The 100.09-carat “Graff Vivid Yellow,” one of the largest fancy vivid yellow diamonds in the world, is expected to fetch $15 to $25 million at Sotheby’s Geneva auction of Magnificent Jewels and Noble Jewels to be held Tuesday at the Hôtel Beau-Rivage.
The following day Christie’s will be auctioning “The Blue,” at 13.22 carats it is the largest flawless vivid blue diamond in the world. It is estimated to fetch $21 to $25 million, leading to a return of statement colored diamonds on the international auction market.
Colorless diamonds will also hold the attention of buyers at Sotheby’s auction. The highlights include:
* A 70.33-carat D-color, flawless cushion brilliant-cut, type IIa diamond that is estimated to fetch $12 - $16 million.
* The Victory Diamond, named in honor of the Allied victory in World War II is a step-cut type IIa diamond weighing 31.34 carats, graded as potentially flawless. It formerly belonged to Florence Gould, known as one of the great collectors of jewelry in the 20th century. Its estimate is $5 - $8 million.
* A 103.46-carat round brilliant-cut diamond by Graff diamond is considered to be one of the largest known round diamonds in the world. Its estimate is $1.5 - $2.5 million.
The Sotheby’s sale also has a rich assortment of gemstones that includes the following:
* A ruby and diamond ring set with a 12.46-carat, cushion-shaped, Burmese ruby between triangular diamond shoulders. Its estimate is $2.8 - $4.8 million.
* A sapphire and diamond ring set with a 10.96-carat cushion-shaped Kashmir sapphire. The Swiss Gemmological Institute describes the stone as “velvety blue … due to very fine and subtle inclusions and a combination of well-balanced trace elements in the gemstone.” Its estimate is $1.2 - $1.6 million.
The auction will also include a selection of jewels from the collection of Flora Sassoon (1859 – 1936). She is known for successfully running her husband’s Bombay business after he died and for her social and philanthropic activates in turn-of-the-century London. Her collection included a diamond necklace, with an estimate of $400,000 - $700,000.
I will be attending the evening portion of Sotheby’s Geneva auction of Magnificent Jewels and Noble Jewels and if possible will be tweeting live from the event @JewelryNewsNet.
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