Top 7 Best Jewellery Auction Houses and Auctioneers

Jewellery Auction News, Reviews & Resources

• 3-Carat Blue Diamond Could Fetch $6.3 Million At Sotheby’s Geneva Auction - "Live jewelry auctions are returning with the first one being held in Geneva by Sotheby’s on June 23 offering a diverse collection of statement diamonds, colored gems and historic jewels."
• 3 Fancy Colored Diamonds To Lead Christie’s New York Jewelry Auction - "Christie’s New York upcoming Magnificent Jewels auction is led by three fancy colored diamonds that the auction house has named 'The Perfect Palette.' The diamonds are mounted onto individual rings and are being offered in separate lots in the April 13 sale at its Rockefeller Plaza headquarters."
• 3 Fancy Colored Heart-Shaped Diamonds At Sotheby’s Jewelry Auction - "Fancy colored diamonds make up the top five lots for Sotheby’s New York Magnificent Jewels auction to be held December 9. In keeping with the holiday spirit, three of these diamonds boast heart shapes."
• 10 most iconic jewellery pieces to buy now & wear forever - "From the Cartier Love bangle to the Boodles tennis bracelet, these are the classic pieces that will last a lifetime."
• 10 most iconic jewels through history - "'Cursed' gemstones, beautiful emblems of famous love affairs, and symbols of dark histories - all these dazzling jewels have intriguing backstories, writes Daisy Woodward."
• 13-Carat Fancy Vivid Pink Diamond Could Fetch $35 Million At Christie’s - "In a year that has seen more than its share of exceptional fancy-colored diamonds entering the auction market, one more has emerged: a 13.15-carat Fancy Vivid pink diamond that will likely be the top lot at Christie’s New York Magnificent Jewels sale on December 6. Its estimate is $25 million - $35 million."
• $30 Million White Diamond Is The Largest To Ever Appear At Auction - "Dubbed 'The Rock,' the jewel is a 228.31-carat pear-shaped diamond that was mined and polished in South Africa 20 years ago, according to Christie’s, which said it was among the finest gemstones to pass through the auction house since its founding in 1766. The gem will break the record for the largest auctioned diamond set in 2017, when a 163.41-carat white diamond sold for $33.7 million, also through Christie’s Geneva. The Gemmological Institute of America graded the gem as a G color, VS1 clarity diamond, and the sale will include a letter from the laboratory stating 'The Rock' is the largest pear-shaped diamond to be graded by the institute, according to Christie’s." Christie’s Magnificent Jewels auction at the Four Season Hotel des Bergues in Geneva on 11 May 04:00 PM (CEST).
• 43-Carat Kashmir Sapphire Could Fetch $7 Million At Christie’s - "Auction houses continue to work around the spread of the coronavirus, hosting auctions and previews in ways that keep people safe while allowing them to view and bid on products. This includes jewelry auctions such as Christie’s Magnificent Jewels sale on December 8."
• 73.11-Carat Fancy Vivid Yellow Diamond Is The Top Lot At Sotheby’s Jewelry Auction - "Sotheby’s New York created a 'Roaring ’20s' theme for its upcoming Magnificent Jewels sale as a celebration to the opening up of the U.S. again after 15 months of closures due to the Coronavirus pandemic. The 94 lots for the June 9, 2021 sale will include white and colored diamonds, Kashmir and Ceylon sapphires, Colombian emeralds and Burmese rubies set into iconic designs signed by heritage jewelry houses."
• 101-Carat Diamond Could Fetch $10 Million At Sotheby’s New York Auction - "The 101.41-carat Juno diamond is the top lot at Sotheby’s New York Magnificent Jewels sale on Thursday, June 16, 2022. The internally flawless, D-color pear-shaped gem is named after the queen of the gods and the goddess of light and fertility. Juno reigned supreme in the Roman pantheon. She was worshipped for her radiance and auspicious nature, serving as an apt namesake for this majestic and exquisitely voluptuous pear-shaped diamond. Its estimate is reportedly $10 million."
