2021 – Gems & Jewellery auction highlights

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Sapphire Gems & Jewellery auction highlights 2021

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Harry Winston sapphire and diamond necklace — Harry Winston sapphire and diamond necklace. The sapphire is unheated and of Sri Lankan (Ceylon) origin and a ‘royal blue’ colour. Sold for ca. US$ 4,717,000 at Sotheby’s Geneva in May 2021. Photo: Sotheby’s.

1930s brooch with two unheated Kashmir sapphires — 1930s brooch with two unheated Kashmir sapphires weighing 55.19 ct and 25.97 ct. This brooch sold for ca. US$ 3,912,000 at Sotheby’s Geneva in May 2021. Photo: Sotheby’s.

Pair of unheated Kashmir sapphires — Pair of unheated Kashmir sapphires (8.93 ct and 8.76 ct) of 'royal blue' colour mounted in earrings sold at Christie’s Hong Kong for ca. US$ 3,186,000 in November 2021. Photo: Christie’s.

unheated Kashmir sapphire mounted in a Harry Winston ring — 28.37 ct unheated Kashmir sapphire mounted in a Harry Winston ring sold for ca. US$ 2,666,000 at Sotheby’s Hong Kong in October 2021. Photo: Sotheby’s.

Bracelet containing nine unheated Kashmir sapphires — Bracelet containing nine unheated Kashmir sapphires (29.89 ct total) sold by Christie’s Hong Kong in November 2021 for ca. US$ 2,648,000. Photo: Christie’s.

unheated Ceylon sapphire mounted in a Harry Winston necklace — 126.43 ct unheated Ceylon sapphire mounted in a Harry Winston necklace sold by Sotheby’s Geneva for ca. US$ 2,303,000 in May 2021. Photo: Sotheby’s.

Unheated Ceylon sapphire — Unheated Ceylon sapphire of 28.84 ct set in a ring sold for ca. US$ 461,000 at Sotheby’s Geneva in May 2021. Photos. Sotheby’s.

Ruby Gems & Jewellery auction highlights 2021

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Unheated Burmese ruby set in a Van Cleef & Arpels brooch — Unheated Burmese ruby set in a Van Cleef & Arpels brooch sold at Christie’s Geneva for ca. US$ 4,572,000 in November 2021.

Star ruby and diamond brooch by Van Cleef & Arpels — Star ruby and diamond brooch by Van Cleef & Arpels sold in October 2021 for ca. US$ 454,000 at Sotheby’s in Hong Kong. The nine star rubies show strong asterism, are of Burmese (Myanmar) origin, with no indications of heating. Photo: Sotheby’s.

Unheated Burmese ruby ring — Unheated Burmese ruby mounted in an F.J. Cooper ring fetched US$ 1,650,000 in April 2021 at Sotheby’s New York.

Unheated Burmese ruby mounted in a ring by Carvin — Unheated Burmese ruby of 13.02 ct mounted in a ring by Carvin sold in June 2021 at Sotheby’s New York for US$ 2,500,500. Photo: Sotheby’s.

Ruby and diamond earrings with unheated Burmese rubies — Ruby and diamond earrings with unheated Burmese rubies (5.19 ct and 5.03 ct) of ‘pigeon blood red’ colour sold for ca. US$ 3,186,000 at Christie’s Hong Kong in November 2021.

unheated Mozambique ruby set in a Tiffany & Co ring — 10.13 ct unheated Mozambique ruby set in a Tiffany & Co. ring sold for ca. US$ 1,005,000 in April 2021 at Sotheby’s Hong Kong. Photo: Sotheby’s.

Ruby and diamond brooch by Chaumet — Ruby and diamond brooch by Chaumet, circa 1928. The rubies are of Burmese origin, with no indications of heating, two with a minor amount of oil in fissures. Sold for ca. US$ 626,000 at Sotheby's Geneva in May 2021.

Ruby and diamond necklace by Faidee — Ruby and diamond necklace by Faidee containing 38 unheated rubies (total 31.03 ct) from Burma (Myanmar). Sold at Christie’s Hong Kong for ca. US$ 773,000 in May 2021. Photo: Christie’s.

Emerald Gems & Jewellery auction highlights 2021

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emerald of Colombian origin with a minor amount of oil in fissures — 80.45 ct emerald of Colombian origin, with a minor amount of oil in fissures. Sold at Sotheby’s Geneva for ca. US$ 3,510,000 in May 2021. Photo: Sotheby’s.

