Christie's says sold largest heart-shaped diamond

GENEVA, Nov 17 (Reuters) Christie's auction house said today it had sold the largest flawless heart-shaped white diamond recorded at auction for 4.05 million Swiss francs.

The gem, weighing 37.01 carats, was the star lot of its semi-annual ''magnificent jewels sale'' held in Geneva yesterday night. The price for the stone was in line with the pre-sale estimate, according to a spokeswoman.

Neither the buyer nor the seller was identified.

Nearly 50 pieces made by French jeweller Van Cleef&Arpels, currently celebrating its centenary, also took 7.6 million dollars at a separate late-night auction at Christie's, a statement said.

In all, Christie's netted nearly 77 million Swiss francs in three jewellery sales held this week in Geneva, a sum which its jewel expert Eric Valdieu said had ''not been seen anywhere in the world for years''.

Reuters SY VV2155