< Historic Diamonds / Auctions
Sotheby’s Brings Legendary Provenance and Record-Breaking Diamonds to Geneva
Sotheby’s Geneva unveils a breathtaking lineup of legendary jewels — from a $20 million pink diamond and Napoleon’s lost brooch to royal tiaras and Art Deco treasures.
Rare and historically Important natural pearl and diamond hair ornament, worn as a necklace (comes with a brooch). (Courtesy of Sotheby’s Auction House)
Each November, Geneva becomes the epicenter of the jewelry world, and this year’s Sotheby’s High Jewelry and Royal & Noble Jewels sales prove why. Together, they form a dazzling showcase of the rarest natural diamonds, the most historically significant heirlooms, and the unmatched craftsmanship of the world’s greatest jewelers. From a $20 million pink diamond to a brooch once lost by Napoleon himself, this year’s lineup reminds us why we love jewelry.
Ahead, explore the rare diamonds, royal heirlooms, and design masterpieces defining Sotheby’s Geneva’s most anticipated auctions.
Meet the Expert
- Grant Mobley is the Jewelry & Watch Editor of Only Natural Diamonds.
- He is a GIA Graduate Diamonds Graduate.
- He has over 17 years of jewelry industry experience, starting with growing up in his family’s retail jewelry stores.
The Glowing Rose: Sotheby’s Geneva’s $20 Million Fancy Vivid Pink Diamond
Leading the Sotheby’s Geneva High Jewelry Sale is The Glowing Rose, a magnificent 10.08-carat Fancy Vivid Pink diamond estimated at around $20 million. This stone is nothing short of extraordinary. Its rare “pure pink” hue is free of any modifying colors. True Fancy Vivid Pinks of this caliber sit among the most valuable gems on Earth, often fetching higher prices per carat than any other gems.
The Glowing Rose joins a small, elite club that includes the Williamson Pink Star and the Pink Legacy, both known for their electrifying saturation and internal fire. Natural pink diamonds owe their color not to impurities, but to atomic distortion, a geological miracle that bends light into this ethereal hue. Finding one over 10 carats with such purity has happened only a handful of times in history, making this lot the undisputed star of the season.
A Kaleidoscope of Color: Vivid Blue and Yellow Gems Shine at Sotheby’s Geneva
The Sotheby’s Geneva sale continues to remind collectors that color reigns supreme. A pair of Fancy Vivid Yellow diamond pendant earrings, weighing 38.66 and 38.88 carats respectively, is expected to fetch between 2,000,000 and 3,800,000 CHF. Their vibrant, sun-drenched color, graded Fancy Vivid, the highest level of saturation, is rarely found in stones this large.
Equally mesmerizing is a 4.50-carat Fancy Vivid Blue diamond, internally flawless and expected to sell for 4,400,000 to 5,800,000 CHF. Blue diamonds are among the most coveted of all fancy colors due to the presence of boron, which grants them their icy hue. For collectors, this Sotheby’s Geneva highlight represents the perfect trifecta of rarity: color, clarity, and size.
Sapphires, too, take center stage, including a 7.69-carat “Royal Blue” Kashmir sapphire set in a ring-pendant combination by Van Cleef & Arpels. Kashmir sapphires are legendary for their velvety luster and almost dreamlike glow that gemologists call “sleepy.” This one, mounted by one of Place Vendôme’s most esteemed houses, encapsulates everything collectors desire.
And for those drawn to artistry as much as rarity, a pair of sapphire, tsavorite garnet, and diamond earclips by JAR offers an exuberant burst of color. Estimated between 300,000 and 500,000 CHF, they reflect the whimsical brilliance of Joel Arthur Rosenthal, the reclusive Parisian jeweler whose works are coveted as contemporary masterpieces.
Van Cleef, Cartier, Graff, and De Grisogono: Icons of High Jewelry at Sotheby’s Geneva
Beyond the vibrant colors, a 10.04-carat marquise-shaped D-color diamond ring by Graff, graded VVS2 clarity, carries an estimate of 320,000 to 560,000 CHF. De Grisogono also adds flair with a bombé ring pavé-set with rubies and centered by two step-cut diamonds weighing 5.33 and 5.39 carats, estimated at 55,000 to 75,000 CHF.
Collectors will also appreciate Sotheby’s Geneva tribute to the Art Deco centenary, featuring geometric jewels from the movement that defined 20th-century glamour. A selection of signed pieces from Cartier and Van Cleef & Arpels pays homage to the sleek symmetry and restrained sophistication that continue to influence contemporary design.
Two important private collections will also make their mark. One is dedicated entirely to Van Cleef & Arpels, and the other, Aria of Jewels: The Collection of Antje-Katrin Kühnemann. The late German television pioneer and philanthropist amassed exquisite Cartier creations and rare De Grisogono pieces that speak to a lifetime of passion for craftsmanship and beauty.
The Royal & Noble Jewels: Historic Diamonds at Sotheby’s Geneva
If the High Jewelry Sale dazzles with natural rarity, Sotheby’s Geneva Royal & Noble Jewels auction stuns with history. Leading the sale is a diamond brooch/pendant once lost by Napoleon during his fight from the Battle of Waterloo. After being recovered by the Prussian Royal family, this relic remained in their collection for more than 200 years and has only now reappeared at auction for the first time.
Adding to the royal intrigue is a light pink diamond ring once owned by Empress Catherine I of Russia and later by Princess Neslishah Sultan, estimated between 240,000 and 400,000 CHF. Few jewels carry such lineage, spanning empires, dynasties, and centuries of European history.
The sale also includes a natural pearl and diamond transformable jewel originally owned by Cunegonde of Saxony, cousin of Louis XVI, estimated between 340,000 and 500,000 CHF, and a diamond tiara with a wild roses motif formerly belonging to Henrietta Scott, Duchess of Portland (1774–1844), estimated at 100,000 to 170,000 CHF.
Among other highlights is a rare Cartier emerald and diamond necklace featuring an 11.78-carat green emerald, commissioned from Cartier in New York in 1932. The piece is a perfect blend of regal provenance and Art Deco refinement.
The Enduring Allure of Provenance and Rarity
From Napoleon’s lost brooch to the Glowing Rose, these two Sotheby’s Geneva sales illustrate how jewelry transcends adornment. Each jewel on offer is more than a spectacle of light; it’s a fragment of global heritage that connects the hands of emperors, actresses, artisans, and collectors across centuries. The November 2025 Sotheby’s Geneva auctions will once again prove that in the world of fine jewelry, rarity, provenance, and beauty remain the ultimate trifecta.
