Colorful Louis Comfort Tiffany Antique Jewelry Suite Fetches $161,000 at Bonhams

Photo credit: image courtesy of Bonhams

A rare antique jewelry suite of sapphire, demantoid garnet and enamel attributed to Louis Comfort Tiffany sold for $161,000 (including premium), soaring past its high estimate at Bonhams Fine Jewelry auction in New York.

The suite, created for Tiffany & Co., circa 1920, is led by a pendant centered by an oval, irregularly-domed cabochon sapphire. It sits within a scrolling frame suspending a flexible swag, accented by circular and oval-cut demantoid garnets and sapphires, highlighted by enamel floral sprays and suspended from a chain of floral links. It is completed by a box clasp set with circular-cut sapphires, pendant earrings en suite; chain and pendant earrings.

Photo credit: image courtesy of Bonhams

The top lot of the evening was an 8.45-carat Cartier diamond ring (pictured above). The rectangular step-cut diamond within a pierced and openwork pavé-set diamond surround sold for $293,000. 

Despite being the top lot, the diamond ring must have felt a bit lonely at the sale dominated by rare sapphires, emeralds and other colored gems. As a signed piece, it was among many that were in high demand at the December 8 sale, which realized $4.1 million. 

“More contemporary signed jewels continue to thrive in the auction environment,” said Susan Abeles, VP and director of the Jewelry at Bonhams North America, “The sale was dominated by colorful estate property which was well received by an international audience.”

Other highlights of the sale include:

Photo credit: image courtesy of Bonhams

* A 3.2-carat Kashmir sapphire and diamond ring that fetched $118,750, almost twice the high estimate.

Photo credit: image courtesy of Bonhams

* A sapphire and diamond brooch with a diamond weight of 6.85 carats, which realized $112,500, nine times the high estimate.  

Photo credit: image courtesy of Bonhams

* A Colombian emerald and diamond ring, featuring a large emerald cabochon weighing approximately 50 carats surrounded by diamonds. It achieved $106,250, over 3.5 times the high estimate.

* A late Art Deco ruby and diamond bracelet, circa 1935, with a total diamond weight of 14.00 carats, which sold for $106,250, well past its high estimate.

* Natural button pearl diamond ear studs, each over 10mm, realizing $45,000, close to 6.5 times its high estimate. 

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Two Blue Sapphires Fetch Big Prices at Christie’s London Sale

A sapphire and diamond brooch, circa 1890s, centered with a 14.66-carat, Kashmir sapphire (pictured above) sold for nearly $2.2 million (150,000 per carat), nearly triple its 783,499 high estimate. It was the top lot at Christie’s London Important Jewels sale. 

The cushion shaped sapphire is surrounded by an old-cut diamond cluster raised on a scalloped gallery mounted in silver and gold. The auction house said the jewel was from the collection of the late Clive Behrens, and before that part of the collection of the late Evelina Rothschild. 

In addition, a sapphire and diamond pendant, circa 1880 (above), centered with a 41.54-carat Burma sapphire sold for more than $1.6 million ($39,000 per carat), more than triple its high estimate of $470,099. The sapphire on the gold plated pendant has an old-cut diamond line border and is further surrounded by cushion shaped diamonds. 

Both sapphires show no indications of being heat treated, according to the accompanying reports. 

Colored diamonds continue to demand high prices as a ring featuring a crossover design, set with two opposing pear shaped diamonds, a 1.54-carat fancy deep blue and a 1.78-carat fancy intense pink, sold for nearly $1.2 million, well above its $783,499 estimate.

The November 26 auction totaled $22.75 million in sales with 75 percent sold by lot and 89 percent sold by value. 

“The London sale of Important Jewels showed that quality, rarity and provenance continue to be the key factors sought by collectors worldwide,” said Keith Penton, head of Christie’s London Jewellery Department. 

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9.75-Carat Blue Diamond Fetches World Auction Record $32.6 Million

A 9.75-carat fancy vivid blue diamond from the collection of Mrs. Paul Mellon set two world auction records Thursday when it sold for more than $32.6 million Sotheby’s New York. 

The price, smashing its high estimate of $15 million, set a world auction record for any blue diamond; and set a world auction record for price-per-carat for any diamond, at more than $3.3 million per carat.

Seven bidders competed for 20 minutes for the pear-shaped diamond, Sotheby’s said. It ultimately sold to a Hong Kong private collector who named it “The Zoe Diamond.”

The previous auction record for any blue diamond was $24.3 million, set by the Wittelsbach Diamond at Christie’s London in December 2008. The previous per-carat auction record for any diamond was nearly $2.4 million, set by a 14.82 carat fancy vivid orange diamond at Christie’s in Geneva in November 2013.

