10 Magnificent Sapphires Auctioned by Christie's - Christie's

10 magnificent sapphires auctioned by Christie's | Christie's 2/17/21, 9:15 AM
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A history of magni!cent
sapphires at Christie’s
As an extraordinary sapphire and diamond bracelet is offered in
New York, we look back at some of the stunning sapphires and
sapphire-set pieces that have sparked bidding battles in
Christie’s salerooms around the world
On 8 December 2020, connoisseurs of magnificent jewels will have the

opportunity to bid for this sapphire and diamond bracelet at Christie’s in New York.
A truly exceptional piece, it features an extremely rare Kashmir sapphire of 43.10
carats, cushion-cut and set in a bed of flawless diamonds.
https://www.christies.com/features/10-magnificent-sapphires-at-Christies-9891-1.aspx?sc_lang=en Page 1 of 12
An extraordinary sapphire and diamond bracelet. Estimate: $5,000,000-7,000,000. Offered

in Magnificent Jewels on 8 December 2020 at Christie’s in New York
Sapphires have always attracted huge interest in Christie’s global salerooms. Here
we look back at some of the finest examples.
1 "e Rockefeller Sapphire, 62.02

carats
Sold for $3,031,000 in 2001
This rectangular-cut sapphire from Myanmar is the stone by which all other
sapphires should be judged on size, shape, clarity and colour.
The Rockefeller Sapphire, a magnificent sapphire single-stone ring. Sold for $3,031,000 on
11 April 2001 at Christie’s in New York
The sapphire also has notable provenance. It was purchased in 1934 by John D.
Rockefeller, Jr. from the Nizam of Hyderabad, in a deal brokered by the jeweller
Raymond Yard. In the 1940s Rockefeller asked Pierre Cartier of the eponymous
French jewellery house to recut the stone into this unique shape and mount it for
his wife, Abby.
2 "e Queen of Romania Sapphire,

478.68 carats
Sold for CHF1,916,000 in 2003
This is the largest sapphire on our list, by quite some margin, and among the five
largest sapphires in the world.
A magnificent and historic sapphire pendant, by

Cartier. Sold for CHF1,916,000 on 19 November 2003
at Christie’s in Geneva
First recorded in Cartier’s workshop in 1913, this historic sapphire pendant

necklace was famously worn by Queen Marie — granddaughter of Queen Victoria
of Great Britain and Czar Alexander II of Russia — to the coronation of her
husband King Ferdinand of Romania in 1922. In 1947 it was sold to New York’s ‘King
of Diamonds’, Harry Winston. It then entered the collection of the Greek Royal
Family before being auctioned at Christie’s in 2003.
3 Elizabeth Taylor’s sapphire and

diamond sautoir, by Bulgari, 52.72
carats
Sold for $5,906,500 in 2011
Richard Burton gave this magnificent sugarloaf cabochon sapphire to Elizabeth

Taylor on her 40th birthday in February 1972.
A sapphire and diamond sautoir, by Bulgari. Sold for $5,906,500 on 13 December 2011 at Christie’s in New York
This superb necklace, weighing approximately 52.72 carats, was offered in The
Collection of Elizabeth Taylor: The Legendary Jewels Part I in New York in 2011,
achieving a world record price per carat for a Burmese stone at auction.
4 A spectacular sapphire and diamond

necklace known as the Blue Belle of
Asia, 392.52 carats
Known as the Blue Belle of Asia, this highly prized peacock-blue sapphire with
excellent clarity and well-documented provenance is deemed the most valuable
sapphire in the world.
A spectacular sapphire and diamond necklace. Sold

for CHF16,965,000 on 11 November 2014 at Christie’s
in Geneva
There are very few sapphires weighing more than 350 carats, and this example, at
approximately 392.52 carats, realised more than double its low estimate in the
Christie’s Magnificent Jewels sale in Geneva on 11 November 2014, establishing a
new world record for any sapphire sold at auction.
5 Superb sapphire and diamond

necklace, known as the Peacock
Necklace, 109.08 carats
Sold for HK$116,537,500 in 2018
This exceptional necklace, set with 21 top-quality Kashmir sapphires carrying a

total of 109.08 carats, took more than 15 years to complete.
A superb sapphire and diamond necklace. Sold for HK$116,537,500 on 27 November 2018
at Christie’s in Hong Kong
The history of Kashmir sapphires begins in 1881, when a landslide in the Zanskar
range of the northwestern Himalayas first revealed sapphire-bearing rocks. The
majority of the world’s most beautiful and highly valued sapphires were mined
from the region, including the present stones.
By 1887, Kashmir’s first sapphire mine had been exhausted and production ceased.
As a result, gem-quality Kashmir sapphires are now extremely rare. With so many
gorgeous sapphires in just one piece, the Peacock Necklace is one of the rarest
items to have appeared at auction.
6 A Padparadscha sapphire and