• 103-Carat ‘Light Of Africa’ D-Flawless Diamond Could Fetch $18 Million - "In addition to its other attributes of size and purity, this emerald-shaped diamond also possess excellent polish and symmetry, according to Christie’s. It belongs to the rare Type IIa category, which make up less than 2% of all diamonds, making this one of the most rare and valuable diamonds. It was graded by the Gemological Institute of America. The diamond will go on a world tour beginning in Geneva May 6 - 11, followed by Hong Kong May 22 - 24, before returning to Christie’s New York Rockefeller Center headquarters where it will be on exhibit June 3 - 7, before June 8 auction."
• 115-Carat Diamond Could Fetch $7 Million At Christie’s New York Auction - "Christie’s New York Magnificent Jewels sale will be the first live jewelry auction from a major auction house in New York since novel coronavirus pandemic made its way to North America. It’s an ambitious sale of more than 260 lots that includes colorless diamonds, colored diamonds, colored gems, and vintage and contemporary signed jewels. Perhaps the most interesting part of the sale is a large number of high-quality and important signed jewels from a number of high jewelry houses spanning several periods, including Belperron, Bulgari, Cartier, Graff, Harry Winston, JAR, Lacloche, Tiffany & Co., and Van Cleef & Arpels. Estimates for pieces in the sale range from $10,000 to $7 million."
• 118.88-Carat Burmese ‘Royal Blue’ Sapphire Leads Sotheby’s Hong Kong Auction - "Exceptional colored gems will take center stage at the next Sotheby’s Hong Kong Magnificent Jewels sale, which will be held live on October 7 at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre."
• 205-Carat ‘Red Cross Diamond’ To Be Sold, With Some Of Proceeds Going To Namesake Aid Group - "One of the world’s largest diamonds is going up for auction next month, with a portion of proceeds from the sale set to go to the International Committee of the Red Cross, the world’s largest humanitarian organization, which it has been associated with for more than 100 years. The auction will be held May 11 in Geneva, and Christie’s told Forbes a a 'significant' cut of the proceeds will be donated to the International Red Cross."
• 228.31 carats 'The Rock', record-setting white diamond, goes up for auction - "The largest white diamond ever auctioned will go under the hammer in Geneva on May 11, part of a sale by Christie's that features two stones weighing more than 200 carats each. 'The Rock', a 228.31 carat pear-shaped stone roughly the size of a golf ball, is expected to sell for up to $30 million, the auctioneer said."
• 303-Carat ‘Golden Canary’ Diamond Could Fetch $15 Million At Sotheby’s - "The Golden Canary, a fancy deep brownish-yellow diamond weighing a colossal 303.10 carats, is one of the largest polished diamonds in the world and the largest flawless or internally flawless diamond ever graded by the Gemological Institute of America. It will be the top lot of Sotheby’s Magnificent Jewels sale in New York on December 7. Its estimate is $15 million, and it is being offered without reserve, with bidding starting at just $1."
• 552-Carat ‘Dancing Sun’ Yellow Diamond Could Fetch $5.5 Million At Auction - "Christie’s New York upcoming Magnificent Jewels auction has a bit of everything: statement diamonds, important contemporary jewels, loose gems and, as always, important signed jewels from heritage jewelry houses. The sale of 143 lots will be held June 8, 2021 at Christie’s Rockefeller Center headquarters."
• A Diamond Encrusted Gucci Handbag Will Go On Auction at Christie’s - "A total of three one-of-a-kind Gucci Bamboo handbags will be auctioned off by Christie's on October 31, 2023. The most opulent of them all is made from sleek black leather with an 18-carat gold handle that’s encrusted with 927 diamonds (and an appropriate estimated sale price of $159,000 to $212,000)."
• A Private Collection Of Lalique Creations To Be Auctioned In Paris By Sotheby’s - A rare private collection of 39 creations by famed French designer, René Lalique, will be offered by Sotheby’s Paris on December 17, 2021. The jewels and objets d'art that will be sold were collected over a lifetime by Claude Henri Roger Sorbac, who died at the age of 100 in March. Sorbac, a native of France, lived in Argentina for several years before returning to Paris. His parents were skilled collectors, which is how he developed his keen eye for works of art and design. He collected the works of a number of artists before focusing on René Lalique.
