The stunning Sunrise Ruby uses a cushion brilliant cut. It’s by Cartier and comes from a private collection. Photos courtesy Sotheby’s.

This Historic Pink Diamond uses a cushion brilliant cut and is believed to have been owned by Princes Mathilde Bonaparte, niece of Napoleon I.

BY LESLIE JORDAN CLARY

Among the stunning jewels set to go up for auction at Sotheby’s in Geneva on May 12 are two true dazzlers: The Historic Pink Diamond and The Sunrise Ruby. The fancy, vivid pink diamond weighs in at 8.72 carats. Natural pink diamonds are among the world’s rarest gemstones, putting this diamond in a class of its own. With its deep pigeon blood red color, The Sunrise Ruby is another stunning piece, weighing in at 25.59 carats. In addition to these two highlights of the show, the auction will feature signed jewels and historic pieces including a private collection of Cartier jewels and five tiaras—three of which were formerly in the collection of Mary Innes-Ker, Duchess of Roxburghe.

—May 2015

UPDATE: Sotheby’s has reported that this auction recorded the highest total for a jewelry auction in history, with a grand total of $160,914,902 in sales. The Sunrise Ruby sold for $30.3 million, having been estimated at $12 to $18 million; according to a press release from Sotheby’s, the price established a new record for any ruby (per carat), and a new record for any Cartier stone. The Historic Pink Diamond, which has been linked to Princess Mathilde Bonaparte, niece of Napoleon I, sold for $15.9 million. David Bennett, Worldwide Chairman of Sotheby’s International Jewellery Division, notes that the evening’s record-breaking sales “are evidence that the market for exceptional jewels is going from strength to strength.”