“Extraordinary diamonds, including three each weighing over 100 carats, and fabulous jewels of noble provenance are the highlights of this remarkable autumn sale in Geneva.” David Bennett, Worldwide Chairman of Sotheby’s International Jewellery Division

THE RAJ PINKSotheby’s is delighted to present The Raj Pink, the world’s largest known Fancy Intense Pink diamond, weighing 37.30 carats. The Raj Pink was named by the current owner of the precious stone, who wishes to remain anonymous. It is based on the Sanskrit word for ‘king’. The Gemological Institute of America (GIA), which certified the diamond, commented, “The brilliance, hue and size of this precious gem are truly exceptional.” (Lot 361, estimate US$ 20 – 30 million / CHF 19.6 – 29.4 million)

THE DONNERSMARCK DIAMONDSTo mark ten highly successful years of dedicated Noble Jewels sales in Geneva, Sotheby’s will offer at auction The Donnersmarck Diamonds, a pair of extraordinary Fancy Intense Yellow diamonds with impeccable aristocratic provenance. The superb diamonds, formerly in the Collection of the Princely Family von Donnersmarck, consist of a cushion-shaped diamond weighing 102.54 carats, and a pear-shaped diamond weighing 82.47 carats.

The Donnersmarck Diamonds were part of the collection of La Païva, Countess Henckel von Donnersmarck (1819-1884), arguably the most famous of 19th-century French courtesans, whose vertiginous trajectory from modest circumstances in her native Russia to the highest circles of European aristocracy was sensational. In 1855, she purchased a building plot on the Champs Elysées. L’Hôtel de La Païva was to be one of the most lavish mansions ever built on the famous avenue, and became renowned for its fabulous social and intellectual gatherings.

Also in the 1850s, La Païva met one of Europe’s richest men, the handsome and charismatic 22-year-old Prussian industrialist and mining magnate Count Guido Henckel von Donnersmarck (1830-1916). He was immediately captivated by La Païva’s seductive charms, extraordinary mind and business acumen. Their relationship was the talk of Paris high society and in 1871, the two were married.

Following La Païva’s death in 1884, the Count, who was created prince in 1901, remarried, taking as his second wife Katharina Wassilievna de Slepzoff (1862-1929) a beautiful and refined Russian aristocrat. The diamonds remained in the Donnersmarck family for more than a century until they appeared at auction at Sotheby’s in 2007. They come to auction this November after having been in a private collection for the last 10 years (Lot 357, estimate US$ 9-14 million / CHF 18.8 – 13.7 million).