Most Expensive Sapphires Sold at Auction | TOP 10
Hello! Curious to see which are the most expensive sapphires sold at auction? Let’s take a look!
A sapphire is a gemstone variety of the mineral corundum. The word sapphire comes from Greek which means ‘blue stone’.
They are commonly used in jewelry and you can find them in nature, by searching through certain sediments.
However, a sapphire it’s not that easy to find; if it’d be, it wouldn’t be so expensive.
Also the gems are used to decorate certain items, from watches to iPhone cases.
The gems have set and broke the records among the years when they sold at several auctions.
N10. An Antique 22.66 Kashmir Sapphire and Diamond Pendant – $3,064,000
This precious pendant was sold at Christie’s auction in 2007 for the amount of $3,064,000.
It held the record for a sapphire sold at an auction and for the price per carat with $135,000 per carat.
The antique sapphire and diamond pendant it is believed to be circa 128 years old (1886).
The 22.66 carat natural sapphire has a combination of outstanding characteristics; at least that’s what the seller says.
This extraordinary gemstone features a large size and a richly saturated and homogeneous color combined with a high degree of transparency.
The antique Kashmir Sapphire and diamond pendant is in our list with the most expensive sapphires sold at auction.
N9. A 21.42-carat Kashmir Sapphire Ring – $3,231,584
On 9th place we have a special sapphire ring. It was sold on 2013 at Sotheby’s Geneva for the amazing price of $3,231,584.
The size of the gemstone is quite impressive and its weight of 21.420 carat combined with a superb color, makes this sapphire ring a jewelry every respectable lady would want.
Also referred to as ‘royal blue’ this stone has an outstanding purity.
Plus a natural sapphire from Kashmir of this size and quality is rarely auctioned and it’s hard to find elsewhere.
Because of the astonishing price, this sapphire gets its deserved place in our list with the most expensive sapphires sold at auction.
N8. A 42.28-carat Kashmir Sapphire and Diamond Ring – $3,458,420
The next sapphire is similar to previous but pricier and better looking. (Can a sapphire be good looking? Haha)
This one also has a beautiful story behind it.
Began in the early 1880s when one of the most significant events in the history of blue sapphires happened.
A rock in the Himalayan Mountains of Kashmir uncovered the source of blue sapphires which has become legendary for the exquisite gems found there.
But Kashmir has only produced a limited number of gems since the 1920s. The soft, velvety blue color of Kashmir sapphires remained the ‘root’ of this gem variety. Those kinds of gems are highly desirable by the collectors.
Sold at Christie’s Geneva in November 2008, this gem found its place in this list.
N7. The Star of Kashmir – $3,484,142
From what do you think the Star of Kashmir comes from? It is another cushion-shaped sapphire weighting approx. 19.88 carats.
The gem is flanked on both sides with cushion-shaped diamonds with weights of 3.02 and 2.72 carats.
The body of the ring among with the gem is displayed in platinum, making the gem a perfect gift for your lady.
This gem has previously held the world auction record price per carat for a sapphire – $175,259 per carat.
Seller says that the sapphire is of Kashmir origin and has no indications of heating.
The Star of Kashmir was sold at Christie’s auction in Geneva on May 2013.
N6. A 47.15-carat Burmese Sapphire and Diamond Brooch, by Mellerio – $3,648,894
Sixth place is taken by a Burmese Sapphire and Diamond Brooch designed by Mellerio.
The jewelry piece is focused on an octagonal-cut sapphire with an approx. weight of 47.15 carats.
The sapphire is placed in an old-mine cut diamond frame which makes it even more likeable.
It features a brilliant-cut diamond ribbon detail of 5.3 cm with French assay marks for platinum and gold.
Burmese Sapphire and Diamond Brooch by Mellerio was sold at Christie’s Geneva on May 2012.
Previously the piece held the record for price per carat for a Burmese sapphire at auction – $77,390.
N5. A 26.41-carat Kashmir Sapphire and Diamond Brooch – $3,838,508
Yet another brooch was sold at Christie’s in Hong Kong on November 2011 for almost $4 million.
Would you spend that much money for a 26.41 carat brooch?
Surround within two-tiered old European-cute diamonds this brooch will make you feel so sexy.
The fact that all that is covered in 18k white, rose and yellow gold makes it even more desired.
It has been authenticated and resulted that the gem is of Kashmir origin with no indication of heating.
The price tag puts this fancy brooch on the list with the most expensive sapphires sold at auction.
N4. The Unique Sapphire and Mutli-Gem ‘Cote d’Azur’ Brooch, by Anna Hu – $4,569,684
Sold at Christie’s auction in Geneva on November 2013 for more than $4.5 million this is quite a unique sapphire.
The Unique Sapphire and Mutli-Gem ‘Cote d’Azur’ Brooch was designed by Anna Hu.
It’s perhaps the most beautiful piece in this list. Don’t you agree with me?
It is a cushion-shaped sapphire with a weight of 58.29 carats which has Burmese origin and has no indication of heating.
The brooch features a pavé-set diamond floral branch decorated with moonstones and colored sapphires.
Among the sapphires the brooch also includes tsavorites, tourmalines, spinel, and colored diamonds, carved sapphires, carved and drop-shaped emeralds, mounted in gold.
N3. A 130.50-carat Burmese Sapphire and Diamond Brooch – $7,127,453
As we climb the top, the gems will be more expensive and their weights will increase.
For example, this Burmese Sapphire and Diamond Brooch weights 130.50 carats.
This brooch has a rose-cut diamond surround and collet-set old-cut diamond frame organized in silver and gold.
It used to hold the record for the highest price sapphire sold at auction until it was broken last November.
The Burmese Sapphire and Diamond Brooch was sold at Christie’s auctions in Geneva on May 2011.
Its color, the royal blue comes from a combination of well-balanced trace elements in the stone and from the characteristics for the finest sapphires of the Mogok gemstone line.
N2. A 114.74-carat Unmounted Burmese Sapphire – $7,223,285
When it was sold at Sotheby’s auction in Geneva on November 2013 it broke the world record for the highest priced Burmese sapphire.
Can you imagine that?
This exceptional Burmerse “Royal Blue” sapphire piece has a weight of 114.74, a jewelry fit for a princess or a queen.
The piece has no indications of heating, and its color is due to a combination of well-balanced trace elements in the gemstone, typical and characteristic for the finest sapphires of Mogok, Burma.
This sapphire has been perfectly cut from the rough crystal to show its color at its best.
A natural sapphire from Burma of this size and quality is very rare and exceptional and thus can be considered a true treasure of nature.
N1. The Richelieu Sapphires – $8,358,520
And the most expensive sapphire sold at an auction has a price tag of $8,358,520.
Sold at Sotheby’s Geneva on November 2013, this Richelieu sapphire is one of the best.
The Richelieu Sapphires currently hold the auction record for sapphire jewels, a Kashmir sapphire and a record price per carat for a sapphire $175,821 per carat.
These jewelry pieces are from the Collection of Odile de Richelieu, Countess Gabriel de La Rochefoucauld, Princess de La Rochefoucauld (1879-1974) and were given to Odile as a wedding gift.
The sapphires have been remounted as earrings twice since this date.
Each set with a cushion-shaped sapphire weighing 26.66 and 20.88 carats respectively, suspended from a star surmount set with a cushion- and pear-shaped diamonds.
What do you think? Would you want your husband to get you this expensive jewelry? I know I would!
||| Pictures via: sothebys.com & christies.com ||| Featured image via: emanigems.com |||
