If a gem is lighter in color, it’ll typically be less expensive. To offer expert insight into the most expensive royal engagement rings, ... Princess Eugenie's engagement ring features a unique pinkish orange-hued Padparadscha sapphire with a distinctive floral halo of pear and round brilliant diamond accents on a Welsh gold band," Money says. Symbol of nobility, truth, sincerity, and faithfulness. All rights reserved. Cartier bracelet from 1927. The most valuable type of Sapphire is the cornflower blue color, known as Kashmir Sapphire or Cornflower Blue Sapphire. In fact, a very high quality emerald, sapphire or ruby can be even more expensive per carat than a diamond. Elizabeth Taylor's diamond and sapphire sautoir crafted by Bulgari. In December 2015, a pair of late 19th-century earrings, set with two cushion-cut Kashmir sapphires weighing a little less than eight carats each, that belonged to a European princess sold for £1,538,500 (approximately $1,988,203) at Bonhams. Photo: Courtesy of Sotheby's. 3) An Exceptional Sapphire and Diamond Ring Weight: 35.09 Carats The Kashmir Jewel Photo: Courtesy of Sotheby's, This striking emerald-cut cornflower blue sapphire weighing 27.68 carats is set with pear-shaped diamonds together weighing approximately 5.70 carats, mounted in 18-karat white gold. It set a world record for … When valuing a gemstone, we look at the hue, tone, and saturation of the color. To this day it remains the most expensive Burmese Sapphire ever sold. Cover: A sapphire and diamond sautoir by Bulgari that was in the collection of Elizabeth Taylor. It held the record for a sapphire sold at an auction and for the price per carat with $135,000 per carat. Aug 23, 2020 - Explore Michael Gough's board "Padparadscha Sapphire, the rarest/most expensive...", followed by 845 people on Pinterest. Sold at Sotheby ’s Geneva on November 2013, this Richelieu sapphire is one of the best. Below, a look at some most jaw-dropping sapphires to ever hit the block at auction. This limited production has resulted in only a small fraction of the world’s total sapphire supply originating from Kashmir. Then it broke that record again at the same auction. The second Kashmir sapphire, weighing 6.95 carats sold for $381,325 against its low estimate of $250,000. One of the best known gemstones on this list, the sapphire is also among the most expensive gemstones in the world.Some sapphire varieties like white sapphire, color-change sapphire and some fancy colors are selling for a few hundred dollars per carat at most.Others however, like Padparascha sapphires (orange sapphires), blue sapphires and black/blue star sapphires, will sell for up to $4,000-6,000 per carat.With the recent rise in popularity of blue sapphires in the wake o… While gemstones of this quality would normally be faceted, this example was cut into a cabochon shape. Privacy Policy. “Sapphire is one of the most valuable gemstones in the world,” Jean Ghika, global head of jewelry at Bonhams, tells Galerie. Only recently discovered, each sapphire is accompanied by two gemological certificates stating that they are both of Kashmir origin. First, this stunning Cartier sapphire and emerald ring sold for $2.3 million, setting a new record sapphire price per carat of $193,975. See more ideas about Padparadscha sapphire, Padparadscha, Jewels. Hailing from an important European family, this bracelet is set with five sugarloaf cabochon sapphires from Ceylon weighing a total of approximately 193.73 carats. The Mox Sapphire is the last member of the “Power Nine” and the most valuable Mox Jewel. The Blue Belle Of Asia earns the title of the most expensive blue sapphire in the world, after selling for $17,305,996 at Christie’s Geneva in November 2014. The fact that Cartier chose this cut is a clear design choice, and one which could be regarded as decadent, considering the scarcity of gemstones of this size and quality.”. This stone most definitely takes the award for least well-known gem on our list of the most expensive gemstones! Love the color of the sapphires! More recently, they have been associated with royalty and romance thanks to the iconic blue sapphire engagement ring given to Princess Diana and then to Kate Middleton. Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor who is wearing her sapphire and diamond sautoir. Most Expensive Sapphire in the World sold by Sotheby’s 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. The price of a sapphire is determined based on its quality, which means that a large, low-quality sapphire would be a lot cheaper than a small but very high-quality sapphire. Sapphires vary in density, so they are measured by size as well as carat weight. Sapphires are commonly heat-treated to improve color, clarity, and overall appearance. There is also a. special variety known as “star sapphire” whereby the gems are cut as cabochons to display the magical star-like effect. So, in general, a two-carat diamond will be more expensive than a two-carat sapphire. This magnificent gem claimed $17 million at a Christie’s auction in November 2014, setting the record for the most expensive sapphire ever sold at public auction. The fact that Cartier chose this cut is a clear design choice, and one which could be regarded as decadent, considering the scarcity of gemstones of this size and quality.”, A 9.23 carat Kashmir sapphire consigned sold at Bonhams New York in July 2020 for $US1,244,075 Photo: Courtesy of Bonhams, When it comes to heirlooms, one Australian family hit the jackpot with two sapphire rings. Blue sapphires usually have some inclusions, but generally have better clarity than rubies. Others are locked away in private collections. 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. What gemstone is most valuable? Rough sapphire’s most common crystal form is a barrel- or spindle-shaped hexagonal pyramid. Centering upon a  cushion-shaped sapphire, to the pavé-set diamond floral branch decorated with moonstones, coloured sapphires, tsavorites, tourmalines, spinel, coloured diamonds, carved sapphires, carved and drop-shaped emeralds, mounted in gold. Why is that the case? Sotheby’s set a new world record for the most expensive sapphire at its October 7 auction in Hong Kong. The most expensive Sapphire While next to the $17.7 million paid for 8.41 carat purple pink this might seem a bit negligible, another notable record was broken at the auction: A 17.16-Carat Kashmir Sapphire and Diamond Ring sold for $4.06 Million Dollars, an equivalent to $236,404 per carat. The price of a sapphire is determined mostly by quality, and a large, low-quality sapphire can be a lot cheaper than a small yet very high-quality sapphire. For example, a richly saturated sapphire gemstone will be more expensive than a light-colored one. Cut of Sapphire It has always been associated with Sri Lanka, but they have also been found in Tanzania, Vietnam and Madagascar, though always in small quantities. For sapphires, color is king. “They are now among the most highly prized gems due to their rarity and their scarcity,” says Ghika. Fine sapphires of Kashmir or Burmese origin typically fare well but large, incredibly rare stones can sell for millions. Many of the most important sapphires are in museum collections, including the Stuart Sapphire, which is the centerpiece of the Imperial State Crown made in 1937, and the 563-carat Star of India, which is said to be the world’s largest sapphire and can be viewed at the American Museum of Natural History in New York. In the 1940s, Rockefeller asked Pierre Cartier of the namesake French jewelry maison to recut the stone into this unique shape and mount it for his wife, Abby. Color is the most important factor when purchasing a colored gemstone. The most expensive sapphire in the world, the gem was discovered in Sri Lanka in 1926. Photo: Courtesy of the American Natural History Museum. “Sapphires hailing from Kashmir display a vivid velvety blue hue that is unique to the region,” says Ghika. Because of how powerful blue cards were in the original set of Magic: The Gathering, Mox Sapphire grants players an extra blue point of mana per turn. LOT 351 Kashmir Sapphire & Diamond Ring 35 Cts. Photo: Courtesy of Christie's. This incredible bracelet is set with a Burmese cabochon sapphire weighing 46.07 carats f, particularly noteworthy for its extraordinary clarity. It sold at Sotheby’s Hong Kong in 2015 for $6,745,688, which is the world auction record price per carat for a sapphire. Sapphire: Blue Belle of Asia – $17.3 million; A 392.52ct cushion cut sapphire, the Blue Belle of Asia sold for an incredible $17.3 million in Geneva 2014. The accompanying Gübelin Appendix Letter states that this sapphire “possesses a rich saturated and homogenous color, combined with a high degree of transparency, and a finely proportioned cut…Such a combination of characteristics are rare in natural Kashmir sapphires of this size.” Says specialist Alexander Eblan, “It is a true treasure of nature.”, Van Cleef Bracelet Photo: Courtesy of Sotheby's. According