Come November 12, you have a chance to buy yourself some coloured diamonds, pearls, Kashmir sapphires, Burmese rubies and Colombian emeralds as well as signed jewels and historic pieces. These precious gems will be up for grabs at Christie’s Geneva Magnificent Jewels auction.
The jewels, which were on view at Christie’s London last month, will travel to the Four Seasons Hotel des Bergues in Geneva next week, and can be viewed by those wanting to feast their eyes. Transformable jewels will star in the sale with art deco designs from Cartier, including three brooches, formerly in the collection of Countess Béatrice of Granard OBE (1883-1972) (estimate: CHF 180,000 - 220,000 /Rs 1.2 crore to Rs 1.5 crore ). Born Beatrice Mills, daughter of the American financier and banker Ogden Mills, Beatrice became known as a famous hostess and racehorse owner and breeder. She married in 1909 the 8th Earl of Granard, living between Paris and Castle Forbes in Ireland.
Then there is an art deco diamond Bandeau by Cartier, which can also be worn as a choker, two bracelets and as a brooch (estimate: CHF 300,000 - 500,000 /approx Rs 2 crore to 3.5 crore). The bandeau was in fashion during the early 20th century and is said to enjoy a resurgence today. It transcended the art nouveau, belle epoque and into the art deco period where the bandeau was the most fashionable accessory.
Agencies
Superb Art Deco Diamond Bandeau, Cartier. (Image: christies.com)
Further examples of transformable jewels from leading jewellery houses include an iconic diamond ‘zip’ necklace by Van Cleef & Arpels. The auction will also present an unusual turquoise and diamond Belle Époque brooch, circa 1910, acquired by Dame Nellie Melba at the peak of her career. She was a popular singer in the late Victorian era and the early 20th century. Fun fact: Peach Melba, a dessert of peaches and raspberry sauce with vanilla ice cream was named after her.
Agencies
Diamond ‘Zip’ necklace by Van Cleef & Arpels. (Image: christies.com)
Glitter, Gold And More: Najmat Taiba And Other Jewellery That Made Headlines
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All That Glitters
By Viandra D'souza
The world’s largest gold ring according to the Guinness Book of Records, the Najmat Taiba, will be on display in Sharjah in June.
The 21-carat Najmat Taiba weighs 64 kg, and is studded with five lakh diamonds and precious stones, as well as 615 Swarovski crystals
Take a look at other jewellery pieces that made headlines with their size.
(Image: www.dubaicity.com)
Sparkling Glory
It may not have been the largest necklace, but it made news for its centrepiece — the biggest-ever D-flawless diamond to be up for auction. In 2017, ‘The Art of de GRISOGONO’ emerald and diamond necklace fetched $33.7 million at a Christie’s auction in Geneva. The exquisite necklace, made by Swiss jeweller de Grisogono, had a 163-carat diamond at its centre. The necklace went to an anonymous buyer. It took a team of 14 craftsmen working for over 1,700 hours to create the piece.
(Image: www.christies.com)
Circle Of Life
Visitors were awestruck at the sight of a 24 kg gold bangle on display in 2008, when GoldPlus, a jewellery division of Titan, unveiled the massive ornament in Erode. Thirty craftsmen in Hosur worked for 21 days on the piece, with a circumference of 1,830 mm. The 22-carat, 140 mm-wide bangle made it to the Limca Book of Records for its size.
Touch Of Pink
In 2015, a ring with the largest pink diamond was auctioned by Christie’s in Geneva and sold to a Hong Kong billionaire businessman Joseph Lau for $28.5 million. Named ‘Sweet Josephine’ after Lau’s then seven-year-old daughter Josephine, the ring is set with a cushion-shaped fancy vivid pink diamond, weighing approximately 16.08 carats, surrounded by more diamonds and mounted in platinum and gold. Billionaire Lau, a convicted felon and fugitive, bought a blue diamond the next day from Sotheby’s, naming it the Blue Moon of Josephine Diamond. It was speculated that Lau was laundering money with these purchases.
(Image: www.sothebys.com)
Ringing True
In 2011, Romanian jewellery designer and Arizonian resident, Adrian Ionel Haiduc, used crystals, gemstones, beads and pearls to create a super-sized earring. Haiduc sewed it all painstakingly onto a silk string, creating the longest earring at 472.66 metres. It earned a spot in the World Record Academy.