Christie’s Geneva July sales realises $57,903,296

Christie’s July Luxury sales in Geneva realised a combined total of CHF54,625,751 / $57,903,296 / £45,885,630 for 195 pieces of jewellery, 226 watches, and 819 fine wines, with a combined sell through rate of 81%. Registered bidders from 42 countries, across 6 continents, participated in the July Luxury sales. The top lot of the sale week was a fancy vivid blue and colourless diamond ring by REZA, selling for CHF8.7 million in Magnificent Jewels sale.

“Our 102nd week of sales in Geneva took place under extraordinary circumstances with social distancing, not just at the pre-sale exhibition but also at all three live auctions. Nevertheless, collectors showed great resilience and confidence as they bid and bought all week long, starting with the Cartier clocks to fine wrist watches, rare wines to superb gems. The star of the week was a twin stone blue and white diamond ring by Parisian jeweler, Reza, which achieved $ 9.2m after spirited bidding between several telephones. A 100ct perfect D color diamond was purchased by Moussaieff jewelers who continue to acquire the rare and unusual gems of the world.” commented Francois Curiel, Chairman of Christie’s Europe

Aline Sylla-Walbaum, International Business Manager of the Luxury Cluster commented: “Christie’s has been the Jewels market leader for 26 years. Our commitment to excellence combined with our strong personal relationships has built our reputation, which in turn has created trust; the most important factor for clients when buying at auction, might it be live or online. The Geneva sale season, which operated under strict sanitary guidelines, including reduced attendance in the auction room, saw strong participation of buyers from 42 countries over the phone and online. With a combined sale result of CHF 54.6 million and a sell-through rate of 81%, we are now looking forward to London and New York to conclude the July Luxury Sales month, which started in Hong Kong.”

The Magnificent Jewels auction totalled CHF40,099,688 / $42,505,669 / £33,683,738 and achieved sell through rates of 88% by value and 80% by lot. Coloured and colourless diamonds remained the attraction with the international clients, joining us from 4 continents, mainly by phone and online. The room – restricted to 100 visitors- was very active and several lots sold to the room.

Top lot of the sale was an exceptional diamond ring by REZA made of a fancy vivid blue IF diamond of 5.34 carats and a D-colour, IF diamond of 5.37 carats, selling for CHF8,730,750 / $9,254,595 / £7,333,830. And once again Moussaieff excels by applying its distinctive selective eye by acquiring the rare and unusual, 100.85 carat D colour, IF diamond for CHF5.6 million.

Also, part of the sale were a pair of magical cabochon aquamarine and single-cut diamond earrings signed Margaret Jewels, a Geneva based private jeweller, sold to benefit the Swiss foundation Children’s Action. The earrings sum will be donated in its entirety to benefit the foundation’s mission to help children and young people across the world.