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| May/June 2007 |
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Natural Pearls Set Auction Record The famed Baroda Pearls sold for more than $7 million at a Christie’s auction on April 25. The sale of this rare natural pearl necklace broke a world auction record for natural pearls when a private Asian buyer purchased the necklace with matching earrings, brooch, and ring for $7.1 million. The necklace features 68 of the largest pearls from the seven-strand natural pearl necklace that was the prized possession of the maharaja of Baroda, India. The maharajas — princes or kings who ruled over states within India — lavishly adorned their crowns, clothing, and decorative objects with gemstones of all types and colors, especially pearls. The pearl symbolized wealth and power, and the maharajas used it whenever possible to show their status. In the 19th century, the maharaja of Baroda, Khande Rao Gawkwar, came to possess the necklace that became known as the Baroda Pearls, composed of seven strands of perfectly matched and graduated natural pearls. The necklace was among the most expensive pieces in the Baroda Royal Treasury and remained one of its prized jewels throughout the 20th century. The historic necklace put on auction features two large strands made of pearls from the fourth, fifth, sixth, and seventh strands of the original, joined by a cushion-cut Cartier diamond clasp. The 68 graduated pearls match in color, luster, and shape. The auction also set a record for the sale of a 22.66-ct. Kashmir sapphire, for which an anonymous bidder paid $3.1 million, making it the most expensive sapphire in the world, according to Christie’s. The sale also broke a world record for price per carat, with the sapphire bringing in $135,000 per carat. “This auction marks a turning point in the jewelry world where original design, rarity, and provenance prove to be just as important as the quality of a gem,” Christie’s Americas’ Head of Jewelry, Rahul Kadakia, said in a statement.
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