A stunning 10.33-carat Burmese ruby fetched an impressive $5.5 million at Sotheby’s Magnificent Jewels auction in New York, following a heated six-minute bidding battle between two phone bidders and one participant in the saleroom. The final sale price more than doubled its high estimate.
This cushion-shaped, untreated ruby, set in a ring alongside two pear-shaped diamonds, emerged as the highlight of the 96 lot auction, which achieved a total of $30 million. Notably, 92% of the lots were sold, with 70% exceeding their high estimates.
The auction underscored a strong appetite for rare colored gemstones, exceptional white and colored diamonds, and signed pieces from renowned names like Graff, Van Cleef & Arpels, and Boivin.
Live jewelry auctions in New York are easily keeping pace with multi-million-dollar watch auctions, and they remain the best venue for large diamonds, gemstones and signed pieces. Sotheby’s Magnificent Jewels sale in June totaled $30,033,900, and Christie’s hit the $44.4 million mark, for a combined haul of over $70 million between the two.
A 14.51 carat sugarloaf cabochon Kashmir sapphire ring that sold for $1.8 million at Sotheby’s
Fancy colored and large flawless diamonds, along with rare specimens of emerald, sapphire and ruby continue to rank in the top 10 lots at most auctions. In the Sotheby’s top 10, the seven highest-selling pieces sold for over $1 million, and the top two lots sold for over $3 million.
The auction was led by a $3.6 million piece of jewelry, a Van Cleef & Arpels necklace. The tassel-tie style long necklace was fully set with several cuts of perfectly matched diamonds in tapered sizes. It was made in 1929, and would be difficult to make or find anywhere today. The second-highest lot was a 53-carat internally flawless diamond, another rare find, especially given than diamond mining is not the prolific activity it once was. It sold for $3,480,000.
For final proof that rarity is the driving value factor at jewelry auctions, the next lots were Kashmir sapphires, the prized velvety blue gems that haven’t been mined in a century—including a 10.31-carat Kashmir sapphire and diamond ring that sold for $1,980,000, and a 14.51-carat sugarloaf cabochon sapphire ring that sold for $1.8 million. Natural pearls, also very rare, are fetching top dollar at auction as well. Among the top 10 at the Sotheby’s sale was a natural pearl, cultured pearl and diamond necklace selling for $552,000, along with exquisite pieces from Graff and Harry Winston.
Christie’s sold the the Eden Rose, a 10.2-carat fancy intense pink diamond for $13.3 million.
This 2.28-carat vivid blue heart shaped diamond ring, surrounded by yellow and white diamonds
Phillips, which has for several years been the leading auction house when it comes to watches, also started holding live jewelry auctions this year. It got off to a good start in June with a New York sale that totaled $2.8 million. Leading the auction was a 9.81-carat emerald and diamond ring, which doubled its estimate at $165,000. A pair of diamond ear clips sold for $165,100, and a Cartier gold and diamond necklace designed as an undulating fringe sold for $146,050. The sale also included pieces from Van Cleef & Arpels, Cartier, and Bulgari and Oscar Heyman.
Leading the Phillips auction was a 9.81-carat emerald and diamond ring, which doubled its estimate.
An important and rare Van Cleef & Arpels diamond “Tie” necklace smashed its estimate and blew past other impressive gems and jewels to become the top lot at Sotheby’s Magnificent Jewels auction, held Friday in New York.
The necklace, circa 1929, composed of graduated links set with variously cut diamonds with elongated tassels that partially rotate, sold for $3.6 million, triple its high estimate of $1.2 million, after a six-minute battle between seven bidders.
It was one of the few marquee items in the sale of 95 lots, a low number for a major New York auction. However, many of the items offered were highly collectible and wearable as shown by the overall results. For example, the sale achieved $30 million, near its $35 million high estimate, with 90% of lots sold and 62% of sold lots achieving prices above their high estimate. Sotheby’s said persons from 30 countries participated in the auction, placing more than 1,200 bids. In addition, seven out of the 10 most valuable jewels in the sale achieved more than $1 million. Art Deco jewels, Kashmir sapphires and white diamonds all performed well.
Quig Bruning, Sotheby’s Head of Jewels for Americas & EMEA, credits Sotheby’s new lower buying premium, set at 20%, for the strong overall results.
“We’re encouraged to see that two-thirds of jewels have sold above their high estimates since our lower buyer’s premium came into effect on May 20, confirming that a fairer fee structure is the definition of client-first, and not only encourages more buyers to participate at auction, but also reiterates that Sotheby’s is open to all.”
A 53.04 carat D color, internally flawless diamond is expected to fetch up to $5m when it is sold a Sotheby’s New York.
The Type IIa pear-shaped lose stone will lead the Magnificent Jewels sale on 7 June.
A GIA report from last November describes the diamond as having very good polish, good symmetry and no fluorescence.
