Bonhams Sells Hope Spinel for Record $30,000 per Carat at London Sale
The Facts
Bonhams sold the Hope Spinel, a 50.13-carat faceted gemstone, for a record $30,000 per carat at its Fine Jewellery sale in London on September 24, 2015. The previous world record for a faceted spinel was $16,000 per carat, set in 2013. The gem, set in a 19th-century silver and gold brooch, was bought by a private telephone bidder after competition from 18 telephone lines and online bidders. Bonhams CEO Matthew Girling led the auction.
The Signal
The Hope Spinel, once part of the collection of London banker Henry Philip Hope, had not been sold since 1917 when it fetched £1,060. Its provenance, linking it to the ancient Kuh-i-Lal mines in Tajikistan and its exceptional quality, led gemmological lab SSEF to classify it as an 'exceptional treasure of nature.' The price far exceeded Bonhams' estimate of £150,000–£200,000, highlighting the extreme rarity and collector demand for historic gems with aristocratic provenance.
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- People: Matthew Girling, Jean Ghika, Henry Philip Hope
- Auction Houses: Bonhams
- Locations: London
- Prices: $30,000 per carat, $16,000 per carat, £1,060, £150,000, £200,000
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