In May Christie’s announced it would auction the famous Rockefeller Emerald at its New York location. Mid June that promise came into fruition when Harry Winston bought the ring for $5.5 million, making it the most expensive emerald, per carat, ever sold.
The rare Colombian emerald stone is an untreated 18ct octagonal step cut that was purchased by John D. Rockefeller Jr. in 1930 as a gift for his wife. The emerald was originally set as a brooch, then converted to a platinum ring by their son, David Rockefeller, when he inherited the stone in 1948. The stone was set by the Rockefeller family jeweler Raymond Yard.
Photo courtesy of Christie's
Other notable stones that were held by the Rockefeller family was a 101.73ct flawless diamond that was also bought by Harry Winston for $26.7 million in 2013. Another is the 62ct Rockefeller Sapphire from Burma that was acquired by the family in 1934. The stone was cut by Pierre Cartier into a rectangular step cut and mounted into a brooch. The sapphire sold for $3 million at Christie’s New York in 2001.
Photo courtesy of Christie's
Harry Winston is accumulating these infamous stones in hopes of opening a Harry Winston museum in New York to house these significant gems.
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