Exceptional Fancy Vivid Pink diamond ring, weighing 6.21 carats, VS1 Clarity, Excellent Polish and Symmetry, Type IIa. Estimate: CHF 9,540,000–13,630,000 / US$10,500,000–15,000,000. The Geneva Jewels Auction: TWO.
Poetry in Pink
Exceptional Fancy Vivid Pink diamond ring, weighing 6.21 carats, VS1 Clarity, Excellent Polish and Symmetry, Type IIa. Estimate: CHF 9,540,000–13,630,000 / US$10,500,000–15,000,000. The Geneva Jewels Auction: TWO.
Pink diamonds have long captivated gem lovers with an inherent juxtaposition. In them, the softest of colors — with pink’s rich associations to unconditional love, compassion, and innocence — is expressed by the hardest of stones. Exceedingly rare, they showcase the seductive mystery of nature with an unparalleled elegance. Of all the diamonds submitted annually to the GIA for inspection, typically no more than 3% of them are colored diamonds, and of that small number, less than 5% are pink diamonds. But the incredible 6.21 carat stone in the present ring — Fancy Vivid Pink, VS1 Clarity, and Type IIa — is a particularly elite example of such rare discoveries. It also happens to be set in a spectacularly beautiful ring that showcases the natural grace and allure of both the stone and its wearer with ease.
The forces of nature that give pink diamonds their color remain somewhat mysterious — distortions to a diamond’s atomic lattice are caused by physical stresses in the earth’s mantle generations ago — but it is unquestionable that only the finest artisans are trusted with such important and rare stones. In the case of the present Fancy Vivid Pink diamond, following its discovery in South Africa, it was manufactured in Belgium at Flanders Diamond Manufacturing by expert polisher Hans Franckx. Such is the magnificence of the stone that Mr. Franckx remarked: “From my thirty years experience in manufacturing exceptional diamonds, this is by far the most rare and stunning pink diamond I have ever come across.”
Yes to Yellow
Important Fancy Vivid Yellow diamond ring, weighing 27.27 carats, VS1 Clarity, Excellent Polish and Symmetry. Estimate: CHF$1,000,000–1,820,000 / US$1,100,000–2,000,000. The Geneva Jewels Auction: TWO.
Known for its universally eye-catching characteristics, yellow is also seen to symbolize hope, joy, light, and dignity. And what could be more bright, exuberant, and majestic than the stone in this ring? Weighing an astonishing 27.27 carats, this yellow diamond is Fancy Vivid — the highest possible grade of color for colored diamonds. With their yellow hue caused by chemical replacement resulting from natural occurrences deep below the earth’s surface, yellow diamonds are a rare invitation for owners to join a story billions of years in the making.
Rarest in Red
‘The Argyle Phoenix,’ Very rare and mesmerizing Fancy Red diamond ring, weighing 1.56 carats. Estimate: CHF910,000–1,365,000 / US$1,000,000–1,500,000. The Geneva Jewels Auction: TWO.
Red diamonds are so rare that very few were historically documented prior to the middle of the last century. What’s more, the annual global output of red diamonds is so small that it can typically be counted on one hand. As such, there is very little chance a red diamond as remarkable as the Argyle Phoenix will ever be discovered again. So supreme is its rarity — unique for its unusual and attractive shape and cut — that it is the largest round brilliant red diamond to be graded as Fancy by the GIA to date. An ultimate gem, the color red’s associations with courage, desire, and passion add a special charge to the allure expressed by the remarkable stone.
Taking its name from the mythological creature, the Argyle Phoenix emerged from the metaphorical ashes of the Western Australian Argyle open pit mine — a site lauded not only for the remarkably rare stones it manifested, but also for its commitment to local indigenous communities and dedication to sustainability and safety. Few locations on earth generate as much intrigue among gem-lovers as the Argyle mine, and with its closure in 2020, the first chapter of its story is complete. Now, it is the discerning taste and knowledge of collectors who can carry the wonder and majesty of its history forward.
Pastoral in Green
Fancy Intense Green diamond, diamond, and pink sapphire ring, weighing 2.26 carats, VS1 Clarity. Estimate: CHF240,000–350,000 / US$260,000–380,000. The Geneva Jewels Auction: TWO.
In this stunning ring, the natural tranquility of green — reminiscent of foliage and forests — joins the gentle allure of pink sapphires in a complex web of associations and supreme, calm beauty. The magnificently rare cut-cornered green diamond is striking and present, but quietly confident and poised in this elegant setting.
Though the rarity and beauty of colored diamonds is of course endlessly infatuating, the causes of coloration also continue to fascinate. In the case of green diamonds, the color is rendered by the presence of radiation when the diamond meets the earth’s surface, most likely caused by volcanic activity. In this ring, the colorful beauty and the natural occurrences of ages past merge in an expression that’s nothing short of timeless.
A Flawless Symphony in D
Fine pair of diamond earrings, D Colour, Flawless, Excellent Polish and Symmetry, Type IIa. Estimate: CHF1,160,000–1,640,000 / US$1,275,000–1,800,000. The Geneva Jewels Auction: TWO.
The four diamonds comprising these earrings together boast 25.49 carats of pure and dimensional beauty. The triangular-shaped diamonds on the tops flow seamlessly into the curves of the hanging pear-shaped diamonds with a grace that’s as balanced as a Mozart Minuet. The stones were clearly chosen and cut by a virtuosic artisan, with each being Flawless, D color, and with no florescence. They are simply superlative in every way.
The Geneva Jewels Auction: TWO is on view 8–13 May at Hotel President ahead of the auction on 13 May.