The 5.72-carat Fancy Intense Blue Diamond surpassed $8.8 million, taking the top spot at Christie's Magnificent Jewels auction in New York on Tuesday. Christie's noted that this marked the second-highest price achieved globally for a jewel in 2024.
The cushion-shaped, brilliant-cut blue diamond with VVS1 clarity was set in a platinum ring surrounded by round diamonds.
Harry Winston jewelry performed exceptionally well at the Rockefeller Center auction, with two pieces from the brand ranking among the top lots. The first was a pair of platinum and 18k yellow gold earrings featuring 22.42- and 21.87-carat oval mixed-cut red-pink spinels. The stones, sourced from Tanzania, were untreated without any clarity enhancements. The earrings fetched over $2.2 million, nearly quadrupling their high estimate.
The second Harry Winston piece was a pair of platinum cluster earrings with pear- and marquise-shaped diamonds. The two primary diamonds, 10.10 and 10.08 carats, were oval brilliant-cut D-color, flawless diamonds. The earrings earned over $1.8 million, reaching their high estimate.
Among the standout pieces at the auction were those signed by Van Cleef & Arpels, with 27 lots sold, many exceeding expectations. The top lot in this group was the "Mysterious Ribbon" necklace, featuring caliber-cut sapphires, round diamonds, and set in 18k white gold. The piece, which included two interchangeable additions with round diamonds and 18k white and pink gold, fetched over $1.3 million, far surpassing its high estimate.
Overall, Christie's New York Magnificent Jewels sale achieved $49.2 million, with 97% of the lots sold, according to Christie's.
