Diamonds, Gems Share the Sparkle with Natural Pearls at Christie’s Auction

'The Perfect Diamond'

NEW YORK — The collection from the estate of Huguette M. Clark got most of the attention at Christie’s New York Magnificent Jewels sale Tuesday, but among the 305 lots were important diamonds and gemstones and signature jewelry pieces that received a great deal of attention among bidders.

It was standing room only in Woods Room at Christie’s headquarters as those in the room competed with phone and Internet buyers from around the world. It was a very competitive environment with lengthy, spirited bidding for many of the lots.The sale fetched a total of $70.7 million, with 95 percent of the items sold by lot and 97 percent of the estimated price realized.

View the major items from the sale by following this link.

In addition to large diamonds, which always do well in this environment, sapphires were very popular. There were several extremely strong natural pearls sales, as they appear to be poised for a comeback on the international luxury jewelry market. Among the top items sold were:

* “The Clark Pink,” a 9-carat, cushion-cut fancy vivid purplish pink diamond ring by Dreicer & Co., circa 1910, from the Huguette M. Clark estate, sold for $15.7 million, making it the most valuable pink diamond ever sold in the United States.

* “The Perfect Diamond,” a 44.09-carat rectangular-cut diamond ring (top picture); D-color, internally flawless clarity, Type IIa, with excellent polish and excellent symmetry. The estimate was upon request. It was the last lot of the evening but did not get the highest total (The Clark diamond was the winner). However, it sold for an impressive $7.4 million.

* “The Clark Diamond,” a 19.86-carat rectangular-cut D color potentially IF diamond ring by Cartier, from the Huguette M. Clark estate, sold for $3.1 million.

* One of the big surprises of the sale was a 31.53-carat sugarloaf cabochon Kashmir sapphire ring (above) by Van Cleef & Arpels, which sold for $2.65 million—a world record price for a cabochon sapphire. Its estimate was $300,000 – $500,000.

* A fancy yellow and fancy light yellow diamond cluster necklace by Graff received a lot of attention from bidders. It sold for $2.3 million.

* A pear-shaped D color potentially IF diamond ring of 16.33 cts by Van Cleef & Arpels sold for 2.1 million.

* A cushion-cut fancy intense yellow VS1 diamond ring of 43.49 cts by Graff sold for 1.87 million.

* A five-strand natural pearl necklace (above) sold  for $1.67 million, more than double its high estimate of $800,000. A single-strand natural pearl and diamond necklace by Tiffany & Co., from the Huguette M. Clark estate, sold for $362,000, shattering the estimate of $20,000 to $30,000. Earlier in the day a single-strand natural pearl necklace sold for $266,500, also smashing the estimate of $20,000 – $30,000.

* A 15.08-carat oval-cut F color IF diamond sold for $1.4 million.

* A 15.58-carat rectangular-cut E color VS1 diamond sold for $1.3 million.

The Clark Pink Diamond Sells for Record $15.7 Million

The 9-ct. Belle Epoque cushion-cut, fancy vivid purplish pink diamond ring from the estate of Huguette M. Clark sold for $15.7 million.

NEW YORK — A 9-carat pink diamond from the estate of Huguette M. Clark sold for more than $15.7 million, after intense, competitive bidding that led to an eruption of applause on the crowded auction floor at Christie’s Tuesday. It is the most valuable pink diamond ever sold in the United States at auction, according to the auction house.

The Belle Epoque cushion-cut, fancy vivid purplish pink diamond, known as “The Clark Pink,” was estimated to fetch $6 to $8 million. Clark, one of the last heiresses of America’s Gilded Age, died in May, 2011, at the age of 104. Her collection of 12 lots drew intense intentional attention because she lived a reclusive life in her later years and her jewels were believed to have been kept in a vault unseen since the 1940s.

The entire collection, which included picture frames, a clock, an American flag lapel and jewelry pieces by Cartier and Tiffany, took in a total of $20.8 million against a presale estimate of $9 million. Other significant items from the estate sale included:

* A 19.86-carat rectangular-cut diamond ring by Cartier that sold for $3.1 million;
* An Art Deco diamond bracelet by Cartier that sold for $578,500; and
* A ruby, sapphire, emerald and gold bracelet by Tiffany & Co. that sold for $266,500.

More images of the Clark estate jewelry can be found by following this link.

The collection was part of Christie’s Magnificent Jewels sale Tuesday that had 305 lots that included signature jewels, items from several estates and serious diamonds. It took in a total $70.7 million, with 95 percent of the items sold by lot and 97 percent of the estimated price realized.

More on other significant sales from the auction later today.

Art Deco Jewels Owned by Copper Heiress Could Fetch $12 Million at Christie’s

Huguette M. Clark

Christie’s auction house will offer a jewelry collection from the estate of Huguette M. Clark, one of the last great heiresses of America’s Gilded Age. Ms. Clark’s collection, which is believed to have been stored in a bank vault since the 1940s, includes signed Art Deco jewels by Cartier, Dreicer & Co., and Tiffany & Co., including an extremely rare 9-carat pink diamond ring and a superb 20-carat D-color diamond ring. The complete collection of 17 jewels is expected to fetch $9 - 12 million at auction on April 17 at Christie’s New York.

“In the world of fine jewelry, this is truly a fairytale collection,” said Rahul Kadakia, head of Jewelry for Christie’s Americas. “Opening the vault to find this treasure trove of period jewels from the best French houses of the early 1900s has certainly been one of the most extraordinary moments of my 15-year career here at Christie’s. The iconic Art Deco design and exceptional craftsmanship of these meticulously preserved jewels are emblematic of the great Gilded Age in American history.”

The jewelry sale is part of the estate sale of three residences at 907 Fifth Avenue in Manhattan owned by the late copper heiress. Christie’s International Real Estate has been entrusted with the sale. The limestone clad, Italian palazzo-style cooperative building on 72nd Street, designed by architect J.E.R. Carpenter in 1915, offers sprawling views of Central Park. Two of Clark’s apartments make up the entire eighth floor; the third occupies half of the 12th floor. The floor plans of her sprawling residences, which need renovation, are being made public for the first time ever.

Ms. Clark died May, 2011, at the age of 104.