The Diamonds make their record in Geneve

Known for its high concentration of diamond dealers and fine jewelery shops, Geneva has been home to the finest diamond and precious jewelery sales for many years. Christie's and Sotheby's have significantly boosted Geneva and Switzerland in the auction market by setting world records. Barnebys, a partner of 2,000 auction houses around the world, reports the top 5 most beautiful diamonds passed under the hammers of Geneva since 2010.

"The fancy intense pink", 41.5 million euros in 2010 at Sotheby's

One of the rarest and most beautiful pink diamonds ever auctioned was sold in Geneva in November 2010 for 41.5 million euros by Sotheby's. This intense 24.78 carat diamond ranks 5th in the world's most expensive diamonds. According to David Bennett, president of Sotheby's High Jewelery for Europe and the Middle East, pink diamonds have been a favorite among collectors and professionals since their discovery in India, and those exceeding 20 carats are a great rarity.

The "Fancy Vivid Orange Diamond", 26 million euros at Christie's in 2013

A 14,82-carat "Vivid" orange diamond, the largest of its kind, was sold at a record price of 26 million euros in November 2013 by Christie's. Called "Fancy Vivid Orange Diamond" by the American Institute of Gemology, its brilliance is particularly intense and its pure orange color is entirely natural. Its size is close to that of a big almond and the experts estimated its price between 17 and 20 million dollars. According to David Warren, head of Christie's jewelry division, "colored diamonds are much rarer than white diamonds, especially when it comes to blue, pink or orange diamonds".

The "Winston Legacy", 23.6 million euros at Christie's in 2013

On May 15, 2013, a pure, pear-cut, 101.73-carat pure diamond broke a world record and was sold for $ 23.6 million by Christie's. Auctioned for the first time, its acquirer Harry Winston had the privilege of giving it a name: "Winston Legacy". Extracted from the Jwaheng mine in Botswana, the diamond weighed in its gross 236 carats. It took twenty-one months for a diamond cutter to give it its present appearance. The stone has been rated "D" by the American Institute of Gemology, the best possible color for a diamond. This spectacular piece now holds the 14th place of the "Harry Legacy" picture © Christie's most expensive diamonds on the Barnebys database.

"The Blue Moon", 44.8 million euros at Sotheby's in 2015

It will be necessary to wait until 2015 to see a new record genevois ... "The Blue Moon", mounted on a ring, was sold that year for the exceptional price of 44.8 million euros at Sotheby's. Weighing 12.03 carats, cushion-shaped, this diamond has been certified Fancy Vivid Blue by the American Gemological Institute, the rarest and most desirable color for a blue diamond, according to Sotheby's. Blue diamonds are considered the rarest and most expensive in the world. Some are so exceptional that it is said that their discovery happens "only once in a lifetime".

"The Oppenheimer Blue", 51.9 million euros at Christie's in 2016

At the top of our top 5 is the "Oppenheimer Blue", which in May 2016 at Christie's, explodes the record reached so far with 51.9 million euros. Certified by the GIA as "Fancy Vivid Blue", this rectangular diamond is housed on a Verdura "Eight Blades" platinum ring. This little wonder was part of the exhibition "The Power of Style: Verdura at 75" in New York in 2014.

Sotheby's announced that the diamond "Farnese Blue" would be the undeniable key lot of the next sale sale "Magnificent Jewels and Noble Jewels" of May 15, 2018. It will appear on the market for the very first time, after having belonged to the same family for centuries. Witness of 300 years of history, the "Farnese Blue" is estimated between 2.9 and 4.2 million euros. "Geneva holds a special place in the auction market, the Swiss auction houses we work with always have exceptional pieces and we can not wait to see the result of this year's auction. Concludes Pontus Silverstolpe, co-founder of Barnebys.