May might be emerald month, but in Geneva, on Wednesday it was all about the ruby.
A Harry Winston ring set with a 22.86-carat Burmese ruby flanked by half-moon diamonds led Christie’s jewelry auction, selling for $7.1 million, more than double its pre-sale estimates.
Coming in a close second at the Magnificent Jewels sale was an unmounted 118.05-carat fancy yellow cushion modified brilliant-cut diamond, which also doubled pre-sale estimates to garner $7 million.
At No. 3 in the jewelry auction was a natural saltwater pearl sautoir (seen below) featuring 110 pearls ranging from approximately 14.75 mm to 7.45 mm in size.
It went for well above its pre-sale estimate of $2.5-$3.5 million, with a buyer paying $5.7 million for the piece.
Christie’s jewelry auction also featured a couple of jewels with royal backgrounds.
The Imperial Emerald of Grand Duchess Vladimir (seen below), which features a 75.61-carat pear-shaped Colombian emerald, was first owned by Catherine the Great before winding its way through the Russian royal family.
Expected to fetch between $2.3 and $3.5 million, the necklace went for $4.3 million Wednesday. 
Meanwhile, the Fabergé aquamarine and diamond tiara (seen below) that garnered much attention before the jewelry auction more than doubled its pre-sale estimates, selling for $1 million.
Made in 1904 as a wedding gift from Frederick Francis IV, grand duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin (1882-1945), to Princess Alexandra of Hanover and Cumberland (1882-1963), the piece is comprised of nine graduated pear-shaped aquamarines and old-, cushion- and rose-cut diamonds.
Notably, the “Ana Maria Pearl,” the historic 30.24-carat pearl that Swiss gem lab SSEF radiocarbon age-dated prior to the jewelry auction, failed to sell Wednesday.
The Christie’s Magnificent Jewels sale totalled $62.6 million.
Author: Canadian Jeweller Magazine Staff
Canadian Jeweller Magazine Staff is the shared byline for reporting filed by the magazine's editorial desk. Founded in 1879, Canadian Jeweller is the longest running jewellery business publication in Canada, covering market reporting, retail strategy, watches, diamonds, coloured gemstones and the commerce of the Canadian jewellery trade. Work published under this byline is edited and verified by the Canadian Jeweller editorial team in Toronto.
