Impressive selection of signed and period jewels from private collections, some with noble provenance will be offered on sale at Sotheby’s Geneva auction of Magnificent Jewels and Noble Jewels, scheduled for May 13, 2014. Among important diamonds in the sale, the ‘Graff Vivid Yellow’ certainly stands out. This is a sensational daffodil yellow diamond weighing 100.09 carats, mounted as a ring. Of exceptional beauty and extraordinary fire and brilliance, this gem is among the largest Fancy Vivid Yellow diamonds in the world, appearing on the list of the ‘World’s Largest Cut Diamonds’ in Ian Balfour’s Famous Diamonds (2008) (lot 507, est. CHF 13,400,000 – CHF 22,300,000 / US$15,000,000 – US$25,000,000).
The selection will also include a stunning cushion brilliant-cut diamond weighing 70.33 carats. This D Colour flawless gem was found to be part of the rare Type IIa subgroup – chemically the purest of all diamond crystals and often with extraordinary optical transparency (lot 500, est. CHF 10,700,000 – 14,300,000 / $12,000,000 – 16,000,000). David Bennett, Chairman of Sotheby’s Switzerland and Chairman of the Jewellery Department for Europe and the Middle East commented: “It is a very interesting and varied sale featuring fine coloured gemstones, magnificent white diamonds, and a wide choice among many private collections of fine jewellery, some of them with noble provenance. Of particular interest to the collector will be the fascinating group of jewels by Suzanne Belperron which was formed by one of her close friends, Madame Mary Picha-Eisenstein; and a small but exquisite private collection of art nouveau jewels by René Lalique”.
The array of important diamonds in the sale also includes he Victory Diamond, named in honour of the Allied victory in World War II and Belperron jewels from the collection of Mme Picha-Eisenstein, a close friend of the celebrated designer Suzanne Belperron, an important 121.00 carat Burmese sapphire and an exquisite 12.46 carat Burmese ruby.
