Very rare and highly important multicoloured sapphire and diamond suite. Photo: Sotheby's.

Comprising: a pendant necklace set with oval and cushion-shaped pink, yellow and blue sapphires, brilliant-cut, pear-, marquise-shaped and oval diamonds, length approximately 635mm, shortens to approximately 490mm, pendant detachable; a bracelet similarly set, length approximately 190mm; a pair of pendent earrings suspending briolette sapphire drops, post fittings, maker's marks for Van Cleef & Arpels; and a ring set with an oval purplish-pink sapphire, circular-cut sapphires and brilliant-cut diamonds, size 49, fitted case, Faraone. Estimation 550,000-910,000 CHF. Lot 663 vendu: 1,482,500 CHF

Accompanied by Gübelin report no. 11070148 and no. 11070147, stating that the blue, yellow and pink sapphires in the pendant are of Ceylon origin, and together with the pink sapphire in the ring, were all found to have no indications of heating. Further accompanied by GemTechLab report no. 12-B-2302, stating that the main sapphires in the necklace, bracelet and earrings were all found to have no indications of high temperature thermal treatment.

Sotheby's. A Superb Private Collection of Gems and Jewels. Genève | 15 mai 2012 www.sothebys.com