“From the moment I saw this diamond, I knew that it would be one of the most important stones that I will ever have the privilege of presenting at auction,” said Gary Schuler, head of Sotheby’s Jewelry Department in New York. “Mrs. Mellon’s diamond absolutely deserves the place in the record books that it achieved tonight.”

The diamond was the top lot on the first day of a two-day sale of “Property from the Collection of Mrs. Paul Mellon: Jewels & Objects of Vertu.” Other jewelry pieces in the sale, which resumes today (Friday), include Verdura, Schlumberger and Givenchy, Cartier, Van Cleef & Arpels and Black Starr & Frost. 

Sotheby’s New York auctions of the Mellon Collection continue through Sunday.

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Henry Graves Supercomplication Fetches $24 Million at Sotheby’s Geneva

With all the superlatives attached to it, it was a near certainty that The Henry Graves Supercomplication would go for a world record price at Sotheby’s Geneva sale of Important Watches held Tuesday. It already established the record when it sold for $11 million in 1999. It is also known as the most complicated hand-made watch and the most famous watch in the world.

But still the $24 million it achieved is something special. The auction house said five bidders competed for the timepiece for 15 minutes. It was finally sold to a buyer in the room, who requested anonymity, well above its $16.8 million estimate.

“This evening’s stellar result confirms the ‘rockstar’ status of The Henry Graves Supercomplication. It is more than a watch,” said Tim Bourne, Sotheby’s Worldwide Head of Watches, and Daryn Schnipper, Chairman of Sotheby’s Watch Division. “It is a masterpiece that transcends the boundaries of horology and has earned its place among the world’s greatest works of art. The fascination it has attracted over the past few months, as Patek Philippe celebrates its 175th anniversary, is a fitting tribute to the genius of the Swiss manufacturer.”

Commissioned in 1925 by Henry Graves, a prominent New York banker, and completed by Patek Philippe in 1932, The Henry Graves Supercomplication is the product of three years of research and five years of effort it resulted in a gold openface minute repeating chronograph clockwatch with Westminster chimes. Among its features are a perpetual calendar, moon phases, sidereal time, power reserve, and indications for time of sunset and sunrise and the night sky of New York City. With a total of 24 horological complications, The Graves watch retained the title of the world’s most complicated watch for 56 years and even then was only surpassed by technicians working with the aid of computer-assisted machines.

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Jewelry From Empress Eugenie and Duchess of Windsor Headlines Christie’s Geneva Sale

Empress Eugenie's Feuilles De Groseillier brooch

The “Feuilles de Groseillier” brooch, commissioned in 1855 by Empress Eugenie of France (1826-1920) to French jeweler Alfred Bapst, is one of two statement lots of jewelry with royal provenance to be offered at Christie’s Geneva Magnificent Jewels sale on November 11. Once part of the French Crown Jewels, of which very few examples in original condition have survived, it has an estimate of $2 to $3 million.

The jewel is designed as a cluster of three gold and silver openworked currant leaves with three tassels. It is set throughout with old mine diamonds and is centered with a cushion-shaped mine diamond.

The Parure de Feuilles de Groseillier was originally designed as a guirlande (garland) and worn in multiple ways. In 1870, at the fall of the Second Empire, Empress Eugenie and her husband Napoleon III moved to England, leaving behind most of the Crown Jewels. Seventeen years later, the French government conducted a 12-day auction where all the belongings of the French Royal Family were offered for sale, including the jewelry. Several of the larger pieces were broken up prior to the auction so the stones could be sold individually. The guirlande was sold as eight parts and the present brooch was acquired by Tiffany & Co. The jeweler then gifted the brooch to the Metropolitan Opera of New York as a tribute to the famous opera singer Madame Lucrezia Bori (1887-1960).

Duchess Of Windsor's Cartier Tiger jewels

The other lot is of British royal provenance. They are two pieces of tiger jewelry by Cartier, formerly from the collection of the Duchess of Windsor. They were given to Sarah Brightman, the world’s best selling soprano, by her then husband Andrew Lloyd Webber, composer and impresario of musical theater. They were a present to her to celebrate the London and Broadway success of “The Phantom of the Opera,” which he wrote and she starred. They were purchased during the legendary sale of Duchess of Windsor’s collection in 1987.

The two tiger pieces comprising of an onyx and diamond clip brooch and bracelet, with emerald eyes, were both made in the 1950s and will be sold as one lot with a combined estimate of $1.8 million to $2.5 million.

The Cartier Tiger Collection has been a highlight of 20th Century jewelry design since it first appeared in 1928. These pieces were bought by the Duke and Duchess of Windsor from Cartier between 1956 and 1959.

Brightman will offer a portion of the proceeds from the sale to The Andrew Lloyd Webber Foundation, which supports the arts, music in schools, The Architectural Heritage Fund and awards 30 performing arts scholarships annually.

