Sotheby’s Auctioning 96.62 Carat Yellow Diamond Brooch
Walska Briolette Diamond Brooch
On Nov. 13, Sotheby’s Geneva will auction the Walska Briolette Diamond Brooch, a Van Cleef & Arpels–designed brooch highlighted by a 96.62 ct. fancy vivid yellow diamond.
The brooch, once owned by opera singer/jewelry connoisseur Ganna Walska, was designed by Van Cleef in 1971. It carries an $8 million estimate.
The piece was designed as a Bird of Paradise in yellow gold, set with yellow and white diamonds, emeralds, and a cabochon sapphire. The center stone, which has a VS2 clarity grade, is suspended from the bird’s beak, and can be detached and worn as a pendant. The bird’s wings also detach to form a pair of earrings.
“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 Sotheby’s jewelry division in Europe and the Middle East and chairman of Sotheby’s Switzerland, in a statement.