• 'Bleu Royal' diamond expected to fetch up to $50 million - "The largest internally flawless fancy vivid blue diamond ever put up for auction could sell for up to $50 million at a Christie’s sale of rare jewels in Geneva on November 7, the auctioneer said on Thursday. Known as 'Bleu Royal,' this vivid blue diamond - which is set in a ring - is among the rarest ever to be unearthed. 'What makes Bleu Royal so rare and special is its size. At 17.6 carats, it’s the largest of its kind,' said Rahul Kadakia, Christie’s international head of jewelry."
• Cartier Diamond Bracelet Could Fetch $8.4 Million At Sotheby’s Hong Kong Sale - "The first is an Art Deco inspired Cartier diamond and rock crystal bangle-bracelet from the Parisian luxury brand’s 'L'Odyssée de Cartier - Parcours d'un Style' collection. It features a 63.66-carat D-color, pear-shaped internally flawless diamond, set among the rock crystal. Its estimate is $5.1 million - $8.4 million." Sotheby’s Hong Kong will open its season with its Magnificent Jewels sale on April 20.
• Christie’s Cancels the Heidi Horten Jewelry Sales, Following Months of ‘Intense Scrutiny’ Over the Nazi Roots of the Late Austrian Heiress’s Wealth - "Bowing to months of international pressure, Christie’s said it will not continue the sale of jewels from the estate of Heidi Horten, whose wealth was rooted in Nazi profiteering by her late husband. In May, Christie’s sold $202 million of Horten’s jewels by Cartier, Bulgari, and Harry Winston, surpassing the totals from previous record-setting troves of jewelry belonging to Elizabeth Taylor and the Al Thani family. The remaining 300 items from Horten’s collection were originally scheduled to be sold in November in Geneva."
• CHRISTIE’S PRESENTS THE LARGEST & MOST VALUABLE PRIVATE JEWELLERY COLLECTION TO COME TO AUCTION - "Christie’s is proud to present THE WORLD OF HEIDI HORTEN, the exquisite jewellery collection of the late Mrs. Heidi Horten (1941-2022). With a pre-sale estimate of more than $150 million, this unparalleled private jewellery collection is the largest and most valuable ever to come to auction, poised to join and eclipse the previous record sales at Christie’s for The Elizabeth Taylor Collection (2011) and the Maharajas & Mughal Magnificence auction (2019), which are the only two jewellery collections to date to achieve more than $100 million. Consigned by the Heidi Horten Estate, and offered this May in Geneva."
• Controversial jewelry collection fetches a record-shattering $196 million - "Hundreds of jewels once owned by late Austrian billionaire Heidi Horten have fetched a combined 176 million Swiss francs ($196 million) to become the most expensive private jewelry collection ever to appear at auction. The sale smashed a record set over a decade ago by the collection of Elizabeth Taylor, whose gems racked up nearly $116 million in New York in 2011."
• Dazzling pink diamond could fetch more than $21 million at auction - "A dazzling pink diamond, described as one of the world's purest, could fetch more than $21 million when it goes under the hammer in Hong Kong in October, auction house Sotheby's said on Wednesday. At 11.15 carats, the cushion-shaped gem is called 'Williamson Pink Star', in tribute to two other pink diamonds. One is the 'CTF Pink Star', a 59.60-carat oval mixed-cut diamond which sold for a record $71.2 million at auction in 2017. The other is the 'Williamson' stone - a 23.60 carat diamond given to Britain's Queen Elizabeth as a wedding gift by Canadian geologist John Thorburn Williamson. Worn by the monarch in a Cartier brooch, it was discovered in his mine in Tanzania. The 11.15-carat Williamson Pink Star will be sold in a single-lot auction in Hong Kong on October 5."
• De Beers Blue - "Sotheby’s is proud to present The De Beers Blue, an extraordinary natural treasure and one of the most valuable blue diamonds ever to be offered at auction. This extraordinary 15.10 carat step-cut blue has been cut from an exceptional rough stone discovered in April 2021." Live Auction: 27 April 2022 - 8:00 PM HKT - Hong Kong.