Bulgari diamond ear pendant

While the two items of monarchial heritage are impressive, the top lot for the upcoming sale at the Four Seasons Hotel des Bergues goes to a sparkling pair of Bulgari pear-shaped colored diamond ear-pendants with a pre-sale estimate of $12 million to $15 million.

The ear pendants, which the auction house is calling “A Bulgari Masterpiece,” have marquise and pear-shaped diamond cluster tops weighing approximately 19.28 carats. Suspended from the clusters are a 6.95-carat, pear-shaped fancy vivid blue diamond and a 6.79-carat, pear-shaped fancy vivid pink diamond. Both statement diamonds are detachable. The diamonds are mounted in platinum and gold.

This auction of 390 lots has several other significant colored gems, signature jewels and important natural pearls. Among them are:

The "Blue Belle of Asia"

* The fourth largest faceted sapphire in the world, the “Blue Belle of Asia,” a cushion shaped Ceylon sapphire of 392.52 carats. It has an estimate of $7 to $10 million. The gem was discovered in 1926 at Pelmadula, Ratnapura (‘The City of Gems’), in Ceylon and was sold to British motor magnate Lord Nuffield (1877-1963), founder of Morris Motors Limited in 1937, according to the auction house. It was rumored that he purchased the sapphire to present to Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother, on her Coronation Day on May 12, 1937. The gem is suspended on a diamond tassel pendant and attached to a diamond neckchain mounted in gold.

* A 23.66-carat Burmese ruby mounted by Cartier, known as “The Queen of Burma,” was purchased at Cartier in London on November 1937 by the Maharao of Cutch (1866-1942). Its estimate is $5.5 - $7 million. The auction house says the gem “combines all the most sought-after qualities in a ruby: an attractive vivid pinkish red color, an excellent purity, an impressive size and the finest origin.”

* Seven jewels by JAR, some of which were recently on display at the ‘Jewels by JAR’ exhibition at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. Among the group of jewels offered for sale are the ‘Gardenia’ ring, formerly in The Collection of Ellen Barkin ($330,000 - $390,000), the sculpted gold Parrot Tulip cuff ($210,000 - $310,000) and a pair of diamond ‘String’ ear pendants ($140,000 - $200,000).

Art Deco diamond and pearl necklace

* Formerly in the collection of Baroness Edouard de Rothschild, an Art Deco diamond necklace, suspended with two natural pearls, measuring 16mm each ($700,000 - $1 million).

Harry Winston diamond ear pendants.

* Diamond ear pendants by Harry Winston with two drop-shaped natural pearls weighing more than 100 grains each ($2.8 - $3.5 million).

* A two-strand natural pearl necklace with rose overtones by Cartier ($530,000 - $850,000).

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‘Graff Ruby’ Leads Esteemed Jewelry Collection For Sale at Sotheby’s

The 8.62-carat “Graff Ruby,” is the lead item in a collection of 16 jewels belonging to Dimitri Mavrommatis that is part of Sotheby’s Geneva November 12 Magnificent Jewels and Noble Jewels sale.  The cushion-shaped Burmese stone is estimated to fetch 6.9 million to nearly 9.2 million. 

The gem possesses the rare vivid red hue known as “pigeon’s blood,” according to a report from the Swiss Gemmological Institute, and is also of outstanding purity and superb brilliance.

Dimitri Mavrommatis began a lifelong interest in the fine and decorative arts in 1982 during trips to the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The 16 jewelry and gem pieces from his personal collection to be placed on auction at the Beau-Rivage Hotel is expected to bring in more than $17.6 million.

David Bennett, chairman of Sotheby’s Jewellery Division for Europe and the Middle East, said the collection “is a testament to Dimitri Mavrommatis’ discerning eye and impeccable taste.”

Another item of from the Mavrommatis collection is a 27.54-carat Kashmir sapphire (pictured above) to fetch $3 million to $6.1 million. The stone exhibits a saturated velvety blue color, combined with a very high purity, according to the auction house. “These features elevate Kashmir sapphires above all others and the appearance of such a fine example weighing over 20 carats is an extremely rare event.”

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101-Carat Diamond Fetches $5 Million

The top lot at Christie’s Important Jewels auction held Wednesday was a 101.36-carat, cushion-cut, L-color, VS2 diamond that sold for $4.98 million, or $49,100 per carat. The diamond, worn as a necklace, is suspended by a black silk cord with pavé-set diamonds mounted in platinum (pictured above).

In a slight turn of events, seven of the top 10 lots from the sale were colorless diamonds with five of the items selling for more than $1 million (including commission and fees). In recent years, fancy colored diamonds have been stealing the spotlight, achieving record-breaking sales.

