Winston Blue Breaks Sales Record at Christie’s Geneva

(IDEX Online News) – A 13.22-carat blue diamond, the largest flawless Fancy Vivid blue diamond in the world, was purchased for a record $23,795,372 at Christie’s Magnificent Jewels sale in Geneva, Switzerland.

The diamond was purchased by Harry Winston, which has named it “The Winston Blue.”

“In January 2013 we purchased Harry Winston and since then my ambition has been to acquire the most desirable and unique gems,” said Harry Winston CEO Nayla Hayek. “When Christie’s announced they were offering the largest flawless fancy-vivid blue the GIA had ever graded, I had to buy it.”

Sales at the auction totaled $154.2 million, which is the highest total ever for a jewelry sale in auction history.

Other record prices were achieved at the sale, including a 76.51-carat light-pink diamond, which sold for $10 million; a 5.5-carat blue-green diamond, which realized a price of $8.6m; a 21.41-carat Russian alexandrite, which achieved a record price of $1.3 million, and a 49.04-carat pink sapphire which was sold for $2 million.

“World auction prices were achieved in a record-breaking auction with intense bidding throughout the sale,” said Rahul Kadakia, International Head of Christie’s Jewellery Department.

“The Cartier Devant de Corsage Brooch realized a staggering $17.5 million, a 660-percent increase having first sold for $2.65 million at Christie’s Geneva back in 1991. The jewelry market continues to remain extremely vibrant and we look forward to a buoyant season as we move into auctions at Christie’s Hong Kong, London, Paris and New York.”