A stunning 37-carat square emerald once owned by the Aga Khan has set a new record as the world’s most expensive green gemstone, selling for nearly $9 million at a Christie’s auction in Geneva on Tuesday. The rare jewel has surpassed previous records for emeralds, making it one of the most coveted pieces in the world of fine jewelry.
Cartier Brooch with Diamond and Emerald Sets New Record
The emerald, which is set in a Cartier-designed brooch featuring 20 marquise-cut diamonds, can also be worn as a pendant. It has now claimed the title of the most valuable emerald, surpassing a piece of jewelry given to actress Elizabeth Taylor by her husband Richard Burton in 1964. That Bulgari creation, which once held the record, has now been dethroned.
A Storied History: From the Aga Khan to Elizabeth Taylor’s Wedding Gift
The 37-carat emerald was originally commissioned by Prince Sadruddin Aga Khan in 1960 for British socialite Nina Dyer, to whom he was briefly married. Cartier was tasked with setting the emerald in a brooch adorned with diamonds. In 1969, Dyer auctioned the piece to raise funds for animal charities, marking Christie’s inaugural auction in Switzerland at Lake Geneva. Since then, the emerald has passed through several prestigious hands, including those of renowned jewelers Van Cleef & Arpels and Harry Winston, the “King of Diamonds.”
Why This Emerald Stands Out
“Emeralds are hot right now, and this one ticks all the boxes,” said Max Fawcett, Head of Jewelry for Christie’s EMEA. “We might see an emerald of this quality come up for sale once every five or six years.” The auction’s success highlights the growing demand for high-quality emeralds in the market.
Previous Record Holder Sells for $6.5 Million
The emerald’s auction sale eclipsed the previous record-holder, a piece from Elizabeth Taylor’s famous jewelry collection. That emerald, also set with diamonds, sold for $6.5 million at a Christie’s auction in New York, part of the legendary actress’s renowned collection.
