GENEVA: From a flawless diamond that fetched nearly $21.5 million to another gem that went under the hammer for $10.9 million, Geneva's November jewellery auctions smashed several records this year.

Sotheby's chairman for jewellery in Europe and the Middle East David Bennett said the quality of sapphires, rubies and emeralds “was simply outstanding and this was reflected in the prices realised”. Sotheby's raked in a total of 76.7m Swiss francs ($81m) with its semi-annual “Magnificent Jewels Sale”, while rival house Christies pulled in 80.6m francs in a parallel auction. Of the many jewels up for grabs at the Sotheby's auction was an exceptionally rare deep blue diamond that sold for $10.9m, a world record auction price per carat.—AFP