Christie’s has marked one of the most impressive moments in its storied history with a “white-glove sale” in Geneva — meaning every lot offered was successfully sold.
Held at the prestigious Hôtel des Bergues, the Magnificent Jewels auction saw all 115 lots find new owners, with total sales exceeding $72.3 million. Notably, 77 of the lots sold above their high estimates, reflecting a surging interest in fine jewelry, particularly rings featuring colored diamonds.
The top lot of the evening was a ballet-inspired ring from Boucheron, featuring a ruby and colored diamond, which fetched $12.7 million. Other standout pieces included a Graff ring combining white and fancy-colored diamonds sold for $5.8 million, and a cushion-cut 10.17-carat ruby ring that reached $4.1 million.
According to Forbes, the bidding spotlight fell on a prominent collector from Moussaieff Jewellers London — renowned for serving Middle Eastern royal families and the global elite. Their most high-profile acquisition was a 6.24-carat fancy deep blue diamond ring, secured after a five-minute bidding war.
Among the artistic highlights was the “Apricot Blossom” bracelet by legendary jeweler JAR (Joel Arthur Rosenthal). Crafted from diamonds, orange and yellow enamel, patinated silver, and yellow gold, the bracelet formed part of A Bouquet of Gems: A Superb Collection of Jewels by JAR, a 21-piece private collection that garnered $7.1 million in total. The top five also featured a vintage diamond necklace by JAR, showcasing the house’s timeless elegance.
Rounding out the top 10 were iconic pieces by Harry Winston, Bulgari, Reza, and another Boucheron masterpiece — solidifying Geneva’s reputation as a global epicenter of high jewelry excellence.
This landmark auction not only underlined the strength of the market but also affirmed that high jewelry — especially signed, collectible pieces by master artisans — remains one of the most coveted forms of luxury investment today.