to reports from the world’s top gem labs, this sapphire of significant size exhibits the intensely saturated velvety blue —often described as the prized “cornflower blue” hue—indicative of the rare sapphires from Kashmir, which set the standard for blue sapphires. The sapphire has been named after Polly Logan, the owner of the gemstone. This 392.52-carat untreated Ceylon sapphire features a cushion-cut stone that draws your gaze into the depths of its captivating blue prism. Adored for their brilliant, celestial-blue tones, sapphires have long symbolized nobility, sincerity, wisdom, and faithfulness, making them the perfect birthstone for September. Most Expensive Sapphires Fine sapphires of Kashmir or Burmese origin typically fare well but large, incredibly rare stones can sell for millions. By analyzing the types of inclusions—tiny microscopic minerals—within the gem, it is possible to ascertain where the sapphire was mined. Prices for a heated padparascha sapphire start at $1,000 per carat. The sapphire is of Burmese origin, with no indications of heating. Photo: Courtesy of Bonham's. Taaffeites. Sapphires are among the earliest known gemstones and are highly valued for their durability. The Star of India, the world's largest sapphire—allegedly around 2 billion years old—weighs 563-carats and is roughly the size of a golf ball. It features a combination of two hues in a single stone, pink and orange. While Sri Lanka has perhaps the longest history of producing sapphires, with discoveries recorded as far back as the second century, and for almost 1,000 years in Myanmar, it is the Kashmir sapphires that have acquired an almost legendary status due to an extraordinary story associated with the mine. More recently, they have been associated with royalty and romance thanks to the iconic blue sapphire engagement ring given to Princess Diana and then to Kate Middleton. The finest examples hail from three mines: Kashmir in northern India, across its eastern border to Myanmar (previously Burma), and Sri Lanka (previously Ceylon), and when they appear at auction, they cause a huge buzz in the jewelry world and spark bidding wars in the auction rooms. The color of the sapphire is what captivates us, and draws us in for a closer look.But this is only when the color of the stone has the proper measures of hue, tone, and saturation. While gemstones of this quality would normally be faceted, this example was cut into a cabochon shape. The area was worked sporadically until the late 1920s and early 1930s, but the glory years of the 1880s were never to be replicated. Sapphires can range in price from $50 per carat to more than $10,000 per carat, with the most expensive sapphire sold on record costing $135,000 per carat. 10 Most Expensive Sapphires Sold at Auction N10. It was bought for CHF 16,965,000 — around $17,300,000 — becoming the most expensive sapphire and the most expensive coloured stone sold at auction. The price was more than triple the pre-sale estimate of £500,000. Pear-Shaped Blue Ceylon Sapphire from GemSelect Photo: Courtesy of the Everett Collection. “From antiquity, it was highly regarded for its talismanic properties; today it is valued for its exceptional color.”. Photo: Courtesy of Sotheby's, This incredible bracelet is set with a Burmese cabochon sapphire weighing 46.07 carats flanked by two pear-shaped D Color diamonds weighing 8.60 and 9.27 carats respectively. “It is particularly noteworthy for its extraordinary clarity. Most of the time, Sapphires are not more expensive than diamonds. (Work was only possible during the summer months thanks to heavy winter snowfall.) 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, post and hinged back fittings. The ring was then passed to his second wife, Martha Baird, but following her death in 1971, it went up for auction in Zurich and sold for $170,000. Its saturated blue colour, poetically referred to as ‘royal blue’, is due to a combination of well balanced trace elements in the stone, typical and characteristic for the finest sapphires of the Mogok gemstone tract. Most Valuable Sapphire Gemstones You will often hear that the rarest and most expensive sapphire is the pink-orange padparadscha from Sri Lanka. There is also a special variety known as “star sapphire” whereby the gems are cut as cabochons to display the magical star-like effect. Photo: Courtesy of Christie's. The Blue Belle has changed hands a number of times in its near 100-year-old history. 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