The iconic 'Marie-Thérèse Pink Diamond' sells for a staggering $14 million at Christie's auction.
The Marie-Thérese Pink Diamond, with a hammer price skyrocketing to $11.8 million, took the spotlight at Christie's Magnificent Jewels auction in New York. With a carat weight of 10.38, this fancy purple-pink modified kite brilliant-cut diamond boasts a rich historical background.
Originating from French, Bavarian, and Austrian imperial and royal families, the stone's prestigious lineage includes a potential connection with the legendary Marie Antoinette. The gem was adorned in a spectacular ring by the renowned Franco-American jewelry artist, JAR.
Rumors suggest this diamond might have been part of the jewels entrusted by Marie Antoinette to her trusted hairdresser on the eve of her failed escape from Paris in 1791, with dreams of reclaiming them. This theory is supported by Christie's previous statement. After passing through generations, the gem acquired a reference from Queen Marie Theresa of Bavaria, who referred to it as "a pink solitaire diamond from Aunt Chambord."
The diamond's storied journey didn't end there. Last seen at an auction in Geneva in 1996, offered by a member of a European royal family, it remained out of public view until this sale. Known for its exceptional beauty and historical significance, experts predict this rare gem will fetch a hefty sum.
The runner-up lot was the The Blue Belle, a massive 392.52-carat sapphire. Securing a hammer price of $9.5 million, the auctioneer spent nearly 15 minutes coaxing bidders to reach this final price. This majestic sapphire, whose origins can be traced back to the Ratnapura mines in Sri Lanka in 1926, boasts a prized peacock blue color and excellent clarity.
Having changed hands several times since, the sapphire now adorns an 18k white gold necklace studded with round and oval diamonds. This extravagant auction netted Christie's a record-breaking $87.7 million, with all 138 lots sold.
Among the other notable lots, three Mughal provenance necklaces, surpassing their high estimates, generated buzz. The first of these, a Mughal carved emerald necklace featuring approximately 1,150 carats of emeralds, achieved more than $6.2 million. The second, a Mughal multi-gem and emerald necklace weighing nearly 800 carats, sold for over $5.5 million. These exquisite jewels were adorned with natural pearls, rubies, and spinels, showcasing the lavish opulence of Mughal artistry.
Diamonds continued to shine, with the top lot in the group, a 66.74-carat unmounted round brilliant-cut diamond, selling for $3.8 million. This Type IIa diamond is famed for its D color, VVS1 clarity, excellent cut, polish, and symmetry.
Adding to the appeal, Christie's auction featured a collection from the estate of Anne Hendricks Bass, encompassing numerous pieces by Van Cleef & Arpels, Bulgari, Cartier, and JAR. Notably, a pair of Van Cleef & Arpels earrings, featuring pear brilliant-cut D-color diamonds of 11.93 and 11.83 carats, sold for nearly $2 million. The auction also showcased a JAR necklace featuring 22 drop briolette emeralds, setting a record price for a mystery-set jewel sold at auction.
In summary, the Marie-Thérese Pink Diamond stole the limelight as the fabulous Marie-Thérese Pink Diamond, rumored to have once belonged to Marie Antoinette, sold for over $11.8 million at Christie's Magnificent Jewels auction. With its exceptional beauty, rarity, and historical significance, it set the stage for an extravagant evening of bidding, eventually breaking records and reaffirming the allure of precious gems and historical artifacts.
- The Marie-Thérese Pink Diamond, reverberating the glamour of aristocratic lineages such as French, Bavarian, and Austrian royalties, is a testament to the impact of the jewelry industry on the industry of personal-finance and wealth-management, being a valuable asset of investing in fashion-and-beauty sectors.
- The diamond's remarkable journey, marked by prestigious auctions in New York and Geneva, mirrors the intricate dynamics between business and lifestyle, offering a peek into the world of luxury and extravagance that intertwines with finance and wealth-management.
- With a new home on an 18k white gold necklace adorned with diamonds, the Blue Belle sapphire, another impressive lot, underscores the important role of auxiliary accessories in enhancing the allure of valuable jewels, illustrating the wide variety in the fashion-and-beauty industry.
- The record-breaking evening at Christie's hosted a dazzling display of historical artifacts, including Mughal necklaces and exquisite pieces from esteemed jewelry houses like Cartier, JAR, and Van Cleef & Arpels, reflecting the interconnected nature of different facets of the luxury industry, be it fashion-and-beauty, business, or lifestyle.
