The largest top-quality paraiba tourmaline ever to come to auction will be in Sotheby’s Nov. 8 Magnificent Jewels and Noble Jewels sale in Geneva, the auction house says.
Known as the Blue Lagoon, the 93.94 ct. stone is the focal point of a diamond lariat-style necklace by Swiss maison Adler Joailliers. It’s expected to achieve anywhere from $1.52 million to $2.54 million (or 1.36 million to 2.27 million Swiss francs).
“The gemstone exhibits an impressive size and weight, combined with an attractive blue color and excellent purity,” according to a SSEF appendix letter. “The few inclusion features found by microscopic examination and the analyzed properties are consistent with those found in copper-bearing tourmalines from the Alto Ligonha district in northern Mozambique.”
Some of the world’s largest and clearest paraiba stones, the Blue Lagoon among them, have been found in Mozambique since paraiba tourmaline was discovered there in the early 2000s. The gem was first discovered in the Paraiba state of Brazil in the late 1980s.
Paraiba tourmaline is among the world’s rarest gems, coveted for its range of electric hues, including vivid blues and greens. Paraiba stones exhibit such striking coloration due to the copper and manganese in their crystal structure. They are also prized for their exceptional brilliance and transparency, often rivaling the finest sapphires and emeralds.
Adler, a fourth-generation family-owned and -operated jeweler, created the necklace specifically for the large paraiba tourmaline. Its design plays off the natural beauty of the stone and evokes a waterfall, with multiple cuts of diamonds weighing over 70 cts. dripping down the wearer’s décolletage. In a statement, Adler described it as a “classic with a twist” and referred to the longevity of the investment piece.
(Photos courtesy of Sotheby’s)
Follow me on Instagram: @anniedavidsonwatson
Follow JCK on Instagram: @jckmagazineFollow JCK on Twitter: @jckmagazine
Follow JCK on Facebook: @jckmagazine
