Christie’s Paris Jewelry Sale Yields Highest

A 7.58-carat Kashmir sapphire was the top lot at the most recent Christie’s Paris auction, bringing in $1 million and driving the most valuable jewelry sale in France.

The antique cushion brilliant step-cut stone, which belonged to a royal family, more than doubled its $436,715 high price tag, Christie’s said last week. In total, the Joaillerie Paris sale, which ran from June 9 to 21, garnered $12 million, beating its $9.8 million presale upper estimate.

Some 58% of items on offer sold for more than their high estimates, the auction house noted. Bidders from 28 countries participated in the sale, which included jewels from Bulgari, Cartier, JAR, Harry Winston, Tiffany & Co., and Van Cleef & Arpels.

Here are the other top lots sold at the auction:

This Van Cleef & Arpels ring bearing an oval step-cut Burmese ruby weighing between 6.5 and 7.5 carats, flanked by half-moon-shaped old-cut diamonds, went for $611,000, nearly tripling its high price tag.

A triple-strand natural pearl and diamond necklace fetched $570,000, surpassing its $327,506 upper estimate.

Christie’s sold this cushion modified brilliant-cut, 29.60-carat, fancy-intense-yellow, VS1-clarity diamond for $570,000, above its presale high price tag. The piece is from the family collection of Prince Barbu Stirbey, the former prime minister of Romania.

This ring featuring an emerald-cut, 16.20-carat, I-color, VS1-clarity diamond by Cartier sold for $440,167, just over its upper estimate.

An octagonal step-cut, 32.63-carat Ceylon sapphire ring flanked by trilliant-cut diamonds created by Chaumet garnered $385,249, more than double its high presale price.

Main image: The 7.58-carat sapphire. (Christie’s)