The Donnersmarck Diamonds, a pair of “extraordinary Fancy Intense Yellow diamonds”, will be offered as part of Sotheby’s Geneva auction of Magnificent Jewels and Noble Jewels November 15 and could fetch up to $14 million, Sotheby’s says.
The Donnersmarck Diamonds are part of the collection of Esther Lachmann, generally known as La Païva – one of the most successful of 19th-century French courtesans. They consist of a 102.54-carat cushion-shaped diamond and an 82.47-carat pear-shaped diamond, and are being offered as a single lot with a pre-sale estimate of $9 – $14 million.
In the same sale, Sotheby’s will also be offering The Raj Pink – a 37.30-carat, Fancy Intense Pink diamond unearthed in 2015. According to the auction house, the cushion-cut diamond is “the largest fancy intense pink diamond on record” and is estimated to sell for between $20 – $30 million.
