The year 2016 saw tremendous fluctuations on the gemstone auction scene. Some gems broke all records of earlier selling prices. On the other hand some of the very impressive gems failed even to sell. The trend of fancy color diamonds drawing astronomical bids continued all through the year. Blue as well as pink diamonds continued to be available for sale and continued to command soaring prices. Also amongst them, a rare green diamond green diamond was one of the top sellers of the year.
The Shirley Temple Blue diamond did not live up-to expectations and did not sell during Sotheby’s New York Magnificent Jewels sale held in April. It is a 9.54-carat fancy deep blue, potentially internally flawless, VVS2 diamond. The actress & American diplomat held it in her possession throughout her life. It was estimated to sell at between $25 and $35 million. However, the bids failed to reach the reserve price.
Then again, Sapphires & Rubies of proven provenance were coveted and sold for record prices.
Here are the top jewelry auction sales of 2016:
The Aurora Green is a 5.03-carat, rectangular-cut, fancy vivid green diamond of VS2 clarity surrounded by circular-cut pink diamonds. It sold for more than $16.8 million at Christie’s Hong Kong Magnificent Jewels sale in May. It became the most expensive green diamond ever sold at auction at the time. Hong Kong-based manufacturer & retailer Chow Tai Fook Jewelry bought the gemstone.
An unnamed but exceptional 7.32-carat pear-shaped fancy vivid blue diamond with internally flawless clarity sold for more than $17.1 million at Sotheby’s Geneva Magnificent Jewels & Noble Jewels Sale in May.
This superlative jewelry piece is a colored diamond ring set with a cut-cornered rectangular mixed-cut fancy intense blue diamond. The diamond weighs approximately 24.18 carats and is flanked on either side by a tapered baguette-cut diamond, weighing a total of approximately 2.36 carats. The ring is size 6, mounted in platinum and inscribed ‘Cullinan Dream’. It was sold at Christie’s New York Magnificent Jewels & the Cullinan Dream sale in May for more than $25.3 million.
The Unique Pink, an extremely rare 15.38-carat pear-shaped fancy vivid pink diamond sold for a world auction record price for any fancy vivid pink diamond, fetching more than $31.5 million at Sotheby’s Geneva Magnificent Jewels and Noble Jewels sale in May. The dazzling diamond of outstanding color, set in a simple ring, sold to an Asian private buyer bidding for the rare precious-stone over the phone.
The Oppenheimer Blue, a 14.62-carat fancy vivid blue rectangular-cat diamond diamond made history by achieving a stunning $58 million in sale, during Christie’s Geneva Magnificent Jewels sale in May. Named in honor of the previous owner & connoisseur, Sir Philip Oppenheimer from the De Beers family, the Oppenheimer Blue, was the largest Fancy Vivid Blue diamond to ever come to auction at the time.
A 17.07-carat fancy intense pink diamond with a step-cut sold for $18.3 million at Sotheby’s Geneva Magnificent Jewels and Noble Jewels sale in November. The breathtaking pink diamond, set in a ring between triangular white diamonds, cruised past both its pre-sale estimate & the winning bid for the “Sky Blue” diamond touted as the star of the event. This diamond is of Natural Color, with VVS1 Clarity and the potential to be internally flawless.
A 9.14-carat fancy vivid pink VS2 pear-shaped diamond sold for more than $18.2 million at Christie’s Geneva Magnificent Jewels sale in November. Pre- sale estimate by Christie’s for this diamond was $16 million to $18 million, or $1.75 million to $1.97
million per carat.
Miroir de l’Amour (Mirror of Love), a pair of 52.55- and 50.47-carat pear-shaped D color, flawless type IIa diamond earrings, by Boehmer et Bassenge sold for nearly $17.7 million at Christie’s Geneva Magnificent Jewels sale in November. They are a pair of stunning diamond earrings featuring the world’s largest pair of pear-shaped, D Flawless diamonds with symmetrical cut. Weighing 52.55 & 50.47 carats respectively, the diamonds show a rare degree of perfection.
An 8.01-carat fancy vivid blue diamond, named as “The Sky Blue Diamond” to accentuate its rare hue, was snapped up for $17.1 million, at Sotheby’s Geneva Magnificent Jewels and Noble Jewels in November. The gem is an 8.01-carat fancy vivid blue diamond mounted on a diamond ring designed by Cartier. It is flanked by brilliant-cut & baguette diamonds in a geometric mount.
Or Learn About More Colored Diamonds As Follows:
See Also:
Fascinating Facts About Diamonds Straight From Tiffany & Co’s Chief Gemologist