• diamond bracelets that Marie Antoinette had to have - even if it meant borrowing a fortune from her husband - "Stowed away during the French Revolution, the dazzling jewels - which, miraculously, have remained intact rather than being broken up - have spent the past two centuries hidden from view in a private royal collection." The historic Marie-Antoinette diamonds, a stunning pair of diamond bracelets. 18.7 cm each. Estimate: CHF2,000,000-4,000,000. Offered in Geneva Magnificent Jewels at Christie’s on November 9, 2021, Geneva, Switzerland.
• Diamond necklace possibly linked to Marie-Antoinette scandal goes on sale - "Weighing approximately 300 carats, the 18th-century piece, likely created a decade before the French Revolution, is on public display for the first time in 50 years to be sold by Sothebys in Geneva on 11 November, estimate $2.8 million."
• Diamonds & Colored Gems To Lead Sotheby’s New York Jewelry Auction - "A mix of statement diamonds and colored gems lead Sotheby’s Magnificent Jewels auction on April 15, in the first live sale held by the auction house in New York this year. The top lot of is a rare 41.50-carat D color, flawless, Type IIa round diamond, with excellent cut, polish and symmetry. Its estimate is $4.5 million - $5.5 million."
• ELIZABETH TAYLOR’S VICTORIAN SAPPHIRE BROOCH HEADS TO AUCTION - AGAIN! - "Are you, like me, a fan of the jewelry collection of the late Dame Elizabeth Taylor? Well, you’re in luck: you’ve got a chance to own one of her pieces! Taylor’s Victorian Sapphire Brooch is hitting the auction block (again!) in Hong Kong."
• Empress JosÉphine Bonaparte’s Tiaras Are About to Hit the Auction Block - "Empress Joséphine de Beauharnais, wife of French Emperor Napoléon Bonaparte, understood the power of jewelry and fashion to define her public image. Her ill-fated predecessors didn’t fare as well, so when she and Napoléon came into power, they sought to enhance their regal style and legitimize their new government by resurrecting historical and cultural references to ancient Rome. That resulted in tiaras, jewels, and fashion in a Neoclassical style, a trend that swept through France under Bonaparte’s regime. Two historic tiaras that reflect this Empire style (each with matching jewels) will be offered at Sotheby’s London sale on December 7, 2021, London, England."
• Flawless 102-carat diamond a 'bargain' at $16m - "A rare 102-carat white diamond has sold at auction for $15.7m (£12.1m) in what experts say is a 'bargain'. The gemstone went to an unnamed telephone bidder. The auction was held online by Sotheby's in Hong Kong due to the pandemic. The diamond was taken from a 271-carat stone which was discovered at a Canadian mine in 2018."
• 'Flawless' purple-pink diamond fetches record $29.3M at auction - "A 15.81-carat gem, dubbed 'The Sakura,' fetched $29.3 million in Hong Kong to become the most expensive purple-pink diamond ever to sell at auction. Named after the Japanese word for cherry blossom, it is the largest diamond of its kind to go under the hammer, according to Christie's, the auction house behind the sale."
• Heiress Auctions Off Her Emerald Ring From Fabled Shipwreck - "Mitzi Perdue’s spectacular engagement ring, a gift from her chicken magnate husband Frank, was lost at the bottom of the ocean for 363 years, along with 47 tons of Spanish gold. The rare 6.25-carat emerald, which will lead Sotheby’s New York Magnificent Jewels sale on December 7."
• How to pick the right high jewellery to invest in: consider buying from Cartier, Tiffany & Co, Bulgari, Van Cleef & Arpels & other luxury brands - "Considering investing in high jewellery? Rarity is a most valuable commodity, apart from colour, clarity, cut and carat ... but don't forget ..."
• Huge diamond deemed 'flawless' could break records - "This rare purple-pink diamond could make $38M at auction."
• Jewels Owned By Joan Collins Highlight Bonhams London Auction - "Five jewels owned by film, television and stage star, Dame Joan Collins, will be among the highlights of the Bonhams London Jewels sale on November 12. The live sale will go on as planned but the saleroom will not be open to the public. Bids will instead be submitted by absentee means, online and by telephone."
