The Farnese Blue, a historic 6.16-carat pear-shaped fancy dark grey-blue diamond to be auctioned at Sotheby’s Geneva sale of Magnificent Jewels and Noble Jewels on May 15th / Estimate: CHF 3,500,000 – 5,000,000.www.sothebys.com

Old-cut Diamond Riviere Necklace to be auctioned on May 16th by

Christie’s Magnificent Jewels auction / Estimate: CHF 1,700,000 – 2,200,000.

www.christies.com

Excitement is at a high pitch each May with the two leading auction houses – Sotheby’s and Christie’s – each hosting a sale of remarkable signed high jew-els, one day apart in Geneva. On these two exceptional occasions, it is possi-ble to see and bid for pieces of high jewellery and extremely rare gemstones that have not been seen publicly before. There was a case in point this year with Sotheby’s once again unearthing rare gems. At this level, ‘rare’ hard-ly begins to describe it. The Farnese Blue 6.16-carat diamond was given to Elisabeth Farnese, Queen of Spain in 1715; and was subsequently passed down through four of Europe’s most important royal families. With such a lineage, such a mesmerizing dark grey-blue hue, and such a high carat weight, there is a chance this is the only time one will ever be able to see this stone, especial-ly when you know that it is now emerging onto the market for the first time in three centuries.

www.sothebys.com

The Farnese Blue, a historic 6.16-carat pear-shaped fancy dark grey-blue

diamond to be auctioned at Sotheby’s Geneva sale of Magnificent Jewels and

Noble Jewels on May 15th / Estimate: CHF 3,500,000 – 5,000,000

And as if the Farnese Blue was not enough, Sotheby’s is also going to bring two promi-nent white diamonds to auction. These are “two of the largest, purest white diamonds ever to come to auction”, the team says. Both weighing over 50 carats and matching per-fectly all critical criteria, together estimat-ed in excess of US$15 million, each diamond ranks as the second largest of its kind ever to appear on the auction market. Sotheby’s with its Sotheby’s Diamonds arm (whose creations

are often featured in my articles) is certain-ly one the biggest players when it comes to exceptional flawless gems. Evidence of this in the recent sale to a private collector of the 102.34-carat most rare, purest white diamond known to man (see Notes on an Obsession article from March 2018), and at a price per carat that far exceeds that for any colour-less diamond sold at auction, augurs well for Sotheby’s Magnificent Jewels and Noble Jewels on May 15th.

www.sothebys.com

Magnificent diamond ring set with an oval Type IIa diamond weighing 50.39 carats and D colour, flawless, excellent polish and symmetry / Estimate: CHF 6,960,000 – 7,680,000

Exceptional diamond ring set with one round brilliant-cut Type IIa diamond weighing 51.71 carats and D colour, flawless, excellent cut, polish and symmetry / Estimate: CHF 7,870,000 - 9,100,000

www.sothebys.com

Superb sapphire and diamond ring, 1930s / Estimate: CHF 950,000 – 1,430,000

Impressive diamond tiara, circa 1830 / Estimate: CHF 120,000 – 180,000.

Superb fancy vivid purplish pink diamond ring / Estimate: CHF 1,920,000 – 2,880,000

“After 10 very successful years of Noble Jewels sales in Geneva, we are delighted to offer such an important historical diamond this spring, The Farnese Blue. In the Magnificent Jewels section of the sale, alongside our impressive selection of white and coloured diamonds and superb gemstones, a wonderful array of signed pieces led by Cartier and Van Cleef & Arpels will be a fitting celebration of the season!”, Daniela Mascetti, Senior International Specialist in Sotheby’s Jewellery division enthuses.

Not to be outdone, Christie’s counterpart event is scheduled on May 16 at the Four Seasons Hotel des Bergues, Geneva. Drawing on its expertise with high jewellery, Christie’s has been entrusted with many important pri-vate collections over the years, and all these fantastic creations are given a chance for a new life at each Magnificent Jewels auction. The 2018 vintage does not disappoint with more than 400 superb pieces (an increase from previous years that can be explained by the registration of large consignments), each combining exceptional gemstones with

superlative designs. Unlike previous editions of the auction, this year’s content for the auc-tion lacks record-breaking carat weights, but makes up for it with an incredible variety of styles. There is the usual assortment of high carat coloured and white diamond or sap-phire solitaires, but some novelties like the “Retro” group (originals from Boucheron, René Lalique or Tiffany & Co), the menagerie group (Cartier panthers and birds), and Art Deco treasures (René Boivin) etc… In short, they are all investment pieces that one can wear.

www.christies.com

Multi-gem ‘Les Oiseaux Libérés’ Ring by Cartier. Estimate 120,000–180,000 CHF.

