2010 Record Breaking Jewelry Sales for Christies

2010 Record Breaking Jewelry Sales for Christies


In terms of antique jewelry, the year’s highlight was undoubtedly the group of 11 jewels from the collection of the Dukes of Portland in England, sold by Christie’s in London in December. The rarity, quality and provenance of these extraordinary examples of antique jewelry led to feverish bidding from private collectors and trade clients from all over the world. “The Portland Ruby”, a Burmese gem of
9.20cts, sold for US$3,375,353 (estimate: US$610,000-900,000), while “The Portland Pearls”, a diamond and natural pearl brooch suspending three drops, circa 1870, achieved US$2,416,857 (estimate: US$760,000-1,100,000).






Colored Aquatint of Christies Auction Room, London, 1808


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In total, Christie’s achieved two of the top three prices for jewels at auction worldwide during 2010, and sold six jewels for more than US$5 million (see separate list of the year’s Top Ten Jewels at Christie’s.)

Private sales were also an important factor in Christie’s success in 2010 – a trend that is expected to continue in the new year. This facility, led by International Director Julien-Vincent Brunie, is tailored to clients who prefer to buy or sell outside the fixed auction calendar, and to those seeking the rarest of gemstones and jewels. Among the private transactions Christie’s brokered this year was an 87.19 carat D color diamond – the largest marquise-cut diamond in the world – which sold to a private collector for US$12.4 million.

Christie’s hosts 14 major Jewels auctions each year in New York, Dubai, Geneva, Paris, Hong Kong and London, with smaller sales throughout the year in Amsterdam, London South Kensington and Milan. Early highlights of the New York, Dubai and Geneva sales will be announced in the coming weeks.

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