• Jewish groups condemn $150m Nazi-linked jewel sale - "Jewish groups have condemned the multi-million dollar sale of jewels belonging to a billionaire whose husband made his fortune in Nazi Germany. Heidi Horten was an Austrian heiress whose German husband, Helmut Horten, had been a Nazi party member. Christie's auction house is now putting 700 pieces of jewellery, estimated to be worth more than $150 million, under the hammer. The proceeds will go to charity, including Holocaust research, and Christie's will also make a 'significant contribution' to good causes."
• Luxury Investments Around the World Compared - infographic - "Do you enjoy the finer things in life? For many of the world’s wealthy individuals, acquiring luxury goods such as art, fine wine, and watches is a passion. Unlike traditional investments in financial assets, luxury goods can be difficult to value if one does not have an appreciation for their form. A rare painting, for example, does not generate cash flows, meaning its value is truly in the eye of the beholder. To gain some insight into the market for luxury goods, this infographic takes data from Knight Frank’s 2021 Wealth Report to compare the preferences of nine global regions."
• Marie Antoinette's bracelets sell at auction for $8m - "Two diamond bracelets once owned by the queen of France, Marie Antoinette, have sold at auction in Switzerland for more than $8m. They were bought by an anonymous telephone bidder. They sold for more than double than expected."
• Marlene Dietrich’s Legendary Van Cleef & Arpels Ruby & Diamond Bracelet Heading to Auction - "Worn by the actress to the Academy Awards and in Alfred Hitchcock's 'Stage Fright,' Dietrich's Jarretiere bracelet is part of the upcoming Christie's sale, 'The Magnificent Jewels of Anne Eisenhower.' on June 7."
• Owner Parts With Rare Emerald From 1622 Shipwreck to Help Ukraine - "The gem, recovered from the Nuestra Señora de Atocha, ended up in the possession of the chicken magnate Frank Perdue. His widow, Mitzi Perdue, is auctioning it to support humanitarian efforts in Ukraine."
• Pink diamond expected to fetch more than £20m at Hong Kong auction - "Williamson Pink Star is second largest ‘fancy vivid pink’ diamond to ever appear at auction. It goes under the hammer at Sotheby’s in Hong Kong on 7 October 2022, 20:30 HKT, Hong Kong."
• Princess Diana & the swan lake suite Is Up for Auction - "The only jewelry worn by Princess Diana ever available for sale was sold by Guernsey’s following the Princess’ tragic death. Proceeds supported Diana’s various causes. Many years later, we sold the same beautiful diamond and south sea pearl necklace and earrings again, this time by private treaty sale. diana princess of wales, swan lake suite june 27th auction: The Necklace - A brilliant cut diamond and marquise diamond scroll motif centre with a South Sea cultured pearl five stone and marquise diamond fringe drop, to a brilliant cut diamond two row collet backchain tapering to a single row; mounted in platinum, claw set, with an integral box clasp. It contains: 5 matching cultured pearls 12 mm. 11 marquise diamonds 7.71 carats. 3 marquise diamonds 0.88 carats. 164 diamonds 42.35 carats. The Earrings - A pair of brilliant cut diamond and marquise diamond fancy cluster top, South Sea cultured pearl drop earrings; mounted in platinum, claw set, to peg and clip fittings. They contain: 2 matching cultured pearls 12 mm. 6 marquise diamonds"
• Queen Marie-Antoinette’s Diamonds for Sale in Geneva - "On 9 November 2021 Christie’s will proudly offer THE MARIE ANTOINETTE DIAMONDS as lot 1 of its live Magnificent Jewels Auction to be held at the Four Seasons Hotel des Bergues. Presented in their current form, the 112 diamonds, originally belonging to Queen Marie-Antoinette of France (1755-1793), are set as a historic pair of bracelets (estimated $2,000,000-4,000,000)."
• Rare jewels given to Napoleon's daughter fetch over $1.6M - "The jewels were sold individually at Christie's in Geneva, 200 years after the French emperor's death. Each item exceeded the auction house's initial estimates, which ranged from 10,000 to 250,000 Swiss francs ($11,000 to $275,430) per piece. The biggest earner was a sapphire and diamond tiara which fetched 525,000 Swiss francs (over $577,000)."
