High-end jewelry isn’t just dazzling—it’s also an investment class that can rival fine art and real estate. In 2025, record-breaking sales at Christie’s and Sotheby’s proved how volatile and valuable these assets can be. For divorcing couples in North Carolina, these headline-making auctions offer important lessons about how jewelry is classified, valued, and divided under the rules of equitable distribution.
Top Five Jewelry Auction Sales of 2025
- The Mediterranean Blue Diamond — $21.5M
A 10.03-carat Fancy Vivid Blue diamond ring, sold by Sotheby’s Geneva, was the most expensive jewelry sale of the year. - The Marie-Thérèse Pink — $13.98M
A 10.38-carat fancy purple-pink diamond by JAR with 18th-century royal provenance set a record for the legendary Parisian jeweler. - 6.24-ct Fancy Deep Blue Diamond — $12.73M
This Boucheron-mounted gem, auctioned by Christie’s Geneva, achieved a record per-carat price for its classification. - The Blue Belle — $11.3M
A necklace featuring a 392.52-carat Ceylon sapphire drew international attention at Christie’s New York. - The Regent Kashmir — $9.58M
A 35.09-carat Kashmir sapphire, sold in Hong Kong, set a record per carat for sapphires.
How North Carolina Treats Jewelry in Divorce
North Carolina follows equitable distribution, which requires courts to classify property before dividing it:
- Marital Property: Generally, anything acquired during the marriage, regardless of who paid for it.
- Separate Property: Assets owned before marriage, or received individually as gifts or inheritances.
- Divisible Property: Passive changes in value (like auction market swings) between separation and distribution .
This classification is critical, especially for high-value jewelry that may appreciate—or decline—dramatically in a short time.
How Courts and Appraisers Value Jewelry
Courts rely on expert appraisals to determine fair value. Key tools include:
- Auction Comparables: Prices from Sotheby’s, Christie’s, and Phillips, adjusted for carat, cut, clarity, color, provenance, and brand.
- Lab Reports: GIA, SSEF, and Gübelin certifications confirming authenticity and grading.
- Designer Premiums: Jewelry by JAR, Cartier, Van Cleef & Arpels, and Bulgari can command significant premiums.
- Per-Carat Pricing: Especially critical for rare colored diamonds and sapphires .
Special Issues with Jewelry
- Interspousal Gifts: Engagement rings and similar gifts are often treated as separate property.
- Heirlooms: Generally remain separate, unless marital funds were used for restoration or resetting.
- Appreciation: Passive market gains after separation are usually divisible; active improvements may be partly marital .
Ways Jewelry May Be Divided in Divorce
Courts have several options when dividing jewelry:
- Offsetting Assets: One spouse keeps the piece, the other receives equal value in cash or property.
- Sell and Split: Auction or private sale with proceeds divided.
- Structured Buyout: Payment installments if liquidity is an issue.
- In-Kind Division: Dividing multiple pieces between spouses for overall fairness .
Courts may also issue injunctions to prevent a spouse from selling or hiding jewelry during divorce proceedings.
Checklist for Dividing High-Value Jewelry
- Keep complete records: invoices, certifications, and provenance.
- Obtain USPAP-compliant appraisals with auction comparables.
- Factor in treatments (heat, clarity enhancements) that impact value.
- Consider carrying costs: insurance, safekeeping, auction commissions.
- Explore negotiated offsets to preserve sentimental heirlooms.
Bottom Line
From vivid blue diamonds to rare Kashmir sapphires, 2025’s biggest jewelry sales highlight just how unpredictable the market can be. For North Carolina couples facing divorce, these cases underscore the importance of classification, documentation, and professional valuation. With the right legal strategy, courts can ensure both the financial and sentimental value of jewelry is respected.
At Adkins Law, PLLC, based in Huntersville, and servicing the Lake Norman area – Huntersville, Cornelius, Davidson, Denver NC, and Sherrills Ford – we guide clients through equitable distribution disputes involving high-value assets like jewelry, art, and collectibles.
📞 Contact us today to schedule a consultation.
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