A remarkable 202.18-carat fancy intense yellow fancy colour diamond stole the show at the Magnificent Jewels show in Geneva, Switzerland, kicking off Christie’s first live auction of the year with a flourish. Dubbed the “Yellow Rose,” the unmounted gem originating from South Africa fetched an impressive US$6.7 million (C$9.15 million). The Yellow Rose marks the third instance where a stone of its colour, weighing more than 200 carats, has appeared in auction.
According to Jeweller, over 95 per cent of the auction lots were sold, generating a total revenue of US$54.2 million (C$74 million). Max Fawcett, head of jewels at Christie’s said, “The market for color gemstones and fine jewelry is on fire, and I could not think of a better way to start the 2024 season.”
Other notable lots include a 15.9-carat emerald and diamond ring valued at approximately US$1.1 million (C$1.5 million), a 17.6-carat emerald mounted on a ring and estimated at US$663,000 (C$905,500), a 11-carat Kashmir sapphire ring for US$1.3 million (C$1.8 million), and a five-carat ruby and diamond ring estimated at US$1.1 million (C$1.5 million).