The diamond, which carries an estimate of $3m to $5m, will be among the first items sold under Sotheby’s new price structure (introduced on 20 May) under which buyers pay a reduced premium – down by 26m per cent on their purchases.
Another highlight of the auction, also with a $3m to $5m estimate, is a David Morris necklace of Kashmir sapphires 2.40 cts to 11.37 cts and graduated oval-shaped diamonds.
All 24 items on offer at the first gender-free live auction of bejeweled and embellished vintage timepieces at Sotheby’s found buyers, with the entire group selling in less than an hour.
The top item at the sale, called Rough Diamonds, was a Patek Philippe Ref. 3290 bracelet watch, ring and necklace set, created in 1962 by Gilbert Albert, decorated with enamel and pearls. The set sparked a more than six-minute battle between seven bidders, finally selling for CHF 393,700 ($435,727), over seven times its high estimate, Sotheby’s said Friday.
In total, the April 11 auction garnered CHF 1.2 million ($1.3 million), nearly twice its upper presale price.
“Rough Diamonds was born from the desire to bring to market a concept watch sale that truly resonated with collectors,” said Josh Pullan, global head of Sotheby’s luxury division. “The results of tonight’s sale, with all 24 lots selling to such a diverse and enthusiastic group of buyers, has validated that vision. The fact that the Gilbert Albert-designed Patek Philippe — the most idiosyncratic and extravagant lot in the sale — has become the most valuable lot sold tonight proves that there is a definite appetite amongst buyers for nonconformist and boldly eccentric timepieces, presented in a differentiated context.”
Other items that performed well included two Audemars Piguet watches. The first, a Cobra Royal Khanjar from 1985, brought in CHF 165,100 ($182,724), while a car-shaped white gold, diamond and emerald-set wristwatch from 1995 fetched CHF 107,950 ($119,474). Both pieces smashed their high estimates. Meanwhile, a Patek Philippe bangle watch from 1976 more than doubled its upper price tag, going for CHF 63,500 ($70,279).
Two timepieces set new auction records at the most recent Sotheby’s watch sale in Hong Kong, while nearly half of the lots sold above their high estimates.
A Patek Philippe Ref. 2526, the first self-winding wristwatch from collector J.B. Champion, brought in HKD 5.7 million ($729,977), within its estimated range, Sotheby’s said Monday. Meanwhile Cartier’s Paris Cloche, No. 1/1, fetched HKD 1.7 million ($210,882), more than four times its high estimate. Both set a record for the highest auction amount for the specific model, Sotheby’s noted.
In total, the April 7 Hong Kong Important Watches auction garnered HKD 126.3 million ($16.1 million). Over two-thirds of buyers were from China and the US, the auction house noted.
Meanwhile, the top lot of the auction, a Patek Philippe Ref. 2499 made in 1960, saw fierce bidding between participants in the room and on the phone. That piece, which sold within its estimated range, went for HKD 8 million ($1 million) after nearly 20 bids.
A ring with a rare fancy-vivid-yellowish-orange diamond is set to lead the upcoming Sotheby’s jewelry sale in Hong Kong, which will take place during its luxury week.
The auction house has not disclosed the estimate for the cushion-shaped, 7.01-carat, VS2-clarity diamond it will offer at the April 6 Magnificent Jewels event.
Along with that stone, Sotheby’s will feature several other colored diamonds in its top 10, as well as jadeite pieces. Jewels from well-known design houses, including Harry Winston, Graff, Chopard, Tiffany & Co., Bulgari, and Boucheron, will also take center stage.
Here are the rest of the top 10 jewels Sotheby’s will offer at the auction:
This unmounted oval brilliant-cut, 55.55-carat, D-flawless, type IIa diamond has a presale estimate of HKD 38 million to HKD 50 million ($4.9 million to $6.4 million).A ring with a heart-shaped, 10.33-carat, fancy-intense-orangey-pink, VVS1-clarity diamond is estimated to fetch HKD 25.3 million to HKD 40 million ($3.2 million to $5.1 million).Sotheby’s will sell this ring bearing a round-cornered rectangular modified brilliant-cut, 4.01-carat, fancy-intense-purplish-pink, internally flawless diamond for up to HKD 30 million ($3.8 million).This necklace, containing 18 oval jadeite cabochons with brilliant-cut diamonds, is estimated to bring in up to HKD 28 million ($3.6 million).A collection featuring a detachable pendant necklace, composed of seven oval jadeite cabochons as well as diamonds, in addition to a pair of earrings and a ring will be offered for HKD 18 million ($2.3 million) to HKD 28 million.A ring by Jacques Timey for Harry Winston contains a cushion-shaped, 16.65-carat Kashmir sapphire flanked by two triangular-shaped diamonds. It carries a presale estimate of HKD 17 million to HKD 20 million ($2.2 million to $2.6 million).This jadeite bangle is set to go under the hammer at the Hong Kong auction, where it has a price range of HKD 16.8 million to HKD 22 million ($2.1 million to $2.8 million).A ring with a cushion-shaped, 5.07-carat, pigeon’s blood Burmese ruby surrounded by epaulette- and marquise-shaped diamonds is due to bring in between HKD 12.8 million ($1.6 million) and HKD 18 million.Another jadeite collection, comprising a necklace set with 14 oval jadeite cabochons and brilliant-cut, pear- and marquise-shaped diamonds, together with a ring and a pair of earrings, has a price range of HKD 12 million ($1.5 million) to HKD 18 million.
