Christie's Magnificent Jewels Auction

Featured as a highlight of Christie's upcoming Magnificent Jewels auction, this gorgeous Belle Epoque turquoise and diamond necklace once belonged to Dame Nellie Melba. Photo courtesy Christie's.   Christie's Magnificent Jewels auction opens for bidding on November 12th in Geneva. Offerings include D flawless and colored diamonds, Burmese rubies, Kashmir sapphires, and untreated Colombian emeralds. In addition, Christie's presents a selection of signed and timeless pieces from the Belle Epoque, Art Deco, and Mid-Century eras of jewelry. Finally, they offer a beautiful selection of contemporary jewels from renowned designers from around the globe.  

Magnificent Gemstones

Leading the sale, a gorgeous Fancy Deep Blue Diamond ring mounted by Moussaieff. Weighing an astonishing 7.03 carats, this rectangular cut diamond, classified as a type IIb diamond, features VVS2 clarity and Fancy Deep Blue color. The exceptional rarity of this diamond translates to an estimated price point of between $10 and $14 million. Lot 20 features an incredible Kashmir sapphire and white diamond ring. Mounted in white gold, a cushion-shaped blue sapphire sits surrounded by a mid-century design including wrap-overs inlaid with white single-cut diamonds. Aged at 28 million years old, this truly exceptional sapphire shows no evidence of heat treatment or clarity enhancement. Also on offer, Lot 257, a flawless, D color, pear-shaped diamond pendant weighing a massive 40.18 carats! This gorgeous diamond pendant serves as the final offering in the Magnificent Jewels Geneva auction.  

Magnificent Jewels

Christie's highlights the exceptional Art Deco period, which brought forth many transformable jewels. For example, Lot 245, a superb bandeau. Crafted in platinum and set with cushion, old and baguette-cut diamonds, this exquisite jewel features a four-in-one option. It transforms into a choker, two bracelets, or a brooch, as well as its initial design as a bandeau. Another gorgeous transformable jewel, Lot 175, the intriguing 'Zip' necklace by Van Cleef & Arpels. Designed as a necklace in an intricate setting of yellow gold and diamonds, the necklace zips up for wear as a bracelet. Yet another offering of magnificence, Lots 185 - 187 all hail from the Belle Epoque era. Each piece features turquoise beads set against a backdrop of glistening white diamonds. Three brooches, a delicate necklace, and finally an elaborate necklace featured in the photo above. Dame Nellie Melba transformed herself into an icon of Australian culture. In pursuit of a career in singing, she trained in Paris with an operatic star. To international acclaim, she went on to perform in London, New York, Egypt, Russia, and, of course, her homeland of Australia.  

Modern Magnificence

Christie's Magnificent Jewels auction also includes a number of contemporary jewels fashioned by today's leading jewelers. With offerings from Bulgari, Harry Winston, Tiffany, and of course my favorite, JAR. Lot 136, an incredible emerald and diamond bow ring and a pair of pear-shaped diamond earrings. The emerald bow ring is a vision in bendy-appearing black metal set in JAR's inimitable style with circular-cut emeralds and single-cut white diamonds. Each of the earrings features a pear-shaped diamond drop hanging from a mount set with marquise-, pear-, and circular-cut diamonds. The exclusivity of JAR, as well as the incredible techniques he employs, make these jewels a rare and important opportunity for collectors. Ahead of the sale, Christie's offers public viewing of the most important of these Magnificent Jewels. Visitors to the Four Seasons Hotel des Bergues in Geneva have the opportunity to see these jewels in person from November 7 through November 12, 2019. To plan your visit, I invite you to view Christie's website. ~Angela Magnotti Andrews