All jewellery that passes through the walls of Christie’s auction house is extraordinary, but the pieces that will go under the hammer in Geneva on 13 November are extra-special. As the title suggests – they’re magnificent.

The much-talked about and eye-watering highlight of this year’s Magnificent Jewels sale at Christie’s is The Pink Legacy – a record-breaking Fancy Vivid Pink diamond ring. The extremely rare, rectangular-cut gem weighs almost 19 carats (18.96 carats) and is flanked by two large diamonds.

It’s not just the size that makes this design so astonishing. Rarely is a pink diamond so rich in colour, with no trace of a secondary hue – only one in 100,000 diamonds possess a colour deep enough to qualify as ‘Fancy Vivid’. The one-of-a-kind ring descends from the esteemed Oppenheimer family and is expected to fetch $30-50 million.

A further 300 jewels will go under the hammer, including a pendant sautiour by Van Cleef & Arpels, created in 1924 and inspired by the decade’s proclivity for Egyptian design. Rather daring for its time is a Cartier diamond tiara, circa 1912, made from blackened steel.

Early 20th-century steel and diamond tiara by Cartier

Multi-gem Butterfly brooch by JAR

Also on display are three multi-gem creations by JAR, the cult Parisian jewellery house founded by American-born Joel Arthur Rosenthal in 1977. With a discreet salon at 7 Place Vendôme, JAR is coveted by many but owned by few. It produces only 70 to 80 designs each year, making any purchase an instant collector’s item.

Watch the action unfold on 13 November 2018.