A Message from Guillaume Cerutti
Christie’s Chief Executive Officer

The following has not been edited in any way. Please note that while there is no mention of jewelry/gems, this category did extremely well this past year.


from Guillaume Cerutti

As we begin 2023, I would like to share with you a quick look back over the last year and a few thoughts for the months ahead.

2022 was an historic year for Christie’s.

We achieved our highest ever global sales of $8.4Bn, with several landmarks, in particular the memorable sales of the Paul G. Allen Collection and Andy Warhol’s Shot Sage Blue Marilyn, the most valuable 20th-century artwork ever sold at auction. Our business grew in every category and in every region.

We are also thrilled to be welcoming new buyers into the market, with 35% of all buyers in 2022 being new to Christie’s, and a third of them being millennials.

I would like to thank every one of our clients in 2022. Thank you for trusting us with your consignments and thank you for purchasing with us.

As we look forward to this year, we are confident that the art market will continue to demonstrate resiliency.

The global demand for great works of art and luxury goods will remain strong. Our presence around the world and the diversity of services we offer to our clients (including auctions, digital platforms, private sales and financial services) will allow Christie’s to satisfy this demand.

But we remain vigilant for ongoing macro-economic challenges.

In this context, we will continue to prioritise our focus on offering quality works and collections, deploying our leading expertise in all fields and recommending to our clients the optimum sale strategy to deliver successful outcomes.

We will apply these principles most imminently with our Classic Week in New York in January. We had successes with Decorative Arts and Old Master works last year, and we expect a strong start in 2023. Next week, we will present important Old Masters, including a pair of portraits by Goya, and a selection of paintings from the collection of J.E. Safra which will be offered to bidders without reserve price. We are also delighted to present our Exceptional, Antiquities, and Modern Medici sales. Star lots range from a Giacomo Raffaelli hardstone inlaid table to ‘The Last Spike‘ commemorating the joining of the world’s first transcontinental railroad.

Finally, in beginning a new year, I believe it is essential that we acknowledge the significant challenges that continue to be weathered around the world, impacting so many with uncertainties, hardships, struggles and fears, but which at the same time show people’s extraordinary strength and courage. As we did in 2022, we will look for every available opportunity to give back through philanthropy and vital cultural and social support. It is our responsibility to do so.

Guillaume Cerutti
Christie’s Chief Executive Officer


  • LOT 1949

AN EXCEPTIONAL JADEITE BEAD NECKLACE
Price realised HKD 69,037,500
Estimate HKD 55,000,000 – HKD 85,000,000

Thirty-three jadeite beads measuring approximately 15.0 to 12.3 mm, cushion-shaped ruby, oval-cut diamonds, gold
HK Jade & Stone Lab, 2022, report no. KJ 103966(1-5): natural colour Fei Cui (Jadeite Jade), without resin
SSEF, 2016, report no. 86495: approximately 11 carats, Burma (Myanmar), indications of heating, minor residue
Size/Dimensions: 49.7 cm
Gross weight: 146.7 grams

AN EXCEPTIONAL COLOURED DIAMOND AND DIAMOND RING, BY MOUSSAIEFF

Price realised HKD 38,850,000
Estimate HKD 40,000,000 – HKD 60,000,000

DETAILS
Fancy vivid blue cut-cornered rectangular-cut diamond of 3.06 carats, round pink diamonds and diamonds, platinum and gold, signed Moussaieff, pink Moussaieff case
GIA, 2018, report no. 12152504: 3.06 carats, Fancy Vivid Blue colour, Internally Flawless clarity

THE RED CROSS DIAMOND A SUPERB COLOURED DIAMOND
Price realised CHF 14,181,250

Fancy intense yellow cushion modified brilliant-cut diamond of 205.07 carats



GIA, 2021, report no. 6213456988: 205.07 carats, Fancy Intense Yellow, natural colour, VS2 clarity
Accompanied by the Red Cross GIA Monograph

It was 1901 when a rough ‘canary’ diamond weighing between 370 and 380 carats was unearthed in the Grinqualand mines, South Africa. Formerly a British colony, these diamond mines were discovered in the 1870s and quickly became productive pits under De Beers’ control.
Bought later by The Diamond Syndicate, this fancy intense yellow first appeared in 1918 at Christie’s London, during the Red Cross charity auction.