• Rare ‘fancy vivid pink’ diamond sells for £52m in Hong Kong auction - "Williamson Pink Star sets world record highest price per carat for a diamond sold at auction."
• Romanov royal jewels sell for nearly $900,000 - "A sapphire and diamond brooch and matching earrings, which were part of the royal jewels from Russia's Romanov family smuggled out of the country during the 1917 revolution, sold for 806,500 Swiss francs ($883,641.94) on Wednesday, Sotheby's said."
• Royal jewels smuggled out of Russia during 1917 revolution go on sale - "ussian royal jewels smuggled out of the country during the 1917 revolution, alongside rare colored diamonds, are on offer at auction next week in Geneva, looking for deep-pocketed collectors emerging from the pandemic. An orange-pink diamond weighing 25.62 carats, estimated at 3.6 million to 5.38 million Swiss francs ($3.9 million to $5.9 million), set in a ring, is the star lot at auction house Sotheby's semi-annual jewelry sale in the Swiss city on November 10, 2021, Geneva, Switzerland."
• Sotheby’s & Christie’s New York Jewelry Auctions Total $108 Million 2022 - "Sotheby’s and Christie’s ended the 2022 auction season with Magnificent Jewels sales in New York in early December that totaled approximately $108.7 million. Fancy-colored diamonds received the most attention from collectors. For Sotheby’s, its December 7 sale of 129 lots totaled $50 million, with 81% of lots sold, bringing Sotheby’s total of global jewelry sales to more than $450 million - a five-year high for the company. The star of the auction was 'The Golden Canary,' a 303.10-carat, the fancy deep brownish-yellow diamond that sold for $12.4 million, below estimates. It was the third most valuable yellow diamond ever sold at auction, also ranking among world’s largest known internally flawless diamonds."
• Sotheby's Auction Set for a German Noble Family's Jewelry - "A German Noble Family’s Pearls and Diamonds to Be Auctioned. More than 200 jewels and precious objects from the House of Württemberg, formerly one of Germany’s noble families, are on display until Monday at Sotheby’s New York, the first stop on a multicity tour before their auction November 6-7 in Geneva."
• SOTHEBY'S DIAMONDS - since 1744. "A Marriage of Jewellery and Art." A spectacular array of diamonds is available at Sotheby’s throughout the year: In our global live and online auctions, diamonds appear in extraordinary jewels dating from the 19th century to the present day by the world’s most celebrated designers and jewelry houses. In the Loose Diamonds online auctions, unmounted stones in every cut and color allow the buyer to create bespoke jewels to their own specifications. And Sotheby’s Diamonds presents a contemporary collection of modern masterpieces, available for immediate purchase.
• Sotheby’s Expecting Over $48 Million For 15-Carat Cullinan Blue, The Largest Blue Diamond At Auction - "Sotheby’s is set to auction the De Beers Cullinan Blue Diamond in April 2022 during its Hong Kong Luxury Week sales, starting at an estimate of $48-million. The 15.10-carat step-cut diamond is the largest vivid blue diamond ever to appear at auction and the largest internally flawless step-cut vivid blue diamond that the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) has ever graded."
• SOTHEBY'S GENEVA - "Established in 1976, Sotheby's Geneva held its first Jewellery and Watches sales in 1980. Located in the major world centre for Jewellery auctions, Sotheby's Geneva has held many notable world-class sales at its historic Beau-Rivage Hotel location on the shore of Lake Geneva."
• Sotheby’s To Accept Crypto For 101-Carat D-Flawless Diamond - "The gem in question is 'The Key 101.38,' a pear-shaped diamond of 101.38 carats with flawless clarity and D-color, the highest color and clarity grades for a colorless diamond. Along with fiat, the auction house will also accept bitcoin and ethereum as payment for the gem."
• Sotheby’s To Sell $30 Million Ruby, $35 Million Diamond At Magnificent Jewels Auction In New York - "Sotheby's is offering a 10.57-carat flawless pink diamond at its Magnificent Jewels auction in New York June 8, expected to sell for more than $35-million. The sale also includes a 55.22-carat Mozambique ruby, estimated to sell for $30-million. Also on the block are selections from the collections of Constance Prosser Mellon and Constance 'Connie' Barber Mellon, the mother and daughter duo who were members of one of America's most prominent philanthropic families."
