Editor’s Note
Christie’s ‘Joaillerie Paris’ sale continues to demonstrate robust collector demand, achieving its high estimate and setting a new annual record for a French jewelry department in 2025.
Record-Breaking French Jewelry DepartmentPresented online from December 5 to 17 by Christie’s, the ‘Joaillerie Paris’ sale achieved its high estimate, totaling €8,902,446. A sign of collector loyalty, over 500 people registered to participate in this biannual event (held in June and December).
Year after year, the results of the ‘Joaillerie Paris’ sales continue to grow. In 2025, ‘Joaillerie Paris’ thus sets a new record for a jewelry department in France, with a total amount of €25.5M/$29.9M/£22.3M, compared to €19.4M/$21.1M/£16.3M in 2024.
Tourmaline was the star stone of this December sale. Notable mentions include a Paraiba tourmaline sold for €825,000, which multiplied its estimate by ten, and an Indicolite tourmaline, acquired for €241,300, more than twenty times its estimate of €10,000-15,000. Finally, two Paraiba tourmalines found buyers at €139,700 against an estimate of €10,000 to €15,000.
Remarkable successes also highlighted the houses of Place Vendôme. Among these, an Art Deco chatelaine watch by Cartier was acquired for €228,600, five times its estimate, while a sautoir by Van Cleef & Arpels, designed in the 1970s-80s by Georges Lenfant, sold for €190,500, against an estimate of €70,000-90,000. From the same house, also noteworthy is this pair of interchangeable earrings with different colored stones – amber, amourette wood, mother-of-pearl, diamonds, and Philippine gold – which was acquired for €177,800 (presale estimate €25,000-45,000).
Lovers of JAR were also present, attracted notably by the ‘Bonnet’ sapphire and diamond ring which found a buyer at €165,100, multiplying its estimate by four, and by the ‘Morganite’ ring, set with colored sapphires and diamonds, which sold for €152,400 (presale estimate €60,000–80,000).
Finally, Christie’s presented a dozen pieces from the house of Boivin which totaled €330,200, positioning Christie’s as a leader in the Boivin market. Notably, a convertible necklace in cultured pearls, colored stones, and diamonds found a buyer at €76,200, while a brooch in gadrooned chalcedony enhanced with a carved emerald, made by Suzanne Belperron, was one of the most coveted pieces of the sale. It was acquired for double its estimate at €76,200.