At this year's Phillips’ Geneva Jewels Auction: V on November 10, 2025, the spotlight center-focused on The Vanderbilt Sapphire, a stunning Belle Époque masterpiece epitomizing the grandeur and fine gem-setting artistry of the Gilded Age. Part of the Vanderbilt Family Jewels collection, the piece led a 100% sold group that realized CHF 3.42 million / US$ 4.25 million, achieving four times its low estimate.

Period jewels and signed creations demonstrated exceptional strength as a whole, with 90% of lots sold, many exceeding their high estimates. The sale featured iconic designs by historically renowned design houses like Tiffany & Co., Cartier, and Bulgari, including the celebrated Cartier “Panthère” jewels and Bulgari “Serpenti” belt, each representing distinct hallmarks of craftsmanship and design evolution in 20th century jewelry history.

Phillips’ Worldwide Head of Jewellery, Benoît Repellin, described the results as a testament to the “timeless power of exceptional jewels,” underscoring collectors’ continuing appreciation for artistry, provenance, and the refined aesthetics of historic gem-set works.

The auction drew over 1,600 visitors and bidders from 44 countries, reflecting sustained international enthusiasm for period jewels. Phillips’ Geneva Jewels Online Auction continues until 13 November, followed by the next live sale in New York on 8 December. Visit www.phillips.com for more information and news on this event and their other similar jewelry headliners.

Editorial Article Images and Photography: Phillips Auctioneers, LLC

Of all the fancy diamond colors, pink is one of the most popularly worn among socialites. Its feminine elegance and pastel hue can command such attraction even through the most demure subtlety.



Now it seems there's news of yet another brilliant specimen going to be auctioned by Christie's - Geneva. The 'Pink Legacy', an 18.95ct fancy vivid pink diamond is estimated by experts to fetch around 30 to 50 million USD at auction during its predicted release next month.


Large diamonds above 2 carats very rarely possess enough color intensity and saturation to be considered 'Fancy vivid pink'. This natural treasure will be only one of four 'over-ten-carat' specimens to be auctioned during the past 250 years.

Its rarity alone is enough to gather connoisseurs and collectors from around the world to participate in this upcoming event in Geneva (Magnificent Jewels Sale - Nov. 13).





Historical impact also influences this gem's already pristine valuation. It has been traced to the famous Oppenheimer family- a name synonymous with the early development of the natural diamond trade. Headed once by Nicky Oppenheimer, the clan previously owned 40% of the De Beers group, although this was sold to another company back in 2011 for about 5.1 billion USD.

Before its scheduled appearance in Geneva, the 'Pink Legacy' is set to tour around the world- visiting Hong Kong, London and New York. Perhaps the world's elite diamond buyers will be entranced by the gem's scintillating beauty during one of these excursions.

Another large diamond that had recently been sold at auction, was the 163-Carat D-Flawless "De Grisogono". The gemstone was set at the heart of an asymmetrical necklace adorned by suites of emeralds and other diamonds.



The design by De Grisogono founder Fawaz Gruosi, prioritizes the full visibility of the gemstones' magnificence, and therefore strives to hide all metal from its facade. This almost invisible way of craftsmanship truly brings out the vivid brilliance of both the record-breaking stone, and its accent gems.



Documentations have shown that this one-of-a-kind masterpiece required a schedule of over 1,700 hours to complete. Fourteen craftsmen contributed to the piece's creation, and this is evident in the complexity of its structure and beguiling appearance.

The De Grisogono diamond and its host necklace, sold for 33.7 million US dollars in Geneva under the efforts of Christie's auction house and its partners.

While this number may strike some as being incredibly extravagant for a single piece of jewelry, it was actually viewed as disappointing for many veterans in the diamond auction industry.



Both diamonds and emeralds are favorites here within the jewelry circles of Metro Manila, however specimens even a fifth of the De Grisogono's carat weight are an incredibly rare sight inside Philippine jewelry boutiques. Practicality and trend both play a part in the country's demand for diamonds. Normally, one to five carat sizes are the prime picks for most high society Filipinos, due to their high-movability translating to a better investment value.



Above are pictures of both the diamond and its original rough form. Large diamond rough is very rare, so diamond cutters need to use an array of advanced instrumentation to scan and plot the best angles for cutting out the gem. The more weight preserved, the higher the returns will be for specimens such as this one. (Photography Credits to Christie's Auctions, and De Grisogono)