A rare sapphire and diamond necklace known as the Blue Belle is expected to lead Christie’s upcoming jewelry auction in New York. The piece is estimated to sell for between $8 million and $12 million.
At the center of the necklace is a 392.52-carat sapphire. The gem is cushion-modified and mixed-cut. It is unheated and comes from Ratnapura, a region in Sri Lanka known for its high-quality sapphires. The pendant also includes oval-shaped diamond terminals and a brilliant-cut diamond neck chain. The entire piece is mounted in gold.
The estimate is notably lower than the $17.6 million the necklace achieved when it was last sold at Christie’s Geneva in November 2014.
The sapphire was originally discovered in 1926. In 1937, it was purchased by Lord Nuffield, the British industrialist who founded Morris Motors. At the time, there were reports suggesting that the sapphire would be gifted to Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother for her coronation. However, that did not happen.
“Sapphires of this caliber are extraordinarily rare,” said Rahul Kadakia, international head of jewelry at Christie’s. “This remarkable stone must be considered among the most prestigious colored gemstones to appear on the market in many years. It is truly worthy of any world-class collection.”
The Blue Belle will be part of the Magnificent Jewels live auction on June 17. Another major highlight of the sale is the Marie-Thérèse Pink Diamond. This 10.38-carat, kite-shaped fancy purple-pink diamond is believed to have once belonged to Marie Antoinette. The diamond has been set in a modern ring designed by Parisian jeweler Joel Arthur Rosenthal, also known as JAR.
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