Moussaieff necklace with emeralds — Moussaieff necklace with emeralds weighing from 1.57 to 14.08 ct, of Colombian origin, with a minor to moderate amount of oil in fissures. Sold for ca. US$ 2,973,000 at Sotheby’s Geneva in May 2021. Photo: Sotheby’s.

Emerald and pink diamond earrings with two Colombian emeralds — Emerald and pink diamond earrings with two Colombian emeralds of 7.32 and 6.46 ct (both no indications of clarity modification). Sold at Christie’s Hong Kong for ca. US$ 2,041,000 in May 2021. Photo: Christie’s.

pear-shaped emerald of Colombian origin — 104.40 ct pear-shaped emerald of Colombian origin, with a moderate amount of oil in fissures mounted in a Harry Winston brooch/pendant combination. Sold for ca. US$ 1,967,000 at Sotheby’s Geneva in May 2021. Photo: Sotheby’s.

Pair of emerald and diamond pendent ear clips — Pair of emerald and diamond pendent ear clips, with two emeralds of 15.73 and 16.71 ct respectively, both of Colombian origin and with a minor amount of oil in fissures. Sold by Sotheby’s Geneva in May 2021 for ca. US$ 1,739,000. Photo: Sotheby’s.

Colombian emerald with minor oil set in a Van Cleef & Arpels necklace — 31.99 ct Colombian emerald with minor oil set in a Van Cleef & Arpels necklace. Sold for ca. US$ 1,677,000 at Christie’s Geneva in November 2021. Photo: Christie’s.

Pearls & Pearl Jewellery auction highlights 2021

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JAR pearl and diamond necklace — JAR pearl and diamond necklace, containing two hundred and fifteen saltwater natural pearls. Sold at Christie’s Geneva in November 2021 for ca. US$ 1,875,000.

JAR saltwater natural pearl and diamond earrings — JAR saltwater natural pearl and diamond earrings. Sold for US$ 870,000 at Christie’s New York in June 2021.

Natural pearl and diamond tiara necklace — Natural pearl and diamond tiara/ necklace, containing eleven saltwater natural pearls. Sold for ca. US$ 1,472,000 at Sotheby’s Geneva in May 2021.

Late 19th century natural pearl and diamond tiara necklace — Late 19th century natural pearl and diamond tiara / necklace. Sold in April 2021 at Sotheby’s Hong Kong for ca. US$ 308,000 Photo: Sotheby’s.

The Rockefeller pearl — The Rockefeller pearl, a fine Gillot & Co. (ca. 1900) antique natural pearl and diamond pendant. Sold for US$ 700,000 at Christie’s New York in December 2021.

Necklace containing sixty-two saltwater natural pearls — Necklace containing sixty-two saltwater natural pearls of 10.90 to 6.05 mm. Sold for ca. US$ 483,000 at Christie’s Hong Kong in May 2021.

Pair of saltwater natural pearls — Pair of saltwater natural pearls measuring approx. 13.45 - 14.90 x 23.00mm and 12.95 - 14.70 x 24.35mm respectively. Sold in November 2021 at Sotheby’s Hong Kong for ca. US$ 1,102,000. Photo: Sotheby’s.

Van Cleef & Arpels natural pearl and diamond brooch — Van Cleef & Arpels natural pearl (25.13 ct) and diamond brooch sold for ca. US$ 617,000 at Christie’s Geneva in November 2021.

Other Gems & Jewellry auction highlights 2021

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Paraiba tourmaline Brazil — Paraiba tourmaline (Brazil) of 14.20 ct with indications of heating. Sold for ca. US$ 805,000 at Christie’s Hong Kong in May 2021.

padparadscha sapphire of Ceylon origin — 11.54 ct padparadscha sapphire of Ceylon origin, with no indications of heating. Mounted in a ring with diamonds, sold for ca. US$ 610,000. Photo: Sotheby’s.

Unheated Ceylon yellow sapphire brooch — Unheated Ceylon yellow sapphire (129.08 ct), gem set and diamond brooch. Sold for ca. US$ 151,000 at Sotheby's Geneva in November 2021. Photo: Sotheby’s.

Spinel and diamond bracelet — Spinel and diamond bracelet containing fifteen unheated Burmese spinels (total weight: 36.20 ct). Sold for ca. US$ 612,000 at Christie’s Hong Kong in May 2021.

Grandidierite ring — Grandidierite of nearly 7 ct mounted in a ring. Sold for US$ 75,312.50 at Bonhams in Hong Kong in June 2021.