Late 19th century Emerald and Diamond Necklace by Tiffany & Co. Estimate: 700,000–1,200,000 CHF.

Retro Sapphire and Diamond Bangle by Boucheron, circa 1937. Estimate: 80,000–120,000 CHF.

www.christies.com

Fancy Intense Purplish Pink Diamond Ring of 8.52 carats. Estimate: 3,500,000–5,000,000 CHF.

Art Déco Ruby Bracelet by Van Cleef & Arpels, circa 1939. Estimate: 700,000–1,200,000 CHF.

Kashmir Sapphire (15.08 carats, no heat) and Diamond Ring. Estimate: 800,000–1,200,000 CHF.

“This is a first in the sense that we have never offered so many high quality designs at one single Magnificent Jewels auction. We are very excited about the diversi-ty of pieces, from an 8.52-carats fancy intense purplish pink diamond contemporary ring via an important late 19th Century Emerald and Diamond Necklace by Tiffany & Co, to two superb Art Deco ‘Ludo’ Bracelets by Van Cleef & Arpels – one with sap-phires and the other with rubies”, Jean-Marc Lunel, Senior International Specialist, Christie’s Jewellery Department, shares.

Starting on May 1st on the other side of the Atlantic is another major event. Not an auction but a one-of-a-kind exhibition, Celebrating Royal Fabergé – The Return. From May 1 – 18, 2018, A La Vieille Russie (ALVR) will pres-ent rare and important works of art created by Court Jeweller Peter Carl Fabergé (1846–1920) at its new galleries at 745 Fifth Avenue, New York City. “These works have just returned

to ALVR from loan to the museum exhibition, Royal Fabergé, at the iconic Sainsbury Centre for the Visual Arts in Norwich, England, which also included 65 loans from Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II”, the team says. For the first time, these extraordinary Fabergé works of art will be shown together in the US, including a piece relating to and formerly in the British Royal collection.

www.alvr.com

Fabergé Cigarette Case c. 1910 in gold, enamel with rose-cut diamonds. “The Art Nouveau decoration of this gold and royal blue enamel cigarette case has an Egyptian-inspired design of gold gingko leaves with rose diamond buds.”

Fabergé Panagia by workmaster Henrik Wigstrom, c.1910 in gold, diamonds, sapphires, pearls, and enamel. “Wearing a Panagia, or icon pendant, distinguishes an Orthodox bishop from other clergy. In a setting of gold, diamonds, sapphires and pearls, this fine cloisonné enamel medallion of Christ Pantocrator is based on an 11th-century icon.”

Note: This is not a selling exhibition however many of the Fabergé pieces will be for sale

after the exhibition closes.

Included in the exhibition are superb works such as a gift to ballerina Anna Pavlova presented by Czar Nicholas II and his wife Alexandra Feodorovna; a sculpture related to Charles Darwin; a five-color gold double

marriage cup; a Japanese-inspired dessert cutlery set; a potato carved from pink-brown agate; and Vara Panina (the gypsy singer), the most famous of the Fabergé figurines, along with many other masterpieces.

www.alvr.comFabergé Dessert Set by workmaster Julius Rappoport, c.1890, in silver, copper, and gold. “This set of fruit and cheese cutlery illustrates Fabergé’s fondness for Japonisme. Handles have been repurposed from a traditional Japanese utility knife called a kogatana. Most are signed by master craftsmen, such as Ishiguro Masaharu, Nakajima Toshiharu and Hamano Masayuki. Each handle is uniquely ornamented with Japanese motifs. Metalwork techniques include shibuichi, an alloy of silver and copper blended in varied proportions to achieve colors ranging from grey to blue or green. Others are made of copper, and some are shakudo, an alloy of gold and copper treated to resemble lacquer.”