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Geneva|+41229084814|MarieBeatriceMorin |mariebeatrice.morin@sothebys.com London|+44(0)2072936000|MatthewWeigman|matthew.weigman@sothebys.com SimonWarren|simon.warren@sothebys.com|KellySignorelliChaplin|kelly.schaplin@sothebys.com

SOTHEBYSGENEVASALEOFMAGNIFICENTJEWELS PRESENTS

THESUNDROPDIAMOND
Weighing110.03Carats,theLargestKnown PearShapedFancyVividYellowDiamondintheWorld
OTHERHIGHLIGHTSINCLUDE:

ExceptionalcolouredGemstones&WhiteDiamonds RarePeriodandSignedJewels

A year after having sold the Graff Pink for $46 million the highest price ever achieved at auction for a diamond and any jewel*, Sothebys Geneva will present in its sale of Magnificent Jewels on Tuesday, November15,2011theSunDropDiamond,oneofthemostimpressivestonestohavecometoauctionin recentyears.Thesalewillalsobespearheadedbyasuperbanduniquesuiteofimperialjewels.Presentedby traditionbytheOttomanSultanAbdlHamidIIforthebirthofthelastKhediveofEgyptandSudanin1874, this magnificent parure contains jewels which may have formed part of a gift from Empress Catherine I of RussiatoSultanAhmedIIItoendtheSiegeofPruthin1711(pleaseseeseparaterelease).Thesalewillfurther

comprise a rich selection of some 500lots, including an impressive array of exceptional coloured gemstones andwhitediamondsinadditiontorareperiodjewelsandcreationssignedbytheworldsgreatestjewellersof the20thand21stcenturies. Commentingontheforthcomingsale,DavidBennett,ChairmanofSothebysJewelleryDepartmentinEurope and the Middle East and CoChairman of Sothebys Switzerland said: The SunDrop diamond has immense presence and is truly stunning. At 110.03 carats, it is one of the largest diamonds ever to have appeared at auction.ItisanhonourtohavebeenchosenbyCoraInternationaltopresentittothemarket.Thisautumnsale will be undoubtedly of great interest to collectors of rare and magnificent jewels and we look forward to welcomingtheminGeneva.

TheSunDropDiamond,asensationalfancyvividyellowdiamond
Adiamondsuchasthe110.03caratSunDropcanalmostbesaidtoexudeamagicalaura.Itsmagnificentcolor combinedwithimpressivesizeanduncommoncutmakeitaparagonintheworldofdiamonds GIAMonographwrittenontheSunDropDiamond,2011

ThehighlightofthesaleistheSunDropDiamond,asensational fancy vivid yellow pearshaped diamond weighing 110.03 carats andknownasthelargestpearshapedfancyvividyellowdiamond intheworld.ThisexceptionalstonehasapurityofVVS1andhas been graded Fancy Vivid Yellow, the highest colour grading for a yellow diamond by the Gemological Institute of America (GIA). The rough for the SunDrop Diamond was discovered in South Africa in 2010, and was cut and polished by Cora International, one of the worlds leading manufacturers of exceptional diamonds,withitsheadquartersinNewYork. Polished diamonds over 100 carats are quite a rarity and when theydisplaysuchastrongsaturationofcolor,theyareevenmore unusual.Withitslargesizeandstrikinglyrichcolor,theSunDrop possesses a commanding presence sure to capture the attention andimaginationofallwhoviewit.Whilegazingatsuchadiamond,wemustwonderwhatitsfuturewillhold.It cansurelyrankalreadywiththehistoricdiamondsofthepast,andwecanonlywaitfortheSunDropsstoryto berevealed(GIAMonographwrittenontheSunDropDiamond,2011).
JerryHallholdingtheSunDropatLondonsNatural HistoryMuseum,22February2011 AdrianBrooksImagewise

ExhibitedearlierthisyearatLondonsNaturalHistoryMuseum,thisstunningdiamondcomestothe marketwithanestimateofCHF10.214million/$1115million**(lot506,illustratedaboveandp.1).

