Yellow Diamond Brooch Expected to Sell for Millions
October 22nd, 2013 by Noam Flint
Many of the colored diamonds that end up at high-profile sales are single stones or elegant rings. It’s all too rare that these precious gems wind up in stunning and unique jewelry items – however, when those pieces do enter the spotlight, they command their fair share of publicity.
Those diamond lovers who pay attention to the hottest auction items will undoubtedly hear more about the Walska Briolette Diamond Brooch. With intricate details and show-stopping colored diamonds, this adornment may soon be taking the industry by storm.
Walska Briolette Diamond Brooch expected to sell for Millions
About the brooch
Originally designed by Van Cleef & Arpels, the Walska Briolette Diamond Brooch got its name from former owner Ganna Walska, an opera singer and jewelry lover. It has only been around since 1971 but features a classic style that mimics a Bird of Paradise in addition to a jaw-dropping yellow diamond.
Crafted out of yellow gold, the bird is shown in flight with a sapphire, several emeralds, and yellow and white diamonds serving as embellishments. At the center of the brooch is a 96.62-carat fancy vivid yellow diamond. With a solid clarity rating of VS2 and a vivid yellow color, this fancy colored diamond is one of the largest and most unique buyers may ever see.
The dangling stone is shown hanging from the bird’s beak and can be removed if the future buyer wants to wear it as a pendant instead. In fact, the wings of this Bird of Paradise can be separated and used as earrings, while the tail transforms into a smaller brooch as well.
Early estimates
With so many special elements, Sotheby’s Geneva predicts that the Walska Briolette Diamond Brooch will sell for approximately $8 million. The giant yellow diamond certainly contributes to the high price tag, but the unique nature of the piece also raises its value.
“The Walska Briolette Diamond Brooch is the perfect demonstration of how a great jeweler can emphasize the beauty of a spectacular stone by transforming it into a unique piece,” said David Bennett, chairman of the Sotheby’s jewelry division in Europe and the Middle East. “This historic diamond, which is of an extraordinary size for an antique-cut briolette, comes back on the market after 42 years in a fabulous bespoke piece of jewelry.”
This brooch goes up for sale at the Sotheby’s Geneva auction Nov. 13, marking the first time it will be available to the public as a finished product since its creation.
