Following the resignation of Simon Teakle as U.S. head of jewelry to join an established jeweler on the East Coast, François Curiel, director of the international department, announced the appointment of Rahul Kadakia as the new head of Christie’s jewelry in the Americas.

Currently a senior specialist at Christie’s Geneva, Kadakia will assume his new position on Oct. 4. In his new role, he will work closely with an American team, led by Vice-President Daphne Lingon, to run Christie’s jewelry activities in North and South America.

Kadakia was born in Bombay into a family of jewelers and began his career at Christie’s London in 1996. His first achievement was to organize Christie’s inaugural auction of Important Indian Jewels. In 1997, he moved to Switzerland where, together with director Eric Valdieu, he has been organizing the traditional Magnificent Jewels auctions in Geneva and St. Moritz. Kadakia also secured and sold major diamonds and signed jewels, which have been among the top lots worldwide each year. A talented auctioneer, he regularly holds the hammer during auctions in Geneva, Hong Kong, London, New York, and St. Moritz, as well as during numerous charity events.

After running Christie’s Jewelry department in New York for the past 15 years, Teakle has decided to leave the firm to join Betteridge Jewelers in Greenwich, Conn., where he will launch and run an estate jewelry section. A graduate gemologist, Teakle started at Christie’s as a specialist in London in 1985. Upon his arrival in New York in 1991, Christie’s performance increased significantly as he secured numerous prestigious single-owner collections and record-breaking gemstones. Teakle also played a major role in the firm’s successful jewelry auctions worldwide and contributed to raising the company’s profile in North and South America.

JCK