diamond ring, 28.04 carats
Sold for HKD19,300,000 in 2017
This extraordinary pinky-orange sapphire, known as a Padparadscha sapphire,

comes from Sri Lanka — otherwise known as the Island of Gems. Its name derives
from the Sinhalese for ‘aquatic lotus blossom’, and its pinky-orange colour from a
combination of well-balanced trace elements in the gemstone.
A superb coloured sapphire and diamond ring. Sold for HK$19,300,000 on 28 November
2017 at Christie’s in Hong Kong
Padparadscha sapphires are normally a salmon-pink colour, making this large

orange-tinted example, which weighs over 28 carats, extremely rare.
7 An exceptional Art Deco bracelet by

Cartier, set with eight sapphires,
weighing between 3.38 and 10.53
carats
The eight velvety-blue, cushion-shaped Kashmir sapphires on this Cartier bracelet

graduate down in size from the largest in the middle, and are mounted in platinum
between pavé-set diamonds.
An exceptional Art Deco sapphire and diamond bracelet, by Cartier. Sold for
HK$56,120,000 on 30 May 2016 at Christie’s in Hong Kong
Made in France in 1923, its clean, sleek lines and refined, angular appearance
capture the essence of the Art Deco style.
8 An extremely rare sapphire and

diamond ring, 10.33 carats
The 2015 sale of this gemstone of Kashmir origin saw a new record for the highest
price paid per carat for a sapphire at Christie’s. Its brilliant clarity had been
confirmed the year before when scientific analysis at the SSEF (Swiss
Gemmological Institute) certified that its sparkle was natural, and not as a result of
heat treatment.
An extremely rare sapphire and diamond ring. Sold for HK$19,160,000 on 2 June 2015 at
Christie’s in Hong Kong
Its unusual circular-cut shape also helped it to soar at auction — as did its
diamond-surround and the fact that it was mounted in an 18k gold ring.
9 A unique sapphire and multi-gem

Côte d’Azur brooch by Anna Hu,
58.29 carats
Flanked by multi-coloured gems, this cushion-shaped sapphire, weighing

approximately 58.29 carats, is set in a brooch designed by contemporary Asian
designer Anna Hu.
The unique sapphire and multi-gem Côte D’Azur brooch, by Anna Hu. Sold for
CHF4,197,000 on 12 November 2013 at Christie’s in Geneva
Her work combines Eastern and Western influences, and is often inspired by
classical music and nature, as well as by Impressionism and Art Nouveau. When it
went under the hammer in Geneva in 2013, the Côte d’Azur brooch sold for almost
double its low estimate.
12 November 2020
JEWELLERY | COLLECTING
GUIDE
Highlighted sale
Magnificent Jewels
NEW YORK
8 DECEMBER 2020
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10 magnificent sapphires auctioned by Christie's | Christie's 2/17/21, 9:15 AM

Sign in How to sell |

Auctions Buy Locations Departments Stories Services

On 8 December 2020, connoisseurs of magniﬁcent jewels will have the

An extraordinary sapphire and diamond bracelet. Estimate: $5,000,000-7,000,000. Offered

1 "e Rockefeller Sapphire, 62.02

2 "e Queen of Romania Sapphire,

A magnificent and historic sapphire pendant, by

First recorded in Cartier’s workshop in 1913, this historic sapphire pendant

3 Elizabeth Taylor’s sapphire and

Richard Burton gave this magniﬁcent sugarloaf cabochon sapphire to Elizabeth

4 A spectacular sapphire and diamond

A spectacular sapphire and diamond necklace. Sold

5 Superb sapphire and diamond

This exceptional necklace, set with 21 top-quality Kashmir sapphires carrying a

6 A Padparadscha sapphire and

This extraordinary pinky-orange sapphire, known as a Padparadscha sapphire,

Padparadscha sapphires are normally a salmon-pink colour, making this large

7 An exceptional Art Deco bracelet by

The eight velvety-blue, cushion-shaped Kashmir sapphires on this Cartier bracelet

8 An extremely rare sapphire and

9 A unique sapphire and multi-gem

Flanked by multi-coloured gems, this cushion-shaped sapphire, weighing

Help About us Services

FAQs About Christie's Bespoke client advisory service

Buying guides Locations Trusts, Estates & Wealth Management

Selling guides Press Heritage & Taxation

Get an estimate Careers Estates, Appraisals & Valuations

Payments Corporate Social Responsibility Corporate Collections

Shipping Culture & Philanthropy Museum Services

Christie's Education Christie's Real Estate

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