate: SFr. $40,000 – $63,000).

Emerald, ruby and diamond sautoir suspending an hexagonal-shaped 44.90-ct. emerald by Bulgari has an auction estimate of $260,000 - $360,000. Photo credit: Denis Hayoun - Diode SA

From the “Property of a Royal House, Christie’s November sale will present three fancy yellow diamonds: a 79-carat cushion-shaped diamond ring weighing estimated $1.5 million – $2 million, a 67.54-carat, brilliant-cut diamond brooch estimated $1.4 million – $1.5 million and a 32.62-carat brilliant-cut diamond ring with an estimate of $700,000 – $800,000.

From what is billed as the “Estate of a Gentleman,” a selection of 19 jewels created by the famous Swiss jeweler Meister mainly in the 1960s and 1970s. Among the highlights are a diamond fringe necklace estimated at $230,000 – $330,000) and a gold, diamond ruby and emerald snake bracelet estimated at $14,000 – $17,000).

Mystery-Set sapphire and diamond leaf brooch by Van Cleef & Arpels, circa 1930s, has an auction estimate of $300,000 - $500,000. Photo credit: Denis Hayoun - Diode SA

A group of Period and Art Deco jewels featured in the sale is highlighted by a diamond necklace created by René Boivin, circa 1960, (estimate: $340,000 – $440,000) and an emerald and diamond bracelet mounted in platinum, 1930s, estimated at $400,000 – $600,000.

Two Flawless Diamonds May Fetch $18 Million at Hong Kong Auction

Leading Christie’s Hong Kong sale of Magnificent Jewels is a pair of unmounted round brilliant-cut D flawless diamonds, weighing 35.77 and 35.61 carats each. The auction house said it is the largest pair of its type to ever be offered at auction.

The diamond pair—each roughly the size of a cherry tomato—received a “Triple Excellent” rating for their polish, symmetry and cut grade. Adding to their allure is that they have also been determined to be Type IIa, the most chemically pure form of diamond showing exceptional appeal transparency. The Steinmetz Diamond Group, a leading diamond manufacturer and trader, cut this pair of diamonds, both of which were uncovered in South Africa.

“To find large pieces of colorless rough within the same timeframe represents an extremely rare occurrence,” Christie’s said. “To combine that with the vision to obtain a closely matched pair raises the project to new heights.” This pair was exhibited by Steinmetz at the Guggenheim in New York in December 2010.

Offered separately, the pre-auction estimate is $7 million to $9 million each.

The November 29 auction at the Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Centre will feature diamonds, colored gems, rare jadeite and signed jewels and is expected to bring in $75 million, said Vickie Sek, director of the Jewellery and Jadeite Department, Christie’s Asia.

Jewels by Harry Winston will be prominent in the sale. Leading the selection is an emerald and diamond brooch, originally purchased by a Texas oil-man and personal client to Mr. Winston who called upon the jeweler for a significant gemstone. Mr. Winston offered the man and his wife a choice: The 68.90 carat emerald or a 69.42 carat pear-shaped diamond. The wife chose the emerald, and the diamond went on to be acquired by Elizabeth Taylor and subsequently known as Taylor-Burton Diamond. For the emerald, Mr. Winston had his legendary designer, Ambaji Shinde, create the jewel. Auction estimate: $2 million – $3 million.

Among the selection of natural pearl jewels offered is a necklace of saltwater natural pearls boasting 16 matching button-shaped pearls of impressive size. Assembling such a finely-matched selection of natural pearls of this size and quality is rare and likely took decades, the auction house said. Estimate: $1.6 million to $2.25 million.

It wouldn’t be a Hong Kong auction without a strong selection of important jadeite. This sale is led by, “Three Friends of Winter,” a jadeite pendant necklace featuring a carved jadeite plaque that provides a rare balance of color, texture and translucency, the auction house said. Estimate: $2 million – $3 million.

A Big Pink and a Big Blue Diamond Fetched Big Bucks At Christie’s

Two fancy colored diamonds were the top sellers at Christie’s New York Magnificent Jewels sale Tuesday. Meanwhile, the diamond engagement ring that Kris Humphries gave to Kim Kardashian at the same sale made lots of noise but ended up only having the 12th highest sale price at $749,000.

