As anticipated Sotheby’s New York, April 29, 2014 Magnificent Jewels, Spring Sale ended on a successful note realizing a total of US$44,313,500 which was US$7 million above the projected US$37 million, selling 81.8% by lot and 87.0% by value.
As expected the top lot of the sale that registered the highest price of US$6,101,000 within the pre-sale estimate of US$6,000,000-7,000,000 was lot 207 – A Magnificent Platinum, Fancy Intense Orangy-Pink Diamond Ring. The centerpiece of this platinum ring is a cushion-cut, 15.23-carat, VS2-clarity, fancy intense orangy-pink diamond. The shoulder and hoop of the ring are accentuated with small round diamonds weighing 0.76 carats. The buyer of this important ring was a private American collector.
The next highlight of the sale was Lot 458 – An Exceptional Platinum, Sapphire and Diamond Ring – set with one of the finest Kashmir blue sapphires ever to appear at an auction, with a characteristic velvety-blue color, a perfect square emerald-cut and an impressive weight of 28.18 carats; described by the American Gemological Laboratories (AGL) as “a gem of singular importance.” The lot sold for US $5,093,000, slightly above the upper pre-sale estimate US$ 5 million, yet setting an auction record for price-per-carat of US$180,731 per carat, for a Kashmir Sapphire and for that matter for any sapphire in the world. The proceeds of the sale of this extraordinary Kashmir sapphire and diamond ring, that featured previously at another Sotheby’s New York Magnificent Jewelry auction held on October 19, 1983, will go to swell the funds of a charitable foundation.
The third highlight of the sale in terms of price realized was Lot 182 – A Highly Important Platinum, 18k-Gold, Emerald and Diamond Ring – that sold for US$ 2,165,000, within the pre-sale estimate of US$ 1,800,000 – 2,200,000, but just below the upper estimate. The lot was purchased by an Asian Private Collector. The centerpiece of this ring is the “El-Dorado Emerald” a 36.53-carat, emerald-cut, rare Colombian emerald, with a rich, vibrant, slightly bluish-green hue, inclusion-free, with no evidence of oil/resin treatment or clarity enhancement.
The next highest price was recorded by Lot 409 – A Fine Platinum and Diamond Ring – that sold for US$ $953,000 slightly above the upper pre-sale estimate of US$ 900,000. The centerpiece of this ring is an emerald-cut, D-color, internally flawless diamond weighing 9.22 carats, with an additional GIA certification that the diamond is a rare Type IIa diamond, which confirms its D-color or Top-color status.
Lot 447 – An Important Platinum and Diamond Ring – that sold for US$ 905,000 within the pre-sale estimate of US$ 775,000 – 1,000,000 was the next highlight of the sale. The centerpiece of this ring is a cushion-cut, D-color, VS1-clarity diamond weighing 10.07 carats, also with additional GIA certification that the diamond is Type IIa, which confirms its D-color or Top-color status.
Lot 457 was another highlight of the sale, registering the next highest price of US$ $845,000, within the pre-sale estimate of US$ $700,000 – 900,000. The lot characterized as “An Elegant Platinum, Emerald and Diamond Bracelet” is a signed jewel by Cartier designed around year 1930. The jewel is a flexible line bracelet set with seven emerald-cut emeralds weighing 4.37, 3.98, 3.65, 3.39, 2.95, 2.18, and 2.06 carats, alternating with seven cushion-cut diamonds with a total weight of 17.91 carats, spaced by baguette-cut diamonds, weighing a total 3.90 carats.
Lot 206 – An Important Pair of Platinum and Diamond Earstuds – that sold for US$ $821,000, within the pre-sale estimate of US$ 750,000 – 1,000,000 was the next highlight of the sale. The pair of platinum and diamond earstuds, are set with two circular-cut diamonds, weighing 5.02 and 5.01 carats. The diamonds are certified by GIA as E-color, internally flawless, with excellent polish, cut and symmetry.
An Elegant Platinum and Diamond Ring designed by David Webb, assigned Lot No. 213 was the next most expensive lot of the sale, achieving a price of US$ 815,000 within the pre-sale estimate of US$ 700,000 – 900,000. The piece incorporates a 14.26-carat, emerald-cut, G-color, VVS2-clarity diamond as its centerpiece, flanked by two triangle-shaped diamonds weighing 1.75 carats.
Another Kashmir sapphire ring designed by Tiffany & Co. assigned Lot No. 383 and said to be the property of a descendant of Thomas Fortune Ryan registered the next highest price of US$ 785,000 which was almost three times the lower estimate of US$ 250,000 and twice the upper-estimate of US$ 350,000. The centerpiece of this cluster ring is a cushion-shaped, mixed-cut Kashmir sapphire weighing 12.71 carats, surrounded by smaller old European-cut diamonds with a total weight of 2.00 carats.
Lot 437 – A Platinum and Diamond Ring – from the estate of Eydie Gorme, which sold for US$ 677,000, which was more than three times the lower-estimate of US$ 200,000 and more than twice the upper-estimate of US$ 300,000, was the next highlight of the sale. The centerpiece of this ring is a pear-shaped, I-color, VS2-clarity diamond weighing 15.44 carats, flanked by two smaller pear-shaped diamonds with a total weight of 3.00 carats.
The next two highlights of the sale lots 433 and 439 that sold for US$ 653,000 and US$ 569,000 also belong to the estate of Eydie Gorme. Lot 433 – A Platinum and Diamond Ring – was a gift by Steve Lawrence to Eydie Gorme on the occasion of their 10th wedding anniversary. The centerpiece of the ring is a marquise-shaped, D-color, internally flawless diamond weighing 7.51 carats, flanked by two tapered baguette diamonds weighing 1.30 carats.
Lot 439 – A Platinum and Diamond Ring by Harry Winston – is another important piece from the Eydie Gorme collection. The ring incorporates an emerald-cut, J-color, SI1-clarity diamond weighing 17.40 carats as its centerpiece, flanked by two baguette-cut diamonds. A pre-sale estimate of US$ 350,000 – 450,000 was placed was placed on the lot, which was sold above the upper pre-sale estimate for US$ 569,000.
