Sotheby’s has been a purveyor of the world’s finest for nearly three generations, guarding cherished pieces with rich history and stellar beauty – its treasure trove of jewellery is no exception.
Brilliant diamonds, rare gemstones, and exquisite solitaires under Sotheby’s auspices lure in discerning admirers from around the world and even trigger highly competitive cascades of bids. Unparalleled in prestige and incredibly coveted, Sotheby’s jewellery is a class apart.
Recently, the Sotheby’s Jewelry department has chosen to broaden its horizons by undertaking new initiatives and repositioning itself. This strategic move saw the notable “Magnificent Jewels” sales reimagined under the title of “High Jewelry ” – a name that perfectly reflects the sheer scale of the exhibition and the auction house’s broader ambitions of growth. Improved services for its super-prime clientele are part of Sotheby’s rebranding effort.
However, the ethos of Sotheby’s remains unchanged — an unwavering commitment to redefining the standards of excellence.
The Geneva Flagship Sale
Sotheby’s Geneva, the mecca of fine jewellery auctions, is set to host its flagship sale on 13 May 2025. A highly anticipated event on the auction calendar, a breathtaking showcase of pieces from the illustrious Haute Joaillerie maisons is on offer.
The Geneva salesroom is known for breaking records time and again — its 2016 sale totalling $175 million is a world record in the realm of jewellery auctions to this day. Indeed, the upcoming High Jewelry auction is not just an event but a front-row seat to history in the making.
Each piece in this auction has undergone rigorous scrutiny by world-renowned experts, supported by lab reports from the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) to certify its authenticity, rarity, and quality.
Striking diamonds and iridescent gemstones will grace the event, with one stone destined to be the showstopper – the Mediterranean Blue. This Fancy Vivid Blue diamond – newly discovered and brilliantly orchestrated into a cushion shape – is one of the most dazzling coloured diamonds to ever go under the hammer at Sotheby’s. A piercing beauty like no other, its presence has elevated an already significant sale into a momentous milestone in the house’s historic portfolio.
The Mediterranean Blue: A Startling Beauty
Diamonds never cease to evoke awe and wonder, possessing a rare brilliance that’s difficult to overlook. However, from this storied trove of precious stones, one has claimed a new distinction: The Mediterranean Blue.
Blue diamonds are an extraordinary occurrence in the natural world. They’re nothing short of an earthly miracle, representing merely 0.3% of all diamonds on the planet. Their scintillating hue, which is attributed to traces of boron within the stone’s crystal lattice, is a geological rarity. Beyond being a scientific oddity, the allure of a blue diamond also lies in its spirit – its deep hue evokes notions of the infinite, inviting wonderment on mysteries and marvels that defy time.
The Mediterranean Blue is a Fancy Vivid Blue diamond, weighing an impressive 10.03 carats. Its arresting beauty and fascinating genesis have raised eyebrows and invoked whispers of awe. Its accompanying GIA report has classified it as Fancy Vivid Blue of Natural Colour, with a clarity grade of VS2.
Additionally, a GIA monograph – prepared exclusively for this stone – details its history, chemical composition, and position in the world of gemmology.
Most significantly, the GIA’s findings highlight a natural bond between blue diamonds and the ocean, emboldening the poetic symbolism of its colour—the immensity of a blue diamond’s hue is mirrored poignantly in the immensity of the ocean. Describing it as “a remarkable example of one of nature’s rarest and most beguiling colour expressions”, the monograph also reveals that blue diamonds originate deeper within the Earth’s mantle than any other variety.
A Labour of Passion, Precision, and Perseverance
Unearthed from the depths of South Africa’s diamond fields, The Mediterranean Blue was once a 31.93-carat raw, rugged stone – untamed, but blooming with promise. Over the course of six months, it was laboriously cut, carved, and polished with finesse and emerged as a cushion-modified brilliant-cut diamond of exquisite beauty. Its metamorphosis is well documented, offering an in-depth glimpse into the stone’s evolution from its natural state into one of the world’s most guarded treasures.
The cutting of a blue diamond is an unforgiving discipline. Unlike their colourless peers, blue diamonds have irregular, asymmetrical crystals with haphazardly distributed hues. Achieving a balance between hue and form is a precarious task, demanding faultless understanding of the stone’s crystallographic structure and a level of mastery very few possess. The stakes are undoubtedly high – one minute miscalculation can completely compromise the quality, radiance, and colour of the diamond.
To realise The Mediterranean Blue’s full potential, techniques as old as time were reclaimed with modern principles. The cushion shape – which holds a prime position in history, as evidenced by the likes of the Regent Diamond – was chosen for its traditional grandeur and understated elegance. Its graceful curves and perfect symmetry allow the Fancy Vivid Blue hue to radiate in all its glory.
Final Thoughts
The Mediterranean Blue embodies heritage, tradition, and craftsmanship. Echoing the mysterious depths of the ocean and whispering tales of its painstaking journey, it evokes both tremendous power and stirring emotion.
This April, The Mediterranean Blue will be embarking on a world tour, beginning on the 8th at Al Saadiyat Island and continuing to New York and Hong Kong. The journey concludes in Geneva on 10th May, ahead of the High Jewelry auction on the 13th, where its future owner awaits.
