A vintage sapphire weighing 7.58 carats, previously connected with a royal family, sold for more than three times its low valuation, helping Christie’s fetch a record-setting $12.03 million – well exceeding the sale’s $9.8 million upper presale estimate.
The exquisite Kashmir gem is a cushion-cut, graded vivid blue with strong saturation. It has clarity characteristics consistent with origin in a remote northern area of the Himalayan mountains. Initially estimated to sell for between $327,000 and $436,000, the gavel fell at $1.03 million, easily making it the star attraction of the Joaillerie Paris online auction.

Although the specific royal family associated with the sapphire was not disclosed by Christie’s, the auction also featured another notable item—an extraordinary 29.60-carat fancy intense yellow diamond. This extraordinary gemstone, sold for $577,000 came from the family collection of Prince Barbu Alexandru Știrbey, who served as the prime minister of the Kingdom of Romania in 1927.

Other notable lots sold at the auction:
A Van Cleef & Arpels ring set with a unique oval step-cut Burmese ruby, estimated to weigh between 6.5 and 7.5 carats, between half-moon antique cut diamonds. The piece sold for $611,000, nearly triple its high presale estimate.

A Cartier ring featuring a 16.20-carat I color VS1 clarity emerald-cut diamond. The piece sold for $440,167, slightly exceeding its high presale estimate.
