Sotheby’s New York, June 16, 2022, Magnificent Jeweks live auction featuring 142 lots promises to be an extraordinary event, consisting of an array of exceptional signed jewels, important diamonds, colored diamonds and colored gemstones. The signed jewels include exceptional lots from Van Cleef & Arpels, Cartier, Harry Winston, David Webb, J.E. Caldwell, Reza, Jar, Bulgari, Graff, Mauboussin, Gerard, Belperron, Schwartz, Boucheron, Verdura, Tiffany & Co., Hemmerle and others. The variety of jewels include, bangles, bracelets, brooches, earclips, earrings, stud earrings, pendant earclips, pendant earrings, necklaces, pendant necklaces, pendants, and rings.
The auction will be preceded by live exhibitions to be held first in Los Angeles, California, at 350 N Camden Dr Beverly Hills, California 90210, from June 01, 2022 to June 03, 2022, according to the following schedule :-
1 June, 4pm – 8pm
2 June, 12pm – 8pm
3 June, 11am – 3pm
The exhibition at New York will be held from June 8 to 15, 2022 at 1334 York Avenue, New York, NY 10021.
Top Lot of the Sale based on estimates and a bid of USD 7.5 millon already placed, is Lot 487 – The Juno Diamond, the Property from an Important Private Collection. The diamond gets its name from the Greek Goddess “JUNO” the Goddess of Love, Marriage and Light, the Giver of Life and Eternal Youth.
The Pear-shaped brilliant-cut diamond, weighing 101.41 carats is D-Color and has a Internally Flawless clarity grade.
GIA report no. 13652869 dated May 24, 2022 states that the diamond is D color, and Internally Flawless clarity. A letter accompanying the report states that the diamond has been determined to be Type IIa.
The appearance of a 100-carat perfect diamond at an auction is a noteworthy event. Only eleven D-Color, Flawless or Internally Flawless diamonds more than 100 carats in weight have sold at auctions since 1990, and Sotheby’s says it has had the privilege of selling seven of these important stones.
The next highlight of the sale is also a diamond lot, bearing Lot No. 442, a signed lot by Kwiat titled A Magnificent Diamond Ring, the Property of a Distinguished Estate with an estimate of USD 2 million to 3 million.
The Size 8, platinum ring signed Kwiat, stamped PLAT, is double-claw set with a cut-cornered emerald-cut, D-Color, VVS-1 Clarity diamond, weighing 26.06 carats.
GIA Report No. 2225294183 dated February 12, 2022, states that the diamond is D- Color and VVS1 Clarity. A letter from GIA states that the diamond has been determined to be Type IIa and a working diagram accompanying the lot states that the diamond may be potentially Internally Flawless.
The next highlight of the sale is a colored gemstone and diamond lot, bearing Lot No. 501and titled “A Superb Pair of Sapphire and Diamond Pendant-Earclips” with an estimate of USD 2 to 3 million.
Each of the pair of pendant earclips is topped by a emerald-cut diamond, suspending a cushion-cut blue sapphire and a pear-shaped diamond suspended below the sapphire.An intervening baguette-cut diamond is placed between the upper emerald-cut diamond and the central blue sapphire and a trapezoid diamond is placed between the blue sapphire and the lower pear-shaped diamond. Round brilliant-cut diamonds are mounted on the side of the mountings from top to bottom of the pendant ear-clips.
AGL report no. 1120184 A and B dated January 27, 2022 states that the sapphires are of Kashmir origin, with no indications of heating.
SSEF report no. 113876 dated July 6, 2020 in respect of the sapphire weighing 9.65 carats states that the sapphire is of Kashmir origin, with no indications of heating. A second SSEF report bearing no. 114022 dated July 30, 2020 in respect of the sapphire weighing 9.44 carats states that the sapphire is of Kashmir origin, with no indications of heating.
Two Gubelin reports bearing nos. 20070040 dated July 14, 2020 and 20080028 dated August 13, 2020 in respect of sapphires weighing 9.65 carats and 9,44 carats respectively, state the sapphires are of Kashmir origin, with no indications of heating.
Two GIA reports bearing nos. 2205993095 dated June 9, 2020 and 5202993060 dated June 9, 2020, in respect of pear-shaped diamond weighing 4.12 carats and 4.09 carats respectively, state that both diamonds are D-Color and Flawless Clarity. Both diamonds are accompanied by a letter from GIA stating that the diamond has been determined to be Type IIa.
