Sotheby's offers the most extraordinary jewels in the world
to discerning collectors looking for special designs dating from the 19th
century to the present day. Our auctions feature rare and iconic examples of
the artistic creativity of Cartier, Van Cleef & Arpels, Tiffany & Co.,
Bulgari, Harry Winston, JAR, Graff, David Webb, Verdura, Boucheron, Chaumet,
Suzanne Belperron, Boivin and Alexandre Reza, amongst others. The selection of
top quality white and coloured diamonds, coloured gemstones and natural pearls
is wide and varied, with many fresh-to-the-market examples from private collections,
such as Queen Marie Antoinette’s Pearl, sold in Geneva for $36.2 million, a world
record for a natural pearl.
Sotheby’s leads the greatest sales totals for auction since
2015, achieving $228 million total sales in Europe, higher than our nearest competitor.
Leading 2018’s record results was the historic sale of Royal Jewels from the
Bourbon Parma Family, with 100% sell through rate, achieving $53.1 million.
Sotheby’s has sold 4 out of the 5 most expensive jewels ever offered at
auction, led by the “CTF Pink Star”, a 59.60ct oval-cut Fancy Vivid Pink
Internally Flawless diamond sold at Sotheby’s Hong Kong in April 2017 for USD
$71.2 million, a world record price for any diamond or jewel. In May 2017,
Sotheby’s Geneva sold the Apollo & Artemis diamonds, a 14.54ct Fancy Vivid
Blue diamond and a 16ct Fancy Intense Pink diamond for USD $57.4 million, a
record price for a pair of earrings. The diamonds were renamed by the buyer
“The Memory and Dream of Autumn Leaves”.
The international team of Jewelry specialists at Sotheby’s
believes that Jewelry is the most personal of the decorative arts and that
these pieces tell a special story about the women who once owned them. Their
choices reflect their lifestyles, and often provide a fascinating glimpse into
another era. From noble and celebrity provenance to prominent philanthropic
families, we’ve been privileged to handle the jewels of many distinguished
women including the Duchess of Windsor, Brooke Astor, Ava Gardner, Jacqueline
Kennedy Onassis, Mrs. Charles Wrightsman, Maria Callas, Lily Marinho and Gina
Lollobrigida.
Our live and online Jewelry auctions are held throughout the
year in New York, Geneva, Hong Kong, London, Paris and Milan. In advance of our
forthcoming sales, we would be delighted to provide you with a free and
confidential jewelry valuation.