An exhibition comprising important elements of the world-renowned jewellery collection of Parisian jeweller and gem collector Alexandre Reza (born 1922) will go on display at Sotheby's in November.

Alexandre Reza platinum earrings featuring four extraordinary Columbian emeralds framed with over 14 carats of diamond baguettes

Items from the collection, which remains unrivalled in terms of both scope and scale, will feature at Sotheby's New York, London, Doha and Beijing.

Columbian emeralds, Sri Lankan sapphires, and African diamonds will be joined on the whistle stop tour by precious pearls and opals. Beginning in New York on November 2, the exhibition will provide a rare glimpse into one of the world's largest and most opulent private jewellery collections.

Alexandre Reza's son Olivier Reza commented: "My family and I are honoured to partner with Sotheby's and share both the Alexandre Reza archives and new creations with jewellery collectors around the world.

"Carefully curated, this exhibition will showcase my father's legacy as a jeweller, and the work that we create today in his honour. Our passion for connecting high-quality craftsmanship with superb raw material, combined with impeccable design will forever remain the cornerstone of our house." 

In 1997, the Daily Mirror newspaper described Reza as "probably the top jeweller in the world for the rich, famous and royalty". Britain's Princess Diana was seen wearing a Reza-designed diamond ring on the day of her death.

Sotheby's David Bennet asserts: "Alexandre Reza's legacy forms an integral and important part of the history of post war jewellery."

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