As part of its year-end figures announcement, Christie’s Jewelry reports a record total of $754.7 million (£460.2 million) in 2014 – the highest annual result ever achieved for jewelry at any auction house.  The tally represents a year-on-year increase of 11% (7% in £), over Christie’s 2013 total of $678 million. Upon orchestrating the sale of The Winston Blue (illustrated above) and The Blue Belle of Asia – the most valuable sapphire ever sold at auction – Christie’s Geneva led the company’s jewelry sales with $304.4 million total.

WORLD AUCTION RECORD HIGHLIGHTS    

The November 11 auction of Magnificent Jewels at Christie’s Geneva led the year in gemstones with the sale of The Blue Belle of Asia which realized $17,295,796. The cushion-shaped Ceylon sapphire of 392.52 carats now holds the record for the most valuable sapphire ever sold at auction. Further highlights within this record breaking auction included a gold, diamond, and green garnet ‘Parrot Tulip’ bangle, by JAR (illustrated left) which sold for $3,595,853 against a pre-sale estimate of $210,000 – 310,000 to become the second highest price for a jewel by JAR. In the same sale, a pair of natural pearl and diamond ear pendants realized a world record price of $3,481,601 (illustrated right).

 TOP TEN JEWELS SOLD AT CHRISTIE’S IN 2014                

On May 14, Christie’s Geneva offered The Winston Blue, which became the top jewel of 2014 for Christie’s Jewelry. Selling at $23,795,372 or $1,799,953 per carat, this flawless Fancy Vivid Blue diamond of 13.22 carats was acquired by Harry Winston. For the complete post-release on this auction, please click here.

IMPORTANT PRIVATE COLLECTIONS         

Christie’s saw landmark results for important private collections in 2014. The top three were, A Passion for Jewels – The Collection of a European Gentleman (Geneva, May 2014), Property from the Collection of Riki and Jerome Shaw (New York, April 2014), and Property Formerly in the Collection of Baroness Edouard de Rothschild (Geneva, November 2014). All three realized a combined total in excess of $48 million and were each 100% sold.  

ECOMMERCE JEWELRY IN 2014                

eCommerce Jewelry has grown significantly at Christie’s worldwide in 2014 with over twice as many sales as 2013 and over 430 jewels sold online this year.  There was active participation with bidders from over 29 countries and buyers from over 21 countries, most notably from the China, Singapore, Switzerland, and the United States. The top lot of the year was a sapphire and diamond ‘Sutra’ bracelet and ‘Power’ ring, by Diane von Furstenberg for H. Stern (illustrated left) selling for $29,625 in the Spring Jewels online-only auction based out of South Kensignton. Additional highlights include a suite of sapphire and diamond jewelry which realized $22,575 in Statement Jewels from Hong Kong and a diamond ring which achieved $22,500 in Brilliant Jewels in New York.

PRIVATE SALES   

Private Sales contributed to Christie’s success in 2014 – a trend that is expected to continue throughout 2015. This channel, led by International Director Julien-Vincent Brunie, is tailored to clients who prefer to buy or sell outside the fixed auction calendar and to those seeking the rarest of gemstones and jewels.

SPRING 2015 JEWELRY AUCTION CALENDAR             

Christie’s host 24 jewelry auctions a year in Geneva, Hong Kong, London, New York, and Paris. Early highlights of the Magnificent Jewels auctions in New York and Geneva sales will be announced in the coming weeks.