A sapphire and diamond ring took the top spot at a recent jewelry sale at Sotheby’s in Hong Kong, smashing its high estimate.
The piece, which contains a cushion-shaped, 17.50-carat, royal-blue Burmese sapphire surrounded by marquise-cut diamonds, sold for HKD 2.8 million ($357,226), the auction house said last week. That figure was well above its upper presale price.
In total, the January 31 Important Jewels auction brought in HKD 48.9 million ($6.3 million).
Yellow diamonds performed well at the sale, as did jewels by well-known design houses, including Graff, Cartier, Buccellati, and Van Cleef & Arpels. Sotheby’s also sold several diamonds and both green and lavender jadeite pieces with no reserve.
Here are the other four items rounding out the top five:
This cushion-shaped, 14.51-carat, fancy-intense-yellow, VS1-clarity diamond ring by Bulgari went for HKD 2.5 million ($324,751), within its presale estimate.
A ring set with an oval-shaped, 7.02-carat, Mozambican ruby center stone, surrounded by oval and pear-shaped diamonds, fetched HKD 2.5 million, just under its HKD 2.6 million ($332,422) upper price.Sotheby’s sold this Graff bracelet, featuring nine cut-cornered square or rectangular-modified, fancy-intense-yellow diamonds ranging from 1.62 to 5.21 carats and 18 yellow-tinted diamonds for HKD 2.4 million ($308,513), within its estimate.A pair of earrings, each suspending an oval ruby — one weighing 4.26 carats and the other 4.09 carats —and brilliant-cut diamonds, garnered HKD 1.9 million ($243,563) at the sale, within its presale price range.
Sotheby’s will offer a 93.94-carat Paraiba tourmaline at its upcoming Geneva sale, the largest “top-quality” stone of its kind ever to come to auction, the company said.
The stone, which is set into a bespoke necklace created by Adler Joailliers, will be one of the star lots in the November 8 Magnificent Jewels and Noble Jewels sale, Sotheby’s said Monday. The auction house expects it to fetch between $1.3 million and $2.5 million.
The necklace, called the Blue Lagoon, features a “waterfall” of round and marquise- and pear-shaped diamonds with a total weight of more than 76 carats, the company noted. It will be offered with the original sketch.
Hailing from Mozambique, the stone is distinguished by “an extraordinary electric blue hue,” which recalls the “crystalline waters of a tropical paradise,” Sotheby’s said. Finding Paraiba tourmalines of this size, with such strong saturation and color, is extremely difficult, the auction house added.
Adler is a family business, created in 1886 by Jacques Adler in Istanbul. His grandsons, Franklin and Carlo, opened a boutique in Geneva in 1972. Since 2015, it has been run by the next generation of Adlers — Allen, who is CEO, and his wife, Daisy, who is chief operating officer.
Sotheby’s raked in $13.1 million at its most recent jewelry sale in New York, with more than half of the goods surpassing their high estimates.
The lead item at the September 12 Important Jewels sale was a Harry Winston ring set with a round, 15.18-carat, E-color, VS2-clarity diamond, which brought in $69,440 per carat, for a total of $1.1 million, Sotheby’s said Wednesday. That amount was well above its $750,000 upper estimate.
Overall, Sotheby’s sold 84% of jewels on offer at the auction.
Here are some of the other top pieces from the sale:
An emerald-cut, 15.05-carat, H-color, VVS2-clarity diamond ring went for $508,000, or $33,754 per carat, within its estimated price range.This diamond, emerald, ruby and onyx floral motif brooch by Van Cleef & Arpels brought in $469,900, more than eight times its $55,000 high estimate, following competition from 11 bidders.A cut-cornered rectangular modified brilliant-cut, 15.89-carat, fancy-intense-yellow, VS1-clarity diamond ring garnered $355,600, beating its $280,000 upper price tag.Sotheby’s sold this pear-shaped, 12-carat, J-color, VS1-clarity diamond ring for $317,500, higher than its $200,000 high presale estimate.This pair of cushion-cut earclips contains fancy-yellow diamonds weighing 11.28 and 10.22 carats. The set realized $304,800, well over its $220,000 high price.
