Despite anticipation and high expectations, the top four headline pieces failed to sell at Phillips Geneva Jewels Auction: IV, held Monday at the Wilson Hotel. Among the unsold treasures was the marquee lot: a pendent necklace featuring a 53.14-carat old mine brilliant-cut fancy vivid yellow diamond, further adorned with a circular-cut diamond. The show-stopping piece carried a pre-sale estimate of 2.1 million – 3.1 million Swiss francs ($2.4 million – $3.5 million) but did not attract a successful bid.
Also among the high-profile pieces that went unsold:
A Van Cleef & Arpels ring set with a 7.10-carat Kashmir sapphire, encircled by diamonds, estimated at $900,000 – $1.5 million
A 1.85-carat fancy vivid orangy pink diamond, with an estimate of $650,000 – $1 million
A ring showcasing a 10.69-carat unheated Burmese oval ruby, flanked by two half-moon diamonds and accented with brilliant-cut diamonds, estimated at $475,000 – $740,000
The lack of sales for these top lots suggests continued selectiveness among high-end jewelry collectors and possible recalibration in the colored gemstone and fancy diamond markets. However, interest in exceptional quality remains strong across the broader market, especially for signed pieces and rare untreated gems.
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