Sotheby’s December 08th, 2016 New York Magnificent Jewels Sale Realizes US$25.2 million

Sotheby’s December 08, 2016 New York Magnificent Jewels Sale, featuring 458 lots that included jewels from prestigious private collections and signed iconic designs by renowned jewelry houses such as Van Cleef & Arpels and Cartier, registered a total sale of US$25.2 million, selling 87% by lot and 77% by value. The private collections that featured at the auctions, included jewels from the collection of Marjorie S. Fisher of Palm Beach; the collection of the family of Betsey Cushing Whitney and John Hay Whitney; the Lichtblau Collection and the Collection of Joan Oestreich Kend. The Jewels on offer spanned multiple centuries and by several designers such as Aletto, Boivin Rene, Boucheron, Bulgari, Cartier, Chaumet, Flato Paul, Graff, Jar, Lalique rene, Mauboussin, Oscar Heyman & Bros., Schlumberger, Tifffany & Co., Valle Michele Della, Van Cleef 7 Arpels, Verdura, Webb David, and Harry Winston. The Lots included colorless and colored diamond lots, colored gemstone lots such as sapphires, rubies, emeralds and jadeite, natural and cultured pearls, as well as corals.

 

Lot 205 - Important Platinum and Diamond Ring
Lot 205 – Important Platinum and Diamond Ring

The first three highest selling lot of the sale were colorless diamond lots, that included lots 205, 332, and 276. Top Lot of the sale, Lot 205 was from the collection of Marjorie S. Fisher of Palm Beach. The lot titled “Important Platinum and Diamond Ring” sold above the estimated range of USD1,250,000 – USD1,750,000 for USD1,842,500  . The size 3 1/4, platinum ring is set with an 18.04-carat, marquise-cut, D-color, VVS1 clarity diamond, potentially Internally Flawless, according to the accompanying GIA report, flanked by a tapered baguette-cut diamond on either side.

 

Lot 332 - Fine Platinum and Diamond Ring
Lot 332 – Fine Platinum and Diamond Ring

Lot 332, titled “Fine Platinum and Diamond Ring,” sold within the estimated range of USD 1,200,000 – 1,600,000 for USD1,452,500. The size 6 1/2, platinum ring is set with a pear-shaped, D-color, VS1 clarity diamond weighing 18.10 carats.

 

Lot 276 - Exceptional Platinum and Diamond Ring
Lot 276 – Exceptional Platinum and Diamond Ring

Lot 276, the 3rd top selling lot, is another colorless diamond lot, titled “Exceptional Platinum and Diamond Ring, which also sold within the estimated range of USD1,200,000 – 1,600,000 for USD1,332,500. The size 6 1/2, platinum ring is set with a cushion-cut, D-color, Internally Flawless clarity diamond weighing 10.19 carats, accented by small round colorless to near-colorless (F-G color), VS clarity diamonds with a total weight of 0.27 carats, halfway down the hoop of the ring.

 

Lot 408 - A Rare Platinum, Colored Stone and Diamond 'Tutti Frutti' Bracelet, Cartier, London
Lot 408 – A Rare Platinum, Colored Stone and Diamond ‘Tutti Frutti’ Bracelet, Cartier, London

The 4th and 5th highest selling lots of the sale are colored gemstone lots bearing lot nos. 408 and 281. Lot 408 is a signed iconic design by renowned jewelry house Cartier, designed around 1930 in the Art Deco period, titled, “A Rare Platinum, Colored Stone and Diamond ‘Tutti Frutti’ Bracelet, Cartier, London,” the property of an anonymous New York Collector. The 7 1/2 ins. long, 3/4 inch wide, platinum articulated bracelet signed Cartier, London, circa 1930, is designed as a meandering vine in the Mogul style. The bracelet is set with carved sapphire, ruby and emerald leaves, accented by sapphire, ruby and emerald beads representing fruits, and the stem, branches of the vine and clasp set with Old-European, single-cut and baguette-cut colorless diamonds. The lot sold slightly above the estimated range of USD700,000 – 900,000 for USD936,500.

