Entitled ‘THE BLUE’, The largest flawless vivid blue diamond in the world will lead the Christie’s Geneva sale on May 14, as well as 440 iconic watches on May 12th.
Weighing 13.22 carats the stone will lead Christie’s auction of Magnificent Jewels to be held in Geneva on 14 May 2014 at the Four Seasons Hotel des Bergues. Just six months earlier, Christie’s Geneva sold THE ORANGE, the largest fancy vivid orange diamond in the world for US$35.5 million, a world record for an orange diamond and a world auction record price per carat for any diamond at US$2.4 million. THE BLUE is estimated to fetch US$21,000,000 – 25,000,000 / SFr.19,000,000 – 23,000,000 and is the leading gem of the 250 lot strong sale which is estimated to fetch a total in the region of US$80 million / SFr.73 million.
On 12 May Christie’s will present a feast of 440 watches throughout the centuries of watch making. Over 350 years of development in the watch making will be demonstrated with an array of vintage and contemporary pieces, alongside two important private collections proving the unquestionable passion for the field. With estimates ranging from SFr.1,500 to SFr.1,000,000, the sale is expected to fetch in the region of SFr.20 million.
Over the years the desire to own a “Khanjar” or “Qaboos” has continuously grown, making these rare watches highly attractive for collectors of vintage Rolex watches to complete their collection. His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said al Said is well known for his formidable watch collection and his habit of having watches personalized and then giving them as gifts to loyal servants and foreign dignitaries. These watches are identified by either the national emblem of Oman, the Khanjar dagger in a sheathe superimposed upon two crossed swords surmounted by a crown on the dial or with His Majesty’s signature applied to the dial or to the case. The two top lots are Rolex Oyster Cosmograph ref. 6265 models, one decorated with the Khanjar, the famous crest of the Sultanate of Oman (estimate: SFr.140,000-300,000 / US$150,000-330,000), the second the only known example of a gold reference 6265 featuring the red Qaboos signature one the dial, representing the exceedingly rare opportunity to acquire a unique Daytona chronograph (estimate: SFr. 240,000-400,000 / US$250,000-440,000).
Christie’s Magnificent Jewels sale will be held on 14 May. The auction house’s will be held on 12 May. For more information visit www.christies.com