Two GIA reports bearing nos 5201960053 dated August 17, 2021 and 6207422338 dated July 8, 2019 in respect of emerald-cut diamonds weighing 3.19 carats and 3.17 carats respectively, state that both diamonds are D-Color, but the first diamond is Internally Flawless Clarity and the second diamond is Flawless Clarity. Both diamonds are accompanied by a letter from GIA stating that the diamond has been determined to be Type IIa.
The next highlight of the sale is another signed lot, by Cartier bearing Lot No. 475 and titled A Magnificent Emerald and Diamond Necklace, with an estimate of USD 1.5 – 2.5 million.
The antique Cartier London necklace dated circa 1945, is a fringe necklace of Indian inspiration with an internal circumference of 13 ins (33 cm) equivalent to a Collar length neclklace.
The lower half of this yellow gold necklace are collet-set with spirally arranged alternating rows of three and six round white diamonds, with a large round diamond set at the median lower end, from which arises the main fringe of the necklace.
The main fringe of the necklace is set with an oval-cut emerald as centerpiece, surrounded by a collet-set row of small round diamonds, with an inverted arch set with round diamonds arising from either side, ending with a pear-shaped diamond within the arch. The lower end of the main fringe is set with another large round diamond, set below with a median small pear-shaped diamond and several matching round diamonds of different sizes on either side.
Seven smaller fringes are placed on either side of the main fringe. Each small fringe is set with a basal cushion-cut or emeral-cut emerald, ending with a terminal triplet of two basal round diamonds and a terminal larger round diamond. The three fringes closer to the main fringe have basal cushion-cut emeralds and the distal four fringes have basal cut-cornered emerald-cut emeralds.
The lower half of the necklace is demarkated by placing an oval-cut emera;ld on the diamond set necklace, surrounded by small round diamonds and terminating on the outside by a group of six round diamonds, five of which are of the same size and the terminal one a little larger. The rear fringes, six on either side of the rear main fringe, are the smallest fringes in the necklace, with a basal cushion-cut emerald ending with a round diamond, and a single round diamond placed between two fringes. The rear main fringe is set with a large rectangular-cut emerald ending on the outside with a large oval-cut diamond.
The next highlight of the sale is a diamond pendant mounted by David Webb, bearing Lot No. 437 titled Mounted by David Webb – ‘The Earth Star’ | Fancy Deep Orange-Brown Diamond, Azurmalachite and Diamond Pendant | David Webb, with a pre-sale estimate of USD 1.5 -2.5 million.
The pendant signed David Webb, features a famous diamond known as the “Earth Star” a pear-shaped, 111.59-carat, Fancy Deep Orange-Brown diamond, discovered in 1967 at the Jagersfontein mine in South Africa, set within a framework of carved Azurmalachite, a blue and green gem mineral, composed of two copper carbonate minerals azurite (Cu3(CO3)2(OH)2) and malachite (Cu2(CO3)(OH)2), with a hardness of 3.5 to 4.0 on the Mohs Scale. The yellow gold suspension of the pendant is further decorated with round white diamonds.
GIA report no. 6204551424 dated December 19, 2019 states that the center diamond is Fancy Deep Orange-Brown and natural color. A GIA Monograph accompanying the report giives the history of the diamond and attesting to its rarity.
The mounting stamped 18K for 18k yellow-gold is also stamped MC14 denoting that the piece was the 14th special order executed by David Webb this year (2022), and this is the largest diamond ever mounted by David Webb. The Earth Star diamond has a Clarity Grade of SI2 to I1. The accenting diamonds weighing a total of approximately 3.15 carats are approximately F-G color, VS clarity.
Lot 484 – An Important Ruby and Diamond Ring – with an estimate of USD 1.3 – 2.0 million, is the next highlight of the sale, sold for the benefit of a Charitable Foundation.
Ring size 6, platinum ring stamped PT950 for Platinum is designed as a flower, with an octagonal mixed-cut ruby weighing 8.80 carats as the centerpiece, surrounded by five petals overlapping at the edges and set with round white diamonds. The prons and piping along the edges of the petal are made of 18k yellow-gold. The ruby is a lively medium slightly purplish red, very slightly included with silk and a small fingerprint to one corner of the table. Total weight of diamonds on the petals estimated to be approximately 2.40 carats. G-H Color and VS clarity.
AGL report no. 1121665 dated March 18, 2022 states that the ruby is of Burmese origin, with no indications of heating.