From dazzling colored diamonds and gems to an impressive selection of vintage jewels, Sotheby’s global jewelry teams look back on 2023 and a year of record breaking moments, stunning stones and sensational stories.
From heart-stopping, rare, one-off gems shattering auction records worldwide to familiar favourites from prestige houses, whichever way you cut 2023, there was a sparkle and sizzle in the jewelry market over the past twelve months across our international network. Here, our New York, Geneva and UK teams look back at the year and select their most appealing pieces from our sales calendar.
Sotheby’s June Auction of Magnificent Jewels achieved a total of $95.9 million, the highest ever total for any jewelry auction ever staged at Sotheby’s New York. The sale was headlined by two outstanding gemstones – the Estrela de Fura: 55.22 and the Eternal Pink diamond, each of which achieved record-breaking prices.
The Estrela de Fura: 55.22, a 55.22-carat Mozambique ruby, sold for $34.8 million, establishing a new auction record for a ruby, as well as for any colored gemstone ever sold at auction. The Eternal Pink, a 10.57-carat Fancy Vivid Purplish Pink diamond, also earned $34.8 million, a world auction record for a Fancy Vivid Purplish Pink diamond, and a new price per carat record for the color grade.
The auction notably featured a selection of jewels from Constance Prosser Mellon and Constance Barber Mellon, of which 100% sold, including a stunning 33.51-carat Burmese sapphire ring by Cartier, which soared to $3.3 million, after a prolonged five-minute battle between multiple bidders.
December in New York also featured a record-breaking jewel, this time in the form of a 133.03-carat Fancy Vivid Yellow diamond, which became the largest diamond of the color grade ever to sell at auction, ultimately bringing $5.5 million. The auction also featured jewels from four legendary Hollywood icons – Richard Red Skelton, Frank Sinatra, Mary Tyler Moore and Tony Randall.
Leading this group of distinguished jewels was an exceedingly rare Burmese pink sapphire and diamond ring of approximately 17.55 carats, which achieved a price of $1.1 million – over seven times its high estimate.
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