The top lots among the 389 offered were:

* An 8.77-carat rectangular-cut fancy intense pink VVS1 diamond that sold for more than $6.3 million, or $721,200 per carat (top photo). The buyer was Moussaieff Jewellers, a luxury retail jeweler with stores in London and Geneva.

* A 3.81-carat rectangular-cut fancy vivid blue VS1 diamond that sold for nearly $4 million, or more than $1 million per carat (pictured above). The buyer requested anonymity.

The other top lots are as follows:

* A 25.30-carat rectangular-cut D color VVS1 diamond that sold for more than $3.1 million.

* An 18.28-carat cushion-cut D color VVS2 diamond that sold for more than $2 million.

* A 15.88-carat cushion-cut Kashmir sapphire that sold for more than $1.8 million.

* A 10.75-carat rectangular-cut D color internally flawless diamond that sold for nearly $1.4 million.

* A 17-carat rectangular-cut F color VS1 diamond ring that sold for more than $1.2 million. The ring was part of Diana Dollar Knowles Collection. Knowles, who died March 4 at the age of 95, was a noted San Francisco philanthropist and patron of the arts.

The auction at Christie’s Rockefeller Center headquarters took in more than $46.6 million with 75 percent of the items sold by lot and 85 percent sold by value.

However, the sale also notable for a number of big-ticket items that failed to sell. Among them:

* An 18k pink gold and platinum ring set with a 2.47-carat heart-shaped fancy purple-pink diamond and flanked on either side by a modified heart- shaped fancy intense blue diamond, weighing approximately 1.22 and 1.16 carats. Its high estimate was $1.55 million.

* A 37.20-carat modified pear-shaped fancy deep brown-yellow diamond mounted in 18k rose gold with a high estimate of $800,000.

* An 11.70-carat circular-cut diamond, with the shoulders set with baguette-cut diamonds, mounted in platinum that had a high estimate of $800,000.

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Kim Kardashian’s 20-Carat Engagement Ring Fetches $749,000 At Auction

Kris Humphries reportedly said he just wanted to move on so he can’t be too disappointed for the price his 20.5-carat diamond engagement ring to Kim Kardashian achieved at auction Tuesday.

The NBA basketball player, who paid a reported $2 million for the diamond and platinum ring for the reality TV star in 2011, saw the ring sell for $749,000 during Christie’s Magnificent Jewels auction. While the ring did not sell for its original price it did easily exceed the high auction estimate of $500,000.

Listed simply as an “Impressive Diamond Ring,” the ring designed by Lorraine Schwartz is set with a 16.21-carat rectangular-cut diamond with I color, VS1 clarity. The diamond is flanked on either side with a trapeze-cut diamond, each weighing approximately 1.80 carats. 

The celebrity couple separated after 72 days of marriage in 2011. The divorce became final in 2012.

Although reports started circulating as to the owner of the ring, the provenance wasn’t confirmed until an unidentified person representing Humphries told E! News that it was indeed being sold by him. 

“He has long-since moved on and is very much looking forward to a successful auction at Christie's on Tuesday, and of course to returning to the court this upcoming NBA season as a Boston Celtic,” the representative said in a statement to the entertainment news network.

Rahul Kadakia, head of Jewelry for Christie’s Americas and Switzerland, who led the auction, announced that a portion of proceeds will benefit a charity. 

Bidding began at $200,000 and quickly rose to $480,000. After a pause it went to $520,000. It then slowly climbed to reach a final bid of $620,000. Commission and fees bought the price of the ring to $749,000.

It was the last item of the morning session of the auction. It is scheduled to resume at 2:30 p.m.

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Largest Known Orange Diamond May Fetch $20 Million at Auction

The largest fancy vivid orange diamond ever to appear at auction will be the top lot in Christie’s Magnificent Jewels sale to be held in Geneva on November 12. Weighing approximately 14.82 carats, this diamond, being called “The Orange,” is expected to fetch between $17 million and $20 million.

Pure orange diamonds, also named ‘Fire diamonds’ by gemologist Edwin Streeter in his book The Great Diamonds of the World (1882), are exceptionally rare in nature. 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 less than 6 carats. “The Orange” is more than double that size.

At 5.54 carats, the Pumpkin diamond was largely considered to be the largest known fancy vivid orange diamond. It was purchased by Ronald Winston for $1.3 million and made into a ring by Winston and Phillip Bloch. Best Actress winner Halle Berry wore the ring to the 2002 Academy Awards.

