An Art Deco Cartier diamond necklace, once owned by the Sassoon family, sold for over $5 million at Christie’s Geneva on Tuesday, nearly three and a half times its high estimate. The 1935 necklace, with a total carat weight between 130 and 140 carats, was a standout item in the auction.
This heirloom, which survived a World War II explosion that destroyed the bank where it was stored, had an initial estimate of $1 million to $1.5 million. It was one of the top lots in Christie’s Magnificent Jewels sale, which raised a total of $54.3 million.
The Sassoon family, originally from Baghdad, was a highly influential merchant family that became an integral part of Britain’s elite social, cultural, and political circles. They were known for their exceptional taste in fine jewelry.
Another major highlight of the auction was the 37.41-carat Aga Khan Emerald, set in a platinum and gold Cartier brooch. The brooch, which also featured 12 carats of white diamonds, fetched $8.8 million, surpassing its high estimate of $8.2 million. The piece was originally commissioned by Prince Sadruddin Aga Khan in 1960 as a gift for his wife, Nina Dyer, a well-known Anglo-Indian socialite and fashion model.
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