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World’s largest pair of cat’s eye emeralds added to Guernsey’s April 25 auction

World’s largest pair of cat’s eye emeralds, valued at around $2M, newly added to Guernsey’s April 25 auction. Image by Robert Weldon, GIA, provided by Guernsey’s

 

NEW YORK – Weighing in at a remarkable 74.52 carats (total weight), a stunning matched pair of emeralds featuring the extremely rare “cat’s eye” phenomenon has been added to an auction roster that already includes what many believe is the finest assemblage of emeralds ever to appear at public sale.

For the past several months, New York-based Guernsey’s has been preparing for the April 25th auction, with absentee and Internet live bidding through LiveAuctioneers, which features the privately-owned Marcial de Gomar Emerald Collection. Over a period of 60 years, Manuel Marcial de Gomar has shuttled between the U.S. and the Muzo region of Colombia where the world’s finest emeralds are mined. His personal emerald collection – consisting of gems acquired directly from the Muzo Mine and other Muzo emeralds recovered from the 1622 wreck of the Spanish Galleon Nuestra Señora de Atocha – constitute this unprecedented auction. Now, with the event fast approaching, Mr. Marcial, in recognition of his longtime friendship with a gentleman from Muzo, has authorized the inclusion of that gentleman’s most treasured gems – this cat’s eye pair – into the unique sale.

Originally cut from a single 370-carat trapiche emerald (a unique variety of emerald with a six-point radial pattern), these two remarkable stones are believed to be the largest matched pair of Colombian cat’s eye emeralds in the world. Beautiful trapiche emeralds, far smaller than these and lacking the elusive cat’s eye phenomenon, are still quite valuable and coveted by collectors. The cutting process of this pair has been carefully documented by the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) in an article describing the gems. No wonder that these two matched emeralds, weighing a combined 74.52 carats, have a pre-auction estimate approaching $2 million.

In addition to a wonderful array of cut and uncut museum-quality emeralds, the 40-lot auction also includes several rare, centuries old Spanish gold coins recovered from the ocean floor. Notably, 75 percent of the lots in this auction – including many remarkable emeralds – are being offered without minimum reserve. For questions about any precious gem in the April 25 auction, contact Guernsey’s directly by calling 212-794-2280.

View the fully illustrated catalog and bid absentee or live online through LiveAuctioneers.

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