Sapphire Necklace Sells for $15M at Christie’s

A rare sapphire necklace was the top seller at Christie’s Magnificent Jewels auction in Hong Kong, which garnered about $60 million in total on Tuesday.

The Peacock Necklace, which had a presale estimate of $12 million to $15 million, became the most expensive Kashmir sapphire necklace per carat in auction history, Christie’s said.

 The piece contains 21 cushion-cut Kashmir sapphires weighing a total of 109.08 carats. It fetched $15 million at the sale, achieving a price of $137,146 per carat.

Christie’s also garnered $1.3 million from the sale of the 24.04-carat, fancy-yellow Moon of Baroda pendant, which Marilyn Monroe wore to the premiere of her 1953 movie, Gentlemen Prefer Blondes. The piece smashed its estimate of $500,000 to $750,000. An autographed photo of the actress wearing the necklace fetched $35,302, compared with its original estimate of $10,000 to $15,000.

An oval-shaped, 10.04-carat, Burmese pigeon’s blood ruby and diamond ring brought in $7.2 million in line with an expected $6.9 million to $8.7 million. A set of pear brilliant-cut, fancy-pink earrings weighing 5.21 carats and 5.01 carats sold for $4.3 million, within its presale valuation range of $3.8 million to $4.5 million .

Christie’s sold 70% of lots on offer at the auction.

Image: The Peacock Necklace. (Christie’s)

Source: DCLA

Sapphire Necklace Sells for $15M at Christie’s

A rare sapphire necklace was the top seller at Christie’s Magnificent Jewels auction in Hong Kong, which garnered about $60 million in total on Tuesday.

The Peacock Necklace, which had a presale estimate of $12 million to $15 million, became the most expensive Kashmir sapphire necklace per carat in auction history, Christie’s said.

 The piece contains 21 cushion-cut Kashmir sapphires weighing a total of 109.08 carats. It fetched $15 million at the sale, achieving a price of $137,146 per carat.

Christie’s also garnered $1.3 million from the sale of the 24.04-carat, fancy-yellow Moon of Baroda pendant, which Marilyn Monroe wore to the premiere of her 1953 movie, Gentlemen Prefer Blondes. The piece smashed its estimate of $500,000 to $750,000. An autographed photo of the actress wearing the necklace fetched $35,302, compared with its original estimate of $10,000 to $15,000.

An oval-shaped, 10.04-carat, Burmese pigeon’s blood ruby and diamond ring brought in $7.2 million in line with an expected $6.9 million to $8.7 million. A set of pear brilliant-cut, fancy-pink earrings weighing 5.21 carats and 5.01 carats sold for $4.3 million, within its presale valuation range of $3.8 million to $4.5 million .

Christie’s sold 70% of lots on offer at the auction.

Image: The Peacock Necklace. (Christie’s)

Source: DCLA

DCLA has opened a second diamond laboratory

Australia’s International listed and recognised diamond grading laboratory DCLA, has opened a second office under the directorship of Mr Matthew Zamel.

The new office Address 319/38 Gawler Place Adelaide SA 5000 This is the first after 17 years as Australia’s trusted name in diamond analysis certification.

DCLA employs the most qualified, knowledgeable people using the most technologically advanced gemmological equipment and references available worldwide.

DCLA remains the only laboratory who can guarantee all diamonds ever graded are untreated and natural mined origin.

DCLA founded in 2001 is an Australian based company and proudly the only Diamond grading laboratory recognised by international bodies from its founding.

About US

The DCLA is an Australian owned company.

The DCLA shareholders and directors have a heritage of over 3 generations in the industry.

The DCLA directors come from a long line of professional diamond cutters and markers.

Our involvement in the diamond trade has been from Diamond mining and in Africa, to our Cutting works in South Africa and most recently the formation in 2001 of the DCLA laboratory in Australia.

Source: DCLA

DCLA has opened a second diamond laboratory

Australia’s International listed and recognised diamond grading laboratory DCLA, has opened a second office under the directorship of Mr Matthew Zamel.

The new office Address 319/38 Gawler Place Adelaide SA 5000 This is the first after 17 years as Australia’s trusted name in diamond analysis certification.

DCLA employs the most qualified, knowledgeable people using the most technologically advanced gemmological equipment and references available worldwide.

DCLA remains the only laboratory who can guarantee all diamonds ever graded are untreated and natural mined origin.

DCLA founded in 2001 is an Australian based company and proudly the only Diamond grading laboratory recognised by international bodies from its founding.

About US

The DCLA is an Australian owned company.

The DCLA shareholders and directors have a heritage of over 3 generations in the industry.

The DCLA directors come from a long line of professional diamond cutters and markers.

Our involvement in the diamond trade has been from Diamond mining and in Africa, to our Cutting works in South Africa and most recently the formation in 2001 of the DCLA laboratory in Australia.

Source: DCLA

Lucapa Diamonds highest dollar per carat miner dazzles the market

Lucapa Diamond Company is well advanced with a strategic plan to unlock greater wealth from its asset portfolio by expanding production of large, premium value diamonds and continuing exploration programmes to make new discoveries.

Its operations include an extensive exploration programme at its 40% owned Lulo alluvial mine to locate the hardrock source or sources of the exceptional alluvial diamonds and the development of a second high value diamond mine at Mothae in Lesotho.

Source: DCLA

Lucapa Diamonds highest dollar per carat miner dazzles the market

Lucapa Diamond Company is well advanced with a strategic plan to unlock greater wealth from its asset portfolio by expanding production of large, premium value diamonds and continuing exploration programmes to make new discoveries.

Its operations include an extensive exploration programme at its 40% owned Lulo alluvial mine to locate the hardrock source or sources of the exceptional alluvial diamonds and the development of a second high value diamond mine at Mothae in Lesotho.

Source: DCLA

De Beers Sales Slip to $440M

De Beers recorded its lowest-value sales cycle this year as weak Indian demand prompted it to drop prices of cheaper goods.

Proceeds fell to $440 million in November as the miner reduced prices by high-single-digit percentages for rough diamonds costing $100 per carat or less, sightholders said last week.

The Indian manufacturing sector has struggled with thinning profit margins due to relatively high rough prices and the weak rupee, while tighter bank lending has further contributed to a decline in demand.

November is also seasonally slow as factories close for the Diwali festival.

Proceeds from the ninth sales cycle fell 6% compared with the equivalent period a year ago, and were down 9% versus the $482 million it garnered in October, De Beers reported Tuesday.

“As the industry’s focus turns towards the key end-of-year retail selling season, rough-diamond sales continued to be in line with expectation during the ninth cycle of the year,” said De Beers CEO Bruce Cleaver.

“While demand for smaller, lower-quality rough diamonds continues to see some challenges, the latest cycle saw some signs of improvement in this area as factories in India begin to reopen after Diwali.”

Rough-diamond sales came to $4.85 billion for the first nine cycles of the year, in line with a year ago, according to Rapaport calculations. The company offers its rough goods at 10 sales cycles across the year, mainly at sights in Gaborone, Botswana. Its sales figures also include auction proceeds.

Image: A De Beers sightholder examines a parcel of rough diamonds. (Kieran Doherty/De Beers)

Source: Diamonds.net