Rahul Kadakia
International Head of Jewellery | Jewellery
A recognized auctioneer at Christie’s salerooms in Geneva, Hong Kong, London and New York, Mr. Kadakia joined Christie’s—the international leader in the jewelry auction market—in 1996 when he was instrumental in establishing the first ever Important Indian Jewels auction, which included a Mughal inscribed spinel bead necklace sold for $1.4 million. He then moved to Geneva in 1997 and organized the Magnificent Jewels auctions there for the next seven years. In 2004, he was named head of the Jewelry Department for Christie’s Americas and annual auction sales have soared above $100 million in New York nearly every year since his appointment, and private sales generating many millions more.
He has been at the podium for a number of record breaking sales including the Ellen Barkin Collection, which showcased the most important collection of jewels by JAR ever to appear at auction in 2006; and the historic Baroda Pearls which realized a world auction record of $7.1 million in 2007 and changed the market for natural pearls. In 2009 he auctioned the Annenberg Diamond, a 32.01 carat rectangular-cut gem for $7.7 million, which set a record price per carat for any colorless diamond at auction at the time.
In 2011, he became a media sensation as co-auctioneer of the famed jewelry from the Collection of Elizabeth Taylor, which totaled $137.2 million over two days, outperforming its pre-sale estimate by four times. More records were achieved under his gavel in 2013 including the sale of the famed Princie Diamond which at $39.3m was the most valuable Golconda diamond ever sold at auction and the Orange diamond which achieved a world record $35.5m.
He was appointed International Head of Jewelry in April 2014 and on May 18, 2016 Christie’s Geneva sold the Oppenheimer Blue Diamond for $57.5m, a world auction record for any blue diamond.
Most recently in 2019, Mr. Kadakia orchestrated the unprecedented Maharajas & Mughal Magnificence global exhibition and sale. The marathon 12-hour auction achieved $109.3 million, the highest total for any auction of Indian Jewels and Mughal Jeweled Objects.
He has been at the podium for a number of record breaking sales including the Ellen Barkin Collection, which showcased the most important collection of jewels by JAR ever to appear at auction in 2006; and the historic Baroda Pearls which realized a world auction record of $7.1 million in 2007 and changed the market for natural pearls. In 2009 he auctioned the Annenberg Diamond, a 32.01 carat rectangular-cut gem for $7.7 million, which set a record price per carat for any colorless diamond at auction at the time.
In 2011, he became a media sensation as co-auctioneer of the famed jewelry from the Collection of Elizabeth Taylor, which totaled $137.2 million over two days, outperforming its pre-sale estimate by four times. More records were achieved under his gavel in 2013 including the sale of the famed Princie Diamond which at $39.3m was the most valuable Golconda diamond ever sold at auction and the Orange diamond which achieved a world record $35.5m.
He was appointed International Head of Jewelry in April 2014 and on May 18, 2016 Christie’s Geneva sold the Oppenheimer Blue Diamond for $57.5m, a world auction record for any blue diamond.
Most recently in 2019, Mr. Kadakia orchestrated the unprecedented Maharajas & Mughal Magnificence global exhibition and sale. The marathon 12-hour auction achieved $109.3 million, the highest total for any auction of Indian Jewels and Mughal Jeweled Objects.
