The “Blue Moon of Josephine”. An exceptional Fancy Vivid Blue diamond, 12.03 carats. Sold for $48,468,158 at Sotheby’s Geneva. World Auction Record Price per Carat for a Diamond or Gemstone ($4 million per carat).
To this day arguably the most highly valued diamond in auction history at more than $4 million per carat, the 12.03-carat
Blue Moon of Josephine
captivated the world ahead of its auction in November 2015. Eventually the hammer came down on a final sale price of $48.5 million.
View lot
The Patek Philippe Henry Graves “Supercomplication”. Sold for $23,983,140 at Sotheby’s Geneva. World Auction Record for Any Timepiece.
The
Henry Graves Supercomplication
re-established its supreme status as the most valuable timepiece in auction history, selling for $24 million (CHF 23.2 million) in November 2014. Five bidders competed over the course of 15 suspenseful minutes, and when the gavel went down, the Henry Graves Supercomplication shattered the previous world record by nearly $13 million (CHF 12.5 million).
View lot
The “Graff Pink”. An exceptionally important and exquisite Fancy Intense Pink diamond, 24.78 carats. Sold for $46,158,674 at Sotheby’s Geneva. World Auction Record Price for a Pink Diamond.
Described at the time as "the most fabulous diamond I've seen in the history of my career” by the celebrated jeweller Laurence Graff, who purchased the stone and renamed it,
the "Graff Pink"
holds the world auction record for any pink diamond. It sold for $46.2 million in November 2010 – a world auction record for any diamond at the time.
View lot
The “Unique Patek Philippe, Ref. 3448”. Sold for $1,550,001 at Sotheby’s Geneva.
Manufactured between 1962 and 1982,
reference 3448
was not only the first automatic perpetual calendar wristwatch made in series by Patek Philippe, but the first by any watch company. A highlight of the Important Watches auction in November 2008, this beautiful piece reached an impressive $1.5 million at auction.
View lot
The “Unique Pink”. A superb Fancy Vivid Pink diamond ring, 15.38 carats. Sold for $31,561,200 at Sotheby’s Geneva. World Auction Record Price for a Fancy Vivid Pink Diamond.
When the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) assessed
this exceptionally rare stone
ahead of its auction in May 2016, its specialists said it was "astonishing" to see such tone and saturation in a Fancy Vivid Pink diamond of 15.38 carats. Little wonder perhaps that the diamond’s price of $31.6 million set a new world auction record for a Fancy Vivid Pink diamond and led the way for the highest total for any jewellery sale in history: $175 million.
View lot
A Perpetual Calendar Chronograph Patek Philippe, retailed by Asprey, 1952. Sold for $1,773,206 at Sotheby’s Geneva.
The 2499 is recognised as one of the most important perpetual calendar chronograph wristwatches made by Patek Philippe. When the model was launched in 1950, Patek Philippe was still the only watchmaker to manufacture such a complication. Making its first ever appearance at auction in November 2006,
this 2499
soared to reach a final price of $1.8 million. The only known example of this reference retailed by Asprey, it is certainly one of the rarest and most significant examples of the reference ever to be offered for sale.
View lot
The “Sunrise Ruby”. A superb and extremely rare ruby and diamond ring, 25.59 carats. Sold for $30,335,698 at Sotheby’s Geneva. World Auction Record Price for a Ruby and for a Jewel by Cartier.
"In over 40 years, I cannot recall ever having seen another Burmese ruby of this exceptional size possessing such outstanding colour." Those are the words of Sothebys Worldwide Jewellery Chairman David Bennett, who brought the hammer down after extensive bidding on
this landmark 25.59-carat gemstone
in May 2015. The final price stands as the world auction record for a ruby: $30.3 million.
View lot
The George Thompson pocket watch by Patek Philippe, 1914. Sold for $1,541,212 at Sotheby’s Geneva.
Especially made for George Thompson, an Anglo-American entrepreneur,
this stunning piece
by Patek Philippe is one of the most important and unusual pocket watches manufactured by the prestigious company. The dials are unique and, like many of the most famous Patek Philippe watches, it bears its patron’s name. With mechanical complications including perpetual calendar, phases of the moon, split seconds chronograph with register, minute repetition and double dial work, it is a watch of exceptional ingenuity and quality. This rarity was reflected when it sold for $1.5 million in May 2006.
View lot
A Fancy Intense Pink diamond ring, 17.07 carats. Sold for $20,778,352 at Sotheby’s Geneva.
Marrying a beautiful shade with a classic emerald cut,
this Fancy Intense Pink diamond
turned heads when it achieved the highest price of the Magnificent Jewels and Noble Jewels auction in November 2016. The 17.07-carat stone took its place among the world’s great treasures, selling for $20.8 million.
View lot
The “Pink” Patek Philippe, Ref. 2499, 1951. Sold for $1,413,263 at Sotheby’s Geneva.
A further example of that most sought-after Patek Philippe Reference 2499,
this example in pink gold
is part of the first and rarest series of the model’s production, made in the 1950s. Immediately distinguishable from all later series with its crisp flat rectangular pushers, a very few examples in pink gold are known to have been made by Patek Philippe. In November 2008, collectors were struck by the watch’s remarkable state of preservation, and it found a new home for the price of $1.4 million.
View lot
For close to 40 years Sotheby’s Geneva has had the privilege of offering many exquisite examples of jewellery and watches at auction. Sourced from around the world, these exceptional objects represent the very best examples of their respective categories. Click ahead to discover ten of the most significant pieces sold in our Geneva saleroom.
For more information about Sotheby's Geneva, view our Geneva location page.