Annually held during the First World War from 1915 to 1918, the Red Cross sales were the most important charity events of that time, raising more than £320,000 (equivalent to approx. £19 million today) along the years. It was during the last auction that many people across the United Kingdom donated necklaces, brooches, rings, and other important jewellery pieces, among which was the exceptional Red Cross diamond.

With its famous Maltese Cross through the table and with and unusual phosphorescence, it was presented to a packed saleroom on the 10th of April 1918 by the auctioneer, Mr. Anderson. Starting from £3,000, and after a fierce bidding war, the successful bid from the famous London firm S.J. Phillips made lot 377 achieve the staggering amount of £10,000.
As a magnificent sale highlight, the Red Cross diamond helped raise the astonishing sum of £35,575 in just one day.
55 years later, in 1973, this remarkable stone reappeared at Christie’s Geneva achieving CHF1,8 million, and Christie’s is honoured to be offering it once more 104 years since the 1918 Red Cross auction.

THE LIGHT OF AFRICA DIAMOND A SENSATIONAL DIAMOND
Price realised USD 20,084,000
Estimate USD 11,000,000 – USD 18,000,000

Emerald-cut diamond of 103.49 carats
GIA, 2022, report no. 6224233732: 103.49 carats, D color, Flawless, excellent polish and symmetry, Type IIa, accompanied by a Portrait Report

‘SPARKLING WAVES ON A VERDANT SEA’ MAGNIFICENT JADEITE, DIAMOND AND SAPPHIRE NECKLACE, BY ETCETERA
Price realised HKD 22,050,000
Estimate HKD 20,000,000 – HKD 30,000,000

RARE COLOURED SAPPHIRE AND DIAMOND RING
Price realised HKD 10,650,000
Estimate HKD 5,000,000 – HKD 8,000,000

Oval-cut pink sapphire of 19.61 carats, shield-shaped and round diamonds, gold
SSEF, 2022, report no. 124128: 19.616 carats, Burma, no indications of heating, Appendix letter

STUNNING SAPPHIRE AND DIAMOND PENDENT NECKLACE, BY RONALD ABRAM
Price realised HKD 10,530,000
Estimate HKD 7,000,000 – HKD 10,000,000

Cushion-cut sapphire of 52.88 carats, pear brilliant-cut diamonds of 1.32 to 0.40 carat, round brilliant-cut diamond of 0.60 carat, round diamond, platinum, signed Ronald Abram, numbered, blue Ronald Abram case
SSEF, 2022, report no. 125840: 52.88 carats, Ceylon (Sri Lanka), no indications of heating, Appendix letter
Gübelin, 2022, report no. 22101001: 52.88 carats, Burma, no indications of heating

THE FORTUNE PINK
Price realised CHF 28,436,500
Estimate CHF 25,000,000 – CHF 35,000,000

Fancy vivid pink modified pear brilliant-cut diamond of 18.18 carats, triangular-shaped diamonds, platinum and 18k rose gold, accompanied by a diamond and white gold necklace mounting
GIA, 2022, report no. 2155980868: 18.18 carats, Fancy Vivid Pink, natural colour, VVS2 clarity, Type IIa

A RARE COLORED DIAMOND AND DIAMOND PENDANT-NECKLACE
Price realised USD 11,840,000
Estimate USD 10,000,000 – USD 15,000,000

Fancy blue pear modified brilliant-cut diamond of 31.62 carats, round diamonds and pink diamonds, platinum and rose gold
GIA, 2022, report no. 2115990426: 31.62 carats, Fancy Blue, natural color, VVS1 clarity, potentially Internally Flawless

VAN CLEEF & ARPELS RUBY AND EMERALD ‘MYSTERY-SET’ FLOWER BROOCH
Price realisedUSD 1,197,000
Estimate USD 400,000 – USD 600,000

Calibré-cut rubies, emeralds and round diamonds, 18k rose gold and platinum (French marks), signed Van Cleef & Arpels, maker’s mark, numbered, navy Van Cleef & Arpels case

AN ELEGANT DIAMOND ‘PALM-TREE’ BROOCH MOUNTED BY CARTIER
Price realised USD 1,008,000
Estimate USD 500,000 – USD 700,000

For complete Christie’s auction results in 2022, follow this link.

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