 

Lot 281 - Important Platinum, Sapphire and Diamond Ring, Tiffany & Co
Lot 281 – Important Platinum, Sapphire and Diamond Ring, Tiffany & Co

Lot 281 is another signed lot by Tiffany & Co. titled, “Important Platinum, Sapphire and Diamond Ring, Tiffany & Co,” which sold within the estimated range of USD600,000 – 800,000 for USD792,500. The size 5 3/4, platinum ring signed Tiffany & Co. is set with a 7.45-carat, cushion-cut, Kashmir blue sapphire, having a cornflower blue color characteristic of Kashmir sapphires, and whose Kashmir origin is confirmed by GIA, AGL and GGL. The sapphire is flanked on either side by a triangle-shaped colorless diamond, with a total weight of 0.95 carats.

 

Lot 294 - Platinum and Diamond Ring
Lot 294 – Platinum and Diamond Ring

The 6th and 7th highest selling lots are also colorless diamond lots with lot nos. 294 and 282. Lot 294 – “Platinum and Diamond Ring,” is a lot from the Collection of Joan Oestreich Kend. The lot sold for an enhanced price of USD672,500 which was 1.6 times the lower estimate of USD425,000 and 1.3 times the upper estimate of USD525,000. The size 4 1/4, platinum ring is set with an emerald-cut, H-color (near-colorless), VVS2 clarity diamond weighing 15.11 carats, flanked on either side by a triangle-shaped diamond, with total weight of 1.30 carats.

 

Lot 282 - Platinum and Diamond Ring
Lot 282 – Platinum and Diamond Ring

Lot 282 titled “Platinum and Diamond Ring,” also sold much above the estimated range of USD400,000 – 500,000 for USD600,500. The size 6, platinum ring is set with a round-cornered rectangular step-cut, G-color (near-colorless), VS2 clarity diamond weighing 16.08 carats, highlighted by a row of circular-cut, colorless to near-colorless diamonds with a total weight of 0.80 carats.

 

Lot 280 - Platinum, Fancy Intense Purplish Pink Diamond and Diamond Ring
Lot 280 – Platinum, Fancy Intense Purplish Pink Diamond and Diamond Ring

The 8th highest selling lot is a colored diamond lot, titled, “Platinum, Fancy Intense Purplish Pink Diamond and Diamond Ring” assigned lot no. 280 and sold above the estimated range of USD350,000 – 450,000 for USD528,500. The size 5 3/4, platinum ring is set with a 2.22-carat, cut-cornered rectangular modified brilliant-cut, Fancy Intense Purplish Pink, SI2 clarity diamond, highlighted by a row of circular-cut, near-colorless diamonds, and the hoop of the ring accented with the same diamonds half way downwards. Total weight of circular-cut, near-colorless accenting diamonds approximately 0.70 carats.

 

Lot 458 - Platinum, Mystery-Set Ruby and Diamond Bracelet, Van Cleef & Arpels
Lot 458 – Platinum, Mystery-Set Ruby and Diamond Bracelet, Van Cleef & Arpels

The 9th highest selling lot is another colored gemstone and signed lot, by Van Cleef & Arpels, titled “Platinum, Mystery-Set Ruby and Diamond Bracelet, Van Cleef & Arpels” and assigned lot no. 458. This lot also sold much above the estimated range of USD125,000 – 175,000 for USD348,500 which was twice the upper estimate. The highly flexible articulated bracelet, 7 1/4 ins. long and signed V.C.A. is set with numerous calibré-cut mystery-set rubies of approximate total weight of 50-60 carats. The rubies are well matched for color, with a medium to medium deep slightly purplish red color. The borders and clasp are set with round and baguette-cut diamonds, G to H color (near-colorless), VS to SI clarity and weighing approximately 9.85 carats.