• The Enigma: 555.55 Carat Fancy Black Diamond - "Sotheby’s is pleased to presentThe Enigma: 555.55 Carat Fancy Black Diamond, part of RE(LUX), a Luxury Sale Series. A treasure from interstellar space, The Enigma is an exquisite and extremely rare black diamond. The largest Fancy Black Natural Colour diamond in the world, it was listed as the largest cut diamond in the world in the 2006 Guinness Book of World Records. To have a natural faceted black diamond of this size is an extremely rare occurrence and its origins are shrouded in mystery – thought to have been created either from a meteoric impact or having actually emerged from a diamond-bearing asteroid that collided with Earth. Cryptocurrency will be accepted as payment on the diamond, reflecting the fact that cryptocurrency has started to make its mark in the world of physical art and objects. Sotheby’s leads the way in the jewellery market, and last year The Key 10138 diamond - another rare treasure - was purchased with cryptocurrency for a record price. This diamond will be offered without reserve." Bidding Opens: February 3, 2022, 14:00 GMT, London, U.K. Bidding is closed. Lot Sold: 3,161,000 GBP.
• The Eternal Pink: The Most Significant Pink Diamond To Ever Appear at Auction - At 10.57 carats, the cushion-cut Internally Flawless Fancy Vivid Purplish Pink Diamond is the most vivid pink diamond ever to come to market. The 23.78 carat rough which yielded The Eternal Pink was mined by De Beers at the Damtshaa mine in Botswana, and was meticulously fashioned into an exquisite cushion cut - over a period of six intense months - by Diacore’s team of artisans, maximizing the diamond’s electric 'bubblegum' color to full potential. The Eternal Pink will be offered as a part of Sotheby's Magnificent Jewels auction on June 8 at Sotheby’s New York.
• 'The Rock,' the largest white diamond ever auctioned, falls short of expectations - The largest white diamond to ever come up for auction has been sold for 21,681,000 CHF ($21.9 million) at Christie's in Geneva. The auction house had given the diamond a 30,000,000 CHF ($30.2 million) high estimate.
• This Art Collector’s Staggering Personal Jewellery Collection Would Have Made Elizabeth Taylor Blush - "With an estimate of £122.3million, the billionaire art collector Heidi Horten’s personal jewellery collection - featuring an exceptional array of Bulgari, Cartier, Van Cleef & Arpels and Harry Winston pieces - will go up for sale at Christie’s in May. The auction house gives British Vogue an exclusive first look."
• Two Fancy Colored Heart-Shaped Diamonds Could Fetch $18.5 Million - "Two hearts, one blue, the other pink, will appear at Sotheby’s Hong Kong Magnificent Jewels auction as if they were always meant to be together. They will be sold separately during the July 10 sale at the Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Centre. Combined, their high estimate is $18.5 million."
• Victoria, Lady de Rothschild’s playful jewellery collection is heading to auction - A treasure trove of bold, modernist jewellery that once belonged to the American socialite is set go under the auctioneer’s hammer, scheduled for 8 & 9 March, 2022.
• Why Maggi Simpkins Is About To Break Records With A Million-Dollar Ring At Sotheby’s - "The hotly anticipated Brilliant & Black selling exhibition opens at Sotheby's today, with a host of incredible pieces by black designers from the US and Europe. Amongst the selection is a ring by Maggi Simpkins, featuring a flawless fancy pink diamond surrounded by rubies and sapphires. Valued at $1 million, if the ring sells as expected, it will be the first time a Black female designer has broken the million-dollar barrier and could also be the most expensive piece of jewelry by a Black designer ever sold by a major auction house."
• World's largest blue diamond to come to auction has sold for $57.5 million - "Named 'The De Beers Cullinan Blue,' the massive 15.10-carat step-cut gem sold at Sotheby's in Hong Kong after an eight-minute bidding war among four hopeful buyers, according to Sotheby's. The winning bid, which surpassed its high estimate of $48 million, came from an anonymous buyer by telephone."