A 4.19 carat fancy vivid orange diamond sold for a record price of $2.95 million in October 2011 at a Sotheby’s auction.

The Gemological Institute of America, which graded the diamond and issued its report, recently said: “Strongly colored diamonds in the orange hue range rarely exceed three or four carats in size when polished. (This diamond) is almost four times larger than that size range. In GIA’s colored diamond grading system, as the color appearance of strongly colored diamonds transitions from orangy yellow to orange the occurrence becomes progressively more rare—that is—the less yellow present the more rarely they occur.”

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Sotheby’s To Sell ‘Most Valuable Diamond Ever to be Offered at Auction’

The 59.60 carat Pink Star may fetch $60 million.

Sotheby’s Geneva will offer a 59.60-carat internally flawless vivid pink diamond at its Magnificent Jewels sale on November 13. Known as The Pink Star, the auction house says it is the most valuable diamond ever to be offered at auction. It is estimated to sell for more than $60 million. For those counting that’s more than $1 million per carat.

The oval cut gem is the largest internally flawless fancy vivid pink diamond that the Gemological Institute of America has ever graded, the auction house said.

David Bennett, chairman of Sotheby’s Jewellery Division in Europe and the Middle East and chairman of Sotheby’s Switzerland, said the diamond is one of the most important gems he has ever seen in his 35-year career.
 

“Its exceptional richness of color … combined with its extraordinary size, are characteristics that surpass those of any known pink diamond in state, royal, or private collections,” he said. “It is difficult to exaggerate the rarity of vivid pink diamonds weighing only five carats, so this 59.60 carat stone is simply off any scale, and passes, I believe, into the ranks of the earth’s greatest natural treasures.”

The diamond is also graded as Type IIa, rare for a pink diamond of this size and color. Cut over a period of two years, The Pink Star is still 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.

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19.51-Carat Harry Winston Diamond Ring May Fetch $1.8 Million

A Harry Winston platinum ring centered with an emerald-cut 19.51-carat diamond will be one of the top items being offered at Sotheby’s New York Important Jewels auction on September 24.

The ring, flanked by two triangle-shaped diamonds weighing 2.92 carats, has a pre-auction estimate of $1.2 - $1.8 million. It is from the family of George Rothman, the successful real estate developer and philanthropist who created the Rothman Foundation. It is the top lot among a collection of jewelry the family has put on sale that include pieces by Bulgari, David Webb and Van Cleef & Arpels.

The Harry Winston ring is one of three such rings that have high estimates of more than $1 million at the upcoming sale. The others are:

* A pear-shaped diamond weighing 15.10 carats, flanked by two smaller pear-shaped diamonds weighing approximately 2 carats will also appear in the sale with an estimate of $1.25 million - $1.75 million. The ownership is identified by the auction house as being from a New York estate.

* A 9.77-carat, cut-cornered rectangular step-cut diamond accented by small round diamonds weighing approximately 0.70 carat, and mounted on platinum. The ring, which is identified as the property of a lady from Texas, has an estimate of $800,000 to $1.2 million. 

Fancy colored diamonds have made their mark in recent years on the auction market and Sotheby’s leader in this category for the upcoming auction is a 1.08-carat pear-shaped fancy vivid blue diamond (pictured above), on a platinum mounting accented by round near colorless diamonds. This item has an estimate of $450,000 - $650,000.

The upcoming auction will also feature several pieces from the collection of Alex & Elisabeth Lewyt, featuring custom-designed and period pieces by French jewelers such as Schlumberger, Suzanne Belperron and René Boivin. Items of note from the Lewyt collection include:

* A platinum, palladium and diamond triple-band cuff-bracelet by Belperron (pictured above). It was worn by Elisabeth Lewyt on her wedding day. The bracelet has three tapered rows set with 75 old mine-cut diamonds weighing approximately 16.95 carats. It has an estimate of $40,000 to $60,000. 

* An 18k yellow gold reclining Labrador retriever brooch by René Boivin (pictured above). The torso, ears, paws and tail of the dog are set with numerous round and single-cut diamonds of near colorless, brown and yellow hues weighing approximately 28.95 carats. The collar is set with 19 buff-topped rubies. The eyes are made of two cabochon citrines and the nose and pads on the back paws are accented by a blackened gold. Its estimate is $70,000 - $90,000.