 

Lot 201 - Platinum and Diamond Ring, Graff
Lot 201 – Platinum and Diamond Ring, Graff

The 10th highest selling lot of the sale is a signed lot by Graff from the Collection of Marjorie S. Fisher, Palm Beach, assigned lot no. 201 and titled, “Platinum and Diamond Ring, Graff.” The lot sold much above the estimated range of USD140,000 – 180,000 for USD348,500 which was almost double the upper estimate. The size 1 1/2 platinum ring, fitted with inner sizing spheres and signed Graff, is set with an emerald-cut, J-color (near-colorless), VS2 clarity, 16.01-carat diamond, flanked on either side by a tapered baguette-cut diamond, with a total weight of 1.10 carats.

 

A summary of the first 20 highest selling lots of the sale arranged in descending order of prices realized :-

1. Lot 205 – Important Platinum and Diamond Ring – USD1,842,500 – Colorless diamond lot.
2. Lot 332 – Fine Platinum and Diamond Ring – USD1,452,500 – Colorless diamond lot.
3. Lot 276 – Exceptional Platinum and Diamond Ring – USD1,332,500 – Colorless diamond lot.
4. Lot 408 – A Rare Platinum, Colored Stone and Diamond ‘Tutti Frutti’ Bracelet, Cartier, London – USD936,500 – Colored gemstone lot.
5. Lot 281 – Important Platinum, Sapphire and Diamond Ring, Tiffany & Co – USD792,500 – Colored gemstone lot.
6. Lot 294 – Platinum and Diamond Ring – USD672,500 – Colorless diamond lot.
7. Lot 282 – Platinum and Diamond Ring – USD600,500 – Colorless diamond lot.
8. Lot 280 – Platinum, Fancy Intense Purplish Pink Diamond and Diamond Ring – USD528,500 – Colored diamond lot.
9.Lot 458 – Platinum, Mystery-Set Ruby and Diamond Bracelet, Van Cleef & Arpels – USD348,500 – Colored gemstone lot.
10.Lot 201 – Platinum and Diamond Ring, Graff – USD348,500 – Colorless diamond lot.
11. Lot 204 – 18 Karat Gold, Platinum, Mystery-Set Ruby and Diamond Brooch, Van Cleef & Arpels, France – USD342,500 – Colored gemstone lot.
12. Lot 454 – Pair of Platinum, Jadeite and Diamond Earclips, Cartier, London – USD312,500 – Colored gemstone lot.
13. Lot 410 – Pair of 18 Karat Gold, Platinum, Emerald and Diamond Pendant-Earclips, Schlumberger for Tiffany & Co – USD300,000 – Colored gemstone lot.
14. Lot 327 – 18 Karat Gold, Ruby and Diamond Ring – USD287,500 – Colored gemstone lot.
15. Lot 234 – 18 Karat Gold, Platinum, Ruby and Diamond Ring – USD262,500 – Colored gemstone lot.
16. Lot 312 – Platinum and Diamond Necklace and Bracelet, Tiffany & Co. – USD243,750 – Colorless diamond lot.
17. Lot 190 – Pair of Platinum and Diamond Earclips – USD237,500 – Colorless diamond lot.
18. Lot 325 – Platinum and Diamond ‘Plume’ Brooch, Suzanne Belperron, Paris – USD225,000 – Colorless diamond lot.
19. Lot 333 – Platinum and Diamond Necklace, Harry Winston – USD212,500 – Colorless diamond lot.
20. Lot 126 – 18 Karat Gold, Diamond and Ruby Necklace-Clip Combination, René Boivin – 200,000 – Colorless diamond lot.

 

No of Lots based on gemstone types

Colorless diamond lots – 11
Colored gemstone lots – 8
Colored diamond lots – 1

 

Specific Colored Gemstone lots

Ruby lots – 4
Sapphire lots – 1
Jadeite lots – 1
Emerald lots – 1
Multi-colored gemstone lot – 1
An analysis of the first 20 highlights of the sale, shows that Colorless diamond lots and Colored gemstone lots performed very well at the auctions. A breakdown of the colored gemstone lots reveal that ruby lots had performed fairly well at the auctions, in comparison to sapphire, jadeite and emerald lots.

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