Geneva, November 09, 2023 — In a dazzling display of luxury and rarity, the largest internally flawless fancy vivid blue diamond ever auctioned, known as "Bleu Royal," fetched an astonishing $43.8 million at Christie's rare jewels sale in Geneva on Tuesday.
Measuring at an impressive 17.6 carats, the diamond, set in an exquisite ring, had an estimated value of up to $50 million before going under the hammer. Rahul Kadakia, Christie's international head of jewelry, expressed his awe, stating, "The stone made almost $44 million. It's a huge amount of money given what's going on in the world today."
Max Fawcett, head of Christie's jewelry department in Geneva, emphasized the unique attributes that set "Bleu Royal" apart. Its deep rich blue color and unmodified pear brilliant shape "ticked all the boxes," exciting collectors globally, from the Far East to America. Fawcett remarked, "We're extremely delighted with the result."
The auction on Tuesday saw Christie's successfully selling dozens of rare jewelry pieces, amassing a combined total of over $77 million. Fawcett commented on the market's strength in specific areas, noting that colored stones and signed jewelry performed exceptionally well. "There's a great market out there for rare things, and there are still collectors looking for the very best."
In a separate event on Monday, Christie's achieved another notable sale, this time featuring a Rolex wristwatch worn by Marlon Brando in the 1979 movie "Apocalypse Now." The timepiece, adorned with Brando's engraved signature on the back to prevent accidental swaps during shooting, commanded a price exceeding 4.5 million Swiss francs ($4.99 million). Notably, the same watch had sold for 2 million Swiss francs at auction two years prior.
The success of these auctions underscores the enduring allure of rare and iconic items in the global market, with collectors demonstrating a continued appetite for exceptional pieces. Christie's continues to be a driving force in connecting these extraordinary artifacts with passionate buyers.
Measuring at an impressive 17.6 carats, the diamond, set in an exquisite ring, had an estimated value of up to $50 million before going under the hammer. Rahul Kadakia, Christie's international head of jewelry, expressed his awe, stating, "The stone made almost $44 million. It's a huge amount of money given what's going on in the world today."
Max Fawcett, head of Christie's jewelry department in Geneva, emphasized the unique attributes that set "Bleu Royal" apart. Its deep rich blue color and unmodified pear brilliant shape "ticked all the boxes," exciting collectors globally, from the Far East to America. Fawcett remarked, "We're extremely delighted with the result."
The auction on Tuesday saw Christie's successfully selling dozens of rare jewelry pieces, amassing a combined total of over $77 million. Fawcett commented on the market's strength in specific areas, noting that colored stones and signed jewelry performed exceptionally well. "There's a great market out there for rare things, and there are still collectors looking for the very best."
In a separate event on Monday, Christie's achieved another notable sale, this time featuring a Rolex wristwatch worn by Marlon Brando in the 1979 movie "Apocalypse Now." The timepiece, adorned with Brando's engraved signature on the back to prevent accidental swaps during shooting, commanded a price exceeding 4.5 million Swiss francs ($4.99 million). Notably, the same watch had sold for 2 million Swiss francs at auction two years prior.
The success of these auctions underscores the enduring allure of rare and iconic items in the global market, with collectors demonstrating a continued appetite for exceptional pieces. Christie's continues to be a driving force in connecting these extraordinary artifacts with passionate buyers.