ColouredGemstones In addition to the Diamond SunDrop, the sale includes a group of exceptional coloured gemstones led by three magnificent blue diamonds. The first is an important fancy intense blue pearshaped internally flawless diamond weighing10.09caratsandmountedasaringbetweensimilarlycutfancylight pink diamonds weighing 1.02 and 1.00 carats respectively (lot 498, est. CHF 6,850,0009,150,000/$7,500,00010,000,000,illustratedright). The second ring is set with a fancy vivid blue cutcornered rectangular modified brilliantcutdiamondweighing4.16carats(lot491,est.CHF3,100,0004,000,000/ $3,300,0004,300,000, illustrated left), while the third one, property an important private collection, features a fancy blue marquise brilliantcut diamond weighing 4.08 carats and has a clarity of VVS2 (Lot 483, est. CHF 730,0001,280,000/ $800,0001,400,000).

Fromthesameimportantprivatecollection,afinediamondringcentresafancy pink stepcut diamond weighing 8.95 carats between shoulders set with marquiseshapeddiamonds(lot484,est.CHF2,300,0003,200,000/$2,500,000 3,500,000,illustratedright). Anotherstandoutpieceisasuperb12.01caratMuzoemerald,mountedasaring. Thisstonedisplaysanevenlysaturated,deepbluishgreencolourcombinedwitha hightransparency.ItoriginatedfromthelegendaryColombianminesofMuzo.The oldestemeraldminesstillinoperation,theMuzomineshavebeenproducingthe most desirable emeralds in the world since their discovery by the Spanish Conquistadoresfivecenturiesagoin1560(lot467,est.Est.CHF365,000550,000/ $400,000600,000,illustratedleft). Completing this selection of coloured gemstones are two remarkable sapphires. The first of Kashmir origin is an octagonal stepcut sapphire weighing 14.80 caratssetonafinesapphireanddiamondring(Lot472,est.CHF275,000450,000/ $300,000500,000).ThesecondofBurmeseoriginisacushionshapedsapphire weighing19.92carats,mountedasasplendidringdatingfromcirca1935(lot492, est.CHF180,000360,000/$200,000400,000).

WhiteDiamonds The sale also features a rich offering of white diamonds. Among them are an attractive diamond ring signed Adler set with a brilliantcut stone weighing 20.77 carats (lot 471, est. CHF 550,000825,000/ $600,000900,000, illustrated right) and a superb and impressive 38.88 carat cushionshaped diamondthathasnotonlyreceivedthehighestcolourandclarity grade from the GIA for white diamonds, D Colour, Flawless Clarity but has also been foundtobepartoftherareTypeIIasubgroupStonesinthisgroup,whichcompriseless than 2% of all gem diamonds, are chemically the purest of all diamond crystals and oftenhaveextraordinaryopticaltransparency.(lot501,estimatedintheregionof$6.5 million,illustratedleft). AntiqueJewels

Few pieces of jewellery dating from the 18th century have survived in their original form. Until the gold discovery in the United States and in South Africa and the finding of diamond deposits in Southern Africa in the 19th century, precious metal and stones were rare and often reset in new mounttokeepupwiththechangesintasteandfashion.Itisthereforeextremelyrareforimportant diamond jewels from the 18th century to reach us in their original form. The sale includes two important and rare examples of these jewels: a diamond choker designed as a series of graduated panels (lot 462, est. CHF 165,000225,000/ $180,000250,000, illustrated above) and a diamond braceletofsimilardesign(lot461,est.CHF38,00058,000/$40,00060,000,illustratedbelow).

Reflectingthefashionfornaturalisticmotifsinmid19 centuryjewellery,averyattractiverubyand diamond demi parure comprises a necklace, a brooch and a pair of earrings all set with Burmese rubies and cushionshaped diamonds and composed of floral and foliate motifs (Lot 490, est. CHF 185,000360,000/$200,000400,000,illustratedp.7).

