Not to be outdone by Southeby’s Geneva auction, Christie’s of New York is gearing up for an impressive jewellery auction of their own. One of the centrepiece items that will be placed up for auction is the Emperor Maximilian Diamond Ring. Weighing in at just under 40 carats, the massive stone was once owned Archduke Maximilian in the mid 1800′s. Once considered the ‘Emperor of Mexico’, Maximilian lost power shortly after acquiring the ring. When he was executed, rumours state that he had the diamond ring in a small pouch which was tied around his neck.
Centuries later, the ring once again returned to a highly political party. Owned by Imelda Marcos, wife of the late Ferdinand Marcos. She had purchased the diamond ring just a few years before her dictator husband was removed form power during a massive uprising. Imelda had the stone reset into another ring which was done by world renowned jewellers at Cartier. After her husband’s death, Imelda herself became known for her extravagant lifestyle in particular her shoe collection. She parted with the ring in the mid 1990′s, most likely in an attempt to raise money to pay off the debts her extravagance had accumulated over the years.
Other items that will be available include an emerald brooch once owned by Catherine the Great of Russia. According to the historian’s at Christie’s the brooch remained in Catherine’s family for many generations, passed down over the years until it was acquired by a private collector in the United States in 1972.
Despite the strenuous global economy, Christie’s sales figures have remained strong, totalling nearly $300 million in sales for 2009. Sales records were also set for several milestones. The most impressive was the total price paid for a single diamond. A 5 carat pink diamond sold for $10.8 million last year, raising the bar significantly. The record for the per carat price of any white diamond sold was also broken when a magnificent 32 carat stone labelled the Annenberg Diamond sold for $7.7 million. Auctioneers at Christie’s agree that if a gem is rare enough, someone will always be able to come up with the money to be able to own it. While the wealthier buyers of these rare gems are less likely to be influenced by a struggling economy than most people, jewellery sales across the globe still remain strong.