* A platinum and diamond double-clip pendant-brooch by Schlumberger, set with marquise-shaped diamonds weighing 5.22 and 5.28 carats, both E color, VS1 clarity; estimate $200,00 - $300,000.

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32-Ct. Fancy Vivid Yellow Diamond May Fetch $8M at Christie's Auction

The Vivid Yellow, a rare, highly saturated, fancy vivid yellow diamond of 32.77 carats will be the star lot of Christie’s New York Magnificent Jewels sale on October 18. The golden yellow hue of this large pear-shaped stone is so intense and so deep that the Gemological Institute of America ranks it among the rarest of gemstones in its class. The stone is expected to achieve in excess of $6 million.

“The Vivid Yellow literally blazes with color, unlike any yellow diamond I’ve ever seen,” said Rahul Kadakia, head of Jewelry for Christie’s Americas. “In the world of diamonds, a naturally colored stone of this incredible color and size represents a freak occurrence—an extremely rare geological phenomenon.”

Yellow diamonds gain their color from nitrogen replacing carbon atoms in the diamond’s structure. Where there is less nitrogen present, the resulting stone may be light or “faint” in color. In the case of The Vivid Yellow, the stone’s atoms absorbed an unusually high level of aggregated nitrogen, giving it a saturated golden yellow color.

The uncommon nature of this particular diamond’s color intensity has been reconfirmed by the GIA, whose gem laboratory is devoted to the grading and identifying of important diamonds. In its grading report for the stone, the GIA classifies the diamond as “Fancy Vivid”—the highest saturation one can find in a colored diamond. Only about one in 10 million diamonds possesses a color pure enough to qualify as fancy vivid.

In addition, the report notes that the original rough stone from which The Vivid Yellow was cut must have possessed an extraordinary intensity and thus required no modified faceting in the cutting process to help bring out the color.

“Large fancy vivid yellow diamonds such as this pear shape are rarely encountered at the GIA and come to market very infrequently,” the report states.

The unmounted diamond, which is about the size and shape of a guitar pick, will be part of Christie’s first major jewelry sale of the fall 2011 auction season, slated to take place October 18, at Christie’s Rockefeller Plaza flagship in New York. The international auction house said the stone has the potential to surpass the per-carat price of $203,000 achieved for The Golden Drop, a pear-shaped yellow diamond of 18.49 carats sold in 1990 at Christie’s London.

Christie’s has arranged a global preview tour of the diamond prior to its sale. The diamond will be on view at the following dates and locations:

Christie’s London, August 30 and 31

Christie’s Geneva, September 12 and 13

Christie’s Hong Kong, September 15 and 16

Christie’s New York, October 14 through 17

Seized 43-Ct. Fancy Yellow Diamond Up for Online Auction

The feds, in its duty, confiscate and sell many items but this one is quite a beauty: A 43.51-ct. fancy intense yellow diamond. This internally flawless cushion modified brilliant cut stone will be available for auction September 6 – 9 at online auction site, Bid4Assets. The minimum bid is set at $900,000 and is currently on preview on the auction website.

The diamond, which measures about an inch in length, was seized in a drug sting in 2006 by the U.S. Marshals Service Northern District of Ohio. The feds had the diamond authenticated by the GIA (REPORT 15154097, June 8). However, the origin of the diamond cannot be determined.

This diamond spans 1.42 length-to-width ratio. It has a pure yellow hue with no green or orange modifying color and the color distribution is very even with no visible zoning present, according to a joint statement from USMS and Bid4Assets. “The diamond is believed to be one of the world’s most perfect and flawless canary yellow diamonds.”

The diamond belonged to Ohio businessman Paul Monea, according to court documents. Monea was convicted of money laundering and conspiracy in 2007 in U.S. District Court in Akron. He tried to sell the gem, known as the “Golden Eye,” to undercover agents posing as  brokers for a South American drug cartel.

The USMS requires that bidders submit a refundable pre-bid deposit of $180,000 prior to placing a bid. Instructions for submitting the deposit can be found on the auction listing page.

There will be a viewing held for this diamond from August 29 till September 2 in Cleveland, Ohio. Only serious, qualified buyers who have submitted a deposit may view the diamond. To request an appointment time, send an email to Inspections@bid4assets.com. Interested buyers can contact Bid4Assets with any questions by sending an email to service@Bid4Assets.com or by calling 877-427-7387.