th

FinePeriodandSignedJewels Thesalealsocomprisesawiderangeoffineperiod jewels signed by the most famous and celebrated jewellers of the 20th century, such as Adler, Belperron, Boucheron, Buccellati, Bulgari, Harry Winston,JAR,MicheledellaValle,RenBoivinand VanCleef&Arpels. Cartiersextraordinarycraftsmanshipisrepresented by two exceptional creations. A testament to the exaltation and joie de vivre that characterised the betweenthewarseraisanimportantandveryfine natural pearl and diamond necklace designed in the 1930s. Composed of five graduated rows of natural pearls and enhanced by two shieldshaped plaques, featuring circular and singlecut diamonds,thissublimejewelcarriesanestimateofCHF715,0001,100,000/$765,0001,225,000(lot 505,illustratedleft). Also by Cartier, a unique platinum and diamond necklace designed as a series of articulated stylised roses and floral motifs set with circular and singlecut diamonds. It is understood extraordinarily from Cartier that this was

beautiful

necklace

commissioned and designed in New York in 1942, using jewels which had been supplied by the client. Such remaking of jewellery was not uncommon in the first half of the 20th century as rapid changes in dress fashion and the fact that jewels were being worn frequently, called for new jewel designs (lot 452, est. CHF 550,000725,000/$600,000800,000,illustratedright).

FrenchjewelersexcelledinthecreationofArtDcojewellery. Among the names who contributed to the emergence the aestheticstyleofthelate1920sandthe1930sareRenBoivin and Suzanne Belperron. Ren Boivins creative vision of expertly crafted designs and timeless style is reflected in a masterpieceof20thcenturyjewellerydesign:thecelebrated Dove of Peace brooch. Dating from 1939, this impressive brooch is set with circularcut and cabochon sapphires in various shades of blue. The tail and wings of the dove are partially articulated, resulting in astounding movements and texturestypicalofBoivinsinnovativejewellery.ThisbroochwasdesignedbyJulietteMoutard,after anideaofGermaineBoivin,foranimportantAmericanclient.Duetotheoutbreakofwar,thelatter nevertook possession ofthejewelwhichwas subsequentlysoldtoanotherclientin1945(lot487, est.CHF230,000400,000/$250,000450,000,illustratedright). Asked once why she never signed her work, Suzanne Belperron replied: My style is my signature. Audacious and elegant, her creations pioneered a new aesthetic in jewelry, as seen in this importantdiamondnecklacedatingfromthe1930s(lot473,est. CHF185,000365,000/$200,000400,000,illustratedleft).

Among great contemporary signatures in the sale are two superb creations by JAR, widely acknowledged as being the mosttalentedjewellerofhisgeneration.BorninNewYork,Joel Arthur Rosenthal founded JAR in Paris in 1977. Crossing the boundaries between ornamental jewels and sculpture, JAR has reinterpreted jewellery as an art form. His work is always imaginativeandbeautifullycrafted,asshowninaveryfineand rare rock crystal and diamond brooch dating from 1987. Designed as a dragonfly, this magnificent brooch comes to the market with an estimate of CHF 230,000410,000/ $250,000 450,000 (Lot 503, illustrated right). JAR often incorporates

unusual gemstones in brilliant and unexpected combinations, as reflected in a very attractive morganiteanddiamondpendantdatingfrom1984(lot502,CHF95,000180,000/$100,000200,000, illustratedp.6).

*Notestoeditors: On16thNovember2010,SothebysGenevasetaworldauctionrecordforanydiamondandanyjewelwhenitsoldthe GraffPinkanexceptionallyrareandtrulymagnificentFancyIntensePinkdiamondofthepurest,vibranthue,weighing 24.78caratsfor$46,158,674(CHF45,442,500).The16thNovembersaletotalledCHF103,418,050/US$105,047,918 thehighestvaluejewelleryauctioneverheld.

MAGNIFICENTJEWELS Sale HtelBeauRivage,Geneva Session1:Tuesday,15November11,10:00AM Session2:Tuesday,15November11,2:00PM Session3:Tuesday,15November11,7:00PM Exhibition SothebysLondon,2426October11 SothebysNewYork,29October2November11 HtelBeauRivage,Geneva Saturday,12November11,10:00AM6:00PM Sunday,13November11,10:00AM6:00PM Monday,14November11,10:00AM6:00PM Tuesday,15November11,10:00AM4:00PM (selectionoflots)

ALLPRESSRELEASESAREPUBLISHEDONWWW.SOTHEBYS.COM IMAGESAREAVAILABLEONREQUEST
**Presaleestimatesdonotincludebuyerspremium VentedirigeparleMinistredeMatresClaudeNavilleetMarcoBreitenmoser,HuissiersJudiciaires.