A historic moment unfolded at Christie\u2019s Geneva as the iconic Aga Khan Emerald shattered world auction records for an emerald sold at auction, fetching a staggering CHF7,765,000 (US$8,859,865). This extraordinary 37-carat gemstone, previously owned by the renowned British socialite Nina Dyer who was briefly married to Prince Sadruddin Aga Khan, had first graced the auction block 55 years ago at the inaugural Christie\u2019s Jewellery auction in Switzerland, where it sold for US$205,486.<\/p>\n
The emerald, a testament to nature\u2019s artistry, captivated bidders with its exceptional size, quality, and rich history. It served as the centrepiece of the Magnificent Jewels auction, which collectively achieved a total of CHF47,940,450 (US$54,700,053).<\/p>\n
Francois Curiel, Chairman of Christie\u2019s Europe, who witnessed the emerald\u2019s initial sale as an intern, expressed his awe: \u201cThe emerald was breathtaking 55 years ago and is even more admired today. It is so rare to see a jewel of its size and quality and I feel privileged to have had the winning bidder on the phone 55 years later, here in Geneva in 2024.\u201d<\/p>\n
The auction also featured a collection of five previously unrecorded Sassoon Cartier jewels from the Art Deco era, which together realised CHF6,805,100 (US$7,764,620). A particularly stunning 1935 Art Deco diamond necklace stole the show, selling for CHF4,461,500 (US$5,090,571).<\/p>\n
Max Fawcett, Head of Jewellery Europe, commented on the auction\u2019s success: \u201cThe Magnificent Jewels auction was a huge success with bidding activity on every lot from collectors all over the world. The market for signed vintage jewels and coloured gemstones of the highest quality is as strong as it has ever been, and we are very proud to have set a world record for the most expensive emerald ever sold at auction. We now look to New York, London and Paris to finish what has been an extraordinary year in a challenging macroeconomic environment.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
A historic moment unfolded at Christie\u2019s Geneva as the iconic Aga Khan Emerald shattered world auction records for an emerald sold at auction, fetching a staggering CHF7,765,000 (US$8,859,865). This extraordinary 37-carat gemstone, previously owned by the renowned British socialite Nina Dyer who was briefly married to Prince Sadruddin Aga Khan, had first graced the auction…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":28590,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[83],"tags":[],"thb-sponsors":[],"class_list":["post-28589","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-bulletin"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n