GENEVA: 16 November 2016: Deep bidding at Sotheby’s sale of Magnificent Jewels and Noble Jewels propelled today’s sale total to CHF 136,734,500 / US$ 136,428,215. This brings Sotheby’s 2016 sales of jewels in Geneva to a record high of CHF 307,753,125 / US$ 311,525,634 eclipsing last year’s record of CHF 289.4m / US$ 300m.

David Bennett, Worldwide Chairman of Sotheby’s International Jewellery Division, said: “Tonight’s result is a great finalé to what has been yet another phenomenal year for jewellery in Geneva. Earlier this year, in May, we set a world record for any jewellery sale, and tonight the momentum continued, making 2016 the second record year in a row for Geneva. The very best coloured diamonds of all hues remain highly desirable, but tonight pink and blue were undoubtedly the hottest colours accounting for many of the top prices this evening, with new records set for deep blue, fancy light blue and light pink diamonds, and with the fabulous Sky Blue diamond selling for US$ 17.1m - an increase of over 30% on the US$ 12.8m it realised at Sotheby’s in 2012.

PINK DIAMONDS
Leading today’s sale was the 17.07-carat emerald-cut Fancy Intense Pink diamond that soared over estimate to sell for CHF 20,825,000 / US$ 20,778,352 (US$ 1,217,244 per carat) (Lot 336, Est. CHF 11.81-14.76m / US$ 12-15m).
A breath-taking Internally Flawless Fancy Intense Pink diamond of 13.20 carats also captivated bidders to reach CHF 16,268,750 / US$ 16,232,308 (US$ 1,229,720 per carat) (Lot 329, Est. CHF 8.85-13.78m / US$ 9- 14m).
Both diamonds above (lots 336 and 329) were acquired by Graff Diamonds Limited today.

A new auction record was set this evening for any Fancy Light Pink Diamond when an impressive pear-shaped stone weighing 40.30 carats was purchased for CHF 7,550,000 / US$ 7,533,088 (US$ 186,925 per carat) (Lot 331, Est. CHF 5.9–9.83m / US$ 6-10m).

BLUE DIAMONDS
The exceptionally rare “Sky Blue Diamond”, a mesmerising Fancy Vivid Blue diamond weighing 8.01 carats, sold for CHF 17,112,500 / US$ 17,074,168 (US$ 2,131,607 per carat) (Lot 337, Est. CHF 14.76–24.59m/ US$ 15- 25m; please find more details here).

The enduring allure of blue diamonds was echoed in another strong price, that for the magnificent Fancy Deep Blue diamond ring. No fewer than nine bidders drove the price to CHF 13,737,500 / US$ 13,706,728 – a new record for a deep blue diamond of any kind (US$ 1,770,895 per carat). (Lot 298A, Est. CHF 8.85-13.78m/ US$ 9-14m).
A second record for a blue stone was broken tonight, this time for a Fancy Light Blue diamond, that sold for CHF 2,172,500 / US$ 2,167,634 (US$ 134,803 per carat) (Lot 311, Est. CHF 1.48-2.46m / US$ 1.5-2.5m).

For background: within the past two years alone, Sotheby’s has twice set a new world record auction price for any blue diamond, most recently with the only diamond or gemstone in auction history to have exceeded US$ 4 million per carat, the Blue Moon of Josephine (sold for US$ 48.5m / US$ 4,028,941 per carat in November 2015). That eclipsed the previous world auction set by Sotheby’s in November 2014 with the sale of the Zoe Diamond: a Fancy Vivid Blue Diamond weighing 9.75 carats that was offered from the collection of Mrs. Paul Mellon. It sold for a final price of US$ 32,645,000 (US$ 3,348,205 per carat).

Highest ever annual jewellery total for any auction house in Switzerland

SOTHEBY’S GENEVA JEWELS 2016 ANNUAL SALE TOTAL CHF 307.8M / US$ 311.5M
Previous record total for an annual jewellery total for any auction house in Switzerland:
Sotheby’s Geneva 2015
CHF 289,400,000 / US$ 300'476'152

World auction record price for a Fancy Deep Blue diamond
A Magnificent Fancy Deep Blue diamond weighing 7.74 carats,
SELLS FOR
CHF 13,737,500 / US$ 13,706,728 (US$ 1,770,895 per carat) Estimate: CHF 8,850,000-13,780,000 / US$ 9,000,000-14,000,000
Previous record for a Fancy Deep Blue diamond:
A Fancy Deep Blue briolette-cut diamond weighing 10.48 carats, Flawless, sold for US$ 10,860,146 (US$ 1,036,273 per carat) at Sotheby’s Geneva, November 2012

World auction record price for a Fancy Light Blue diamond
An Important Fancy Light Blue diamond weighing 19.08 carats,
SELLS FOR
CHF 2,172,500 / US$ 2,167,634 (US$ 134,803 per carat) Estimate: CHF 1,480,000-2,460,000 / US$ 1,500,000-2,500,000
Previous record for a price per carat Fancy Light Blue diamond:
A Fancy Light Blue pear-shaped diamond weighing 5.06 carats, VS2, sold for US$ 1,450,000 (US$ 286'561 per carat), at Sotheby’s New York, April 2016

World auction record price for a Fancy Light Pink diamond
An Important Fancy Light Pink diamond weighing 40.30 carats,
SELLS FOR CHF 7,550,000 /
US$ 7,533,088
(US $186,925 per carat) Estimate: CHF 5,900,000-9,830,000 / US$ 6,000,000-10,000,000
Previous record for a Fancy Light Pink diamond:
A Fancy Light Pink cushion-shaped diamond weighing 32.24 carats, VS1, sold for US$ 6,959,700 (US$ 215,872 per carat), at Christie’s London, July 1990