Exceptional diamonds, like exceptional houses, are always named, and Christie’s is leading its spring New York jewelry auction with a prime example. The Light of Peace diamond is estimated at between $10 million and $15 million, although it is being offered without reserve. It’s leading a magnificent jewels auction on June 7, which will also include signed pieces from Cartier, Chaumet, Harry Winston, JAR, Tiffany & Co., Van Cleef & Arpels and Verdur – in other words, all the usual suspects.

The Light of Peace is a D color, Internally Flawless brilliant pear cut diamond weighing 126.76 carats. Formerly known as the Zale Light of Peace, the diamond was previously owned by the Zale Corporation of Dallas, which organized the display of the diamond and used the proceeds from ticket sales to establish a fund for peace missions. The current owner, who is selling the diamond at Christie’s in June, will donate a portion of the proceeds to the US for UNHCR, the UN refugee agency.

If provenance is your thing, the sale has plenty of pieces from private collections, including some from the collection of Adolphus Andrews, Jr. and Emily Taylor Andrews – including a Van Cleef & Arpels mystery sapphire set and diamond bracelet ($250,000-$350,000 estimate. There are also jewels from the Betsey Cushing Whitney collection, including ruby, emerald and diamond Van Cleef & Arpels earrings and a necklace set, made circa 1970, estimated at $400,000 – $600,000.A notable piece from the Anneehow Eisen Collection, called Jarretière, also a Van Cleep piece, a ruby ​​and diamond bracelet purchased by Marlene Dietrich in 1937 (est. $2,500,000 – $4,500,000).

Colored diamonds remain a solid investment, and the sale includes two notable examples: a 3.10-carat fancy vivid blue diamond ring (est. $4,200,000 – 5,200,000); and a 4.01 carat fancy intense pink diamond ring (est. $1,500,000 – 2,500,000). Previews are held from June 2 to June 6.