A new world record for any jewellery auction was set Tuesday when Sotheby’s sale of Magnificent Jewels and Noble Jewels in Geneva realised $175,097,419 / CHF 171,018,625, eclipsing the previous record of $160.9m (CHF 149.9m) also set by Sotheby’s in the equivalent sale last year (May 2015).

The sale was led by the spectacular “Unique Pink”, a supremely rare Fancy Vivid Pink diamond weighing 15.38 carats that sold for an exceptional $31,561,200 / CHF 30,826,000 (price per carat: $2,052,094).

 Speaking after the sale, David Bennett, Worldwide Chairman of Sotheby’s International Jewellery Division, commented: “It is difficult to imagine a diamond that better illustrates the term Vivid Pink than this outstanding stone. The colour is simply astonishing and, for its size, it is in my experience truly unique. We set out to curate a sale that would speak to today's collectors and the response has been overwhelming - confirmation, if ever it were needed, that when you have the right material, demand is as deep as it's ever been. This was a sale that had the perfect mix of great gemstones and jewels, the vast majority of which were sourced from private collections.”

SALE OVERVIEW

• 83% sold by lot
• Three lots sell for over $10 million. Six lots sell for over $5 million.
• Online buying:  New record for an online purchase in a live auction at Sotheby’s (Lot 462, a pair of Important PearShaped Fancy Blue and Fancy Orangy Pink Diamond Earrings totals $6 m / CHF 5.9 m).  41% increase in the number of lots sold online compared to the equivalent sale last year.
• One of the highest levels of participation for any Jewellery sale at Sotheby’s. Ahead of the sale, the catalogue was viewed online by people from 155 different countries.  Participants came from 45 countries.  25% of the total number of participants came from Asia. 70% of lots sold above high estimate.
• Pre-sale estimate: $145.4 – 223.8m / CHF 142 – 218.6m.

OTHER NOTABLE RESULTS:

NEW RECORD FOR A JEWEL BY REZA Coming to auction from a noble collection, a brooch featuring a 6.64-carat Fancy Intense Blue diamond achieves $13,672,493 / CHF 13,354,000 - surpassing the previous auction record set by Sotheby’s Geneva in May 2010. (LOT 405, estimate $10 – 14m / CHF 9.6 – 13.4m)

UNIQUE PINK LEADS HOST OF STRONG PRICES FOR COLOURED DIAMONDS: AUCTION RECORD FOR A FANCY PINK DIAMOND

An Important Fancy Pink diamond pendant weighing 18.51 carats totals $9,773,672 / CHF 9,546,000 ($528,021 per carat) (LOT 411A, estimate $5-8m / CHF 4.8-7.7m)

RECORD PRICE PER CARAT FOR A FANCY PURPLISH PINK DIAMOND

An important Fancy Purplish Pink diamond ring weighing 8.20 carats sold for $3,696,098 / CHF 3,610,000 ($450,744 per carat) (LOT 420, estimate $2-4m / CHF 1.9-3.8m) $17.1m / CHF 16.7m for an Internally Flawless 7.32-carat Fancy Vivid Blue ($2,337,791 per carat) (LOT 494, estimate $15 – 25m / CHF 14.4 – 24m)

AN IMPORTANT PRIVATE BRITISH COLLECTION OF CARTIER

25 of the 29 lots offered sold over estimate to realise a combined total of $3.4 m / CHF 3,314,500. (LOTS 432-461, combined estimate $1.6-2.6m / CHF 1.6-2.6m)