• World’s Largest Ruby To Appear At Auction Could Fetch $30 Million - "The world’s largest ruby to appear at auction will be offered at Sotheby’s Magnificent Jewels auction in New York on June 8. Named the Estrela de FURA, it weighs 55.22 carats. Sotheby’s has placed an estimate of more than $30 million that, if achieved, would likely be the most valuable ruby ever sold at auction. Sotheby’s auctioneer, Uni Kim, announced the sale of the Estrela de FURA on Wednesday moments after completing The Exceptional Luxury Evening Auction in Hong Kong."
• World’s most valuable private jewellery collection goes on display in London - "More than 700 items collected by late Austrian art collector Heidi Horten on show before expected £120m charity auction in Geneva."
• World’s most valuable private jewelry collection to go on auction - "This jewelry collection is set to shatter auction records. The auction of the late Austrian billionaire Heidi Horton's jewelry collection is expected to break the record set more than a decade ago by the late actress Elizabeth Taylor."

Top 7 International Jewellery Auctions & Auctioneers

• ARTCURIAL - since 2005. In just over 10 years, these spectacular Jewellery auctions have become unmissable events for connoisseurs and collectors from all over the world. International auctioneers. Paris, France & Monaco.
• Bonham - founded in 1793. "With over 40 auctions taking place throughout the year, Bonhams has more dedicated jewellery auctions than any other international auctioneer. We hold auction sales in all the key jewellery markets: New York, London and Hong Kong, as well as Sydney and Los Angeles. Each location has a team of locally based qualified gemmologists who are able to assist and advise with the sale or purchase of jewellery."
• CHRISTIE'S - founded on December 5, 1766. "Christie's holds 26 jewelry sales a year in Amsterdam, Dubai, Geneva, Hong Kong, London, New York, Milan and Paris."
• Fellows - established 1876. "The name Fellows is highly respected in both the UK and global markets, a reputation earned by over one hundred years of selling jewellery. We have a team of approximately twenty full time jewellery specialists, many of whom hold formal qualifications in gemmology and diamond grading. Jewellery auctions are categorised into three different sales; Antique & Modern Jewellery, Vintage Jewellery & Accessories and fortnightly auctions of Jewellery. The diversity of our jewellery lots is astonishing, each sale has a variety of offerings from dazzling period pieces, innovative contemporary styles to designer items from Bulgari, Cartier and Tiffany & Co to name a few. We strive to satisfy the needs of every buyer or seller with these three auction options."
• HINDMAN AUCTIONEERS - since 1982. "Hindman is recognized internationally as a leading fine art auction house. With an unyielding focus on client service, Hindman offers holistic solutions to connect clients in local US cities to the global art market. Hindman operates more salesrooms in the United States than any other firm and conducts over 100 auctions annually in categories such as fine jewelry, fine art, modern design, books and manuscripts, furniture, decorative arts, couture, Asian works of art, arts of the American West, and numismatics, as well as special focus subjects as the need arises."
• Phillips - since 1796. "Consign your property to an upcoming Jewels auction." We’re global. Our clients have collections all over the world. Along with our salerooms in New York, London, Geneva and Hong Kong, Phillips has specialists throughout the Americas, Europe and Asia. We can help you get your work to the right auction in the right place at the right time.
• SOTHEBY'S Jewelry - Established 1744. Sotheby's offers the most extraordinary jewels in the world to discerning collectors looking for special designs dating from the 19th century to the present day. Our auctions feature rare and iconic examples of the artistic creativity of Cartier, Van Cleef & Arpels, Tiffany & Co., Bulgari, Harry Winston, JAR, Graff, David Webb, Verdura, Boucheron, Chaumet, Suzanne Belperron, Boivin and Alexandre Reza, amongst others. The selection of top quality white and coloured diamonds, coloured gemstones and natural pearls is wide and varied, with many fresh-to-the-market examples from private collections, such as Queen Marie Antoinette’s Pearl, sold in Geneva for $36.2 million, a world record for a natural pearl. "Upcoming Auctions & Exhibitions."