Other top lots in the sale included the following:

* A diamond necklace featuring a detachable pendant K-color faint brown VVS1 Potentially Internally Flawless diamond pendant weighing 81.38 carats that sold for $3.19 million. Two other detachable diamonds weigh 15.30 and 7.04 carats, spaced by circular-cut diamonds. The necklace is designed as a line of 17 circular-cut diamonds, the largest weighing 15.46 carats, spaced by rectangular and square-cut diamonds, mounted in 18k white gold (pictured above).

* A 23.89-carat rectangular-cut, H-color, Potentially Internally Flawless diamond mounted in platinum ring that sold for $1.56 million, or 65,500 per carat.

* A 16.07-carat rectangular-cut F-color, Potentially Internally Flawless diamond on a ring set within a circular-cut and pear-shaped diamond surround, to the pear-shaped diamond shoulders, mounted in platinum, with maker's mark that sold for $1.5 million, or $93,700 per carat.

* In addition to diamonds, a Ceylon sapphire and diamond of 63.65 carats on a ring, flanked on either side by a half-moon diamond, mounted in platinum by Tiffany & Co. sold for $587,000, smashing its high estimate of $150,000.

All totaled, the sale of 347 lots fetched $33.7 million, with 75 percent sold by lot and 77 percent sold by value.

“Fine quality colorless diamonds achieved strong prices with international bidding,” said Rahul Kadakia, International Head of Christie’s Jewelry. “Collectors also bid competitively for natural pearls and special jeweled objects such as the Art Deco fish bowl clock, by Black, Starr, and Frost, which realized $137,000 against a pre-sale estimate of $15,000.”

50-Carat Diamond to Lead Christie’s Upcoming Auction

Diamond ear pendants, 52.78 cts. and 50.31 cts. (117.04 cts total with surmounts). Estimate: $4.5 million - $6.5 million.

Christie’s first sale of the fall jewelry season will include three diamonds of more than 50 carats each and a rare double strand of large natural pearls.

The two-session sale on October 16 at Christie’s Rockefeller Center saleroom also includes signature jewels, rare gemstones and more statement diamonds among its 372 lots. It is expected to achieve more than $35 million.

The top colorless diamond in Christie’s New York Magnificent Jewels sale is a pear-shaped D-color flawless diamond of 50.52 carats with excellent polish and symmetry. The stone is mounted in platinum and may be worn suspended from a necklace with a 2.28 carat, circular-cut D-color diamond surmount. The estimate is available on request.

Among the colored diamond highlights is an oval-cut fancy intense yellow, internally flawless diamond of 68.35 carats with excellent polish and symmetry. It has an estimate of $2.2 - $3.2 million.

In addition, a pair of diamond ear pendants brings together a pear-shaped fancy yellow diamond of 52.78 carats and a pear-shaped white diamond of 50.31 carats surmounted by circular-cut fancy yellow and white diamonds Mounted in yellow and white gold, the pendants may be easily swapped or detached completely, giving the owner three options for how to wear them. Its estimate is $4.5 - $6.5 million.

The double strand natural pearl necklace is formed of 120 large-sized individual pearlsRanging in size from 6.50 mm to 12.25 mm in diameter, the pearls range in coloration from white to light cream, with subtle rosé and green overtones and superb luster. It is accented with a 3-carat, D color diamond clasp signed by Cartier. Its estimate is $2.8 – $3.5 million. The auction house said it is “one of the finest to come to auction at Christie’s in the last five years.”

The sale will 130 signed jewels by Buccellati, Bulgari, Cartier, Graff, Marina B., Oscar Heyman & Brothers, Tiffany & Co., Van Cleef & Arpels, David Webb, Harry Winston and Raymond Yard.

Among the highlights of iconic design is a “honeycomb” motif ruby and diamond bracelet by Van Cleef & Arpels. Crafted from hexagonal-cut rubies and diamonds, the gems are set using the firm’s trademark “mystery-set” technique which eliminates any visible prongs from the surface of the bracelet. Its estimate is $100,000 - $150,000)

The sale also includes a selection of jewels by Marina B, granddaughter of Sottiro Bulgari. The sale features a number of her designs accompanied by their original renderings, including a ruby and gold “Simona” bangle set with a shield-shaped fancy yellow diamond (estimate: $50,000 - $70,000), a “Georgina” ring featuring an oval-cut ruby of 10.54 carats (estimate: $200,000-300,000) and a pair of diamond, amethyst and pink tourmaline “MBC” ear pendants (estimate: $25,000-35,000).

One-of-a-kind creations by the Indian designer Viren Bhagat are among the most coveted of contemporary jewelry designs on the auction market today. As a special fundraising item within the sale, Christie’s offering a pair of “flower blossom” pearl and diamond ear clips by Bhagat (estimate: $30,000-50,000). The sale will benefit the Salaam Bombay Children’s Fund, a decade-old organization that works with disadvantaged children across India to empower them with opportunities