Pair of pear-shaped diamond earrings sell for $17.6 million

A pair of pear-shaped diamond earrings sold on Tuesday in Geneva for $17.6 million including fees, falling well short of the pre-sale estimate and suggesting that the auction house may have misjudged the market for that piece.

The ultra-ornate earrings were a standout item in the "Magnificent Jewels" auction that reaped about $97 million overall, at the high-end of the expected range, despite some disappointments.

The Christie's touted the "Miroir de l'Amour" (Mirror of Love) earrings as bearing the largest D Flawless, or highest-quality, pear-shaped diamonds in the world at more than 50 carats each.