This Fancy Vivid blue diamond was the top seller at Christie’s Magnificent Jewels sale. Credit: Christie’s Images Ltd. 2014.

BY LESLIE JORDAN CLARY

Christie’s Geneva Magnificent Jewels sale on May 14 set a world record as the highest sum for a jewelry sale in auction history, achieving more than $154 million in total sales. Four pieces fetched world-record prices: a 76.51 carat light-pink diamond, a 5.50 carat blue-green diamond, a 21.41 carat Russian alexandrite and a 49.04 carat pink sapphire. The highlight of the show was The Winston Blue, the largest flawless Fancy Vivid blue diamond ever graded by the Gemological Institute of America (GIA). The diamond was named by Harry Winston CEO Nayla Hayek, who purchased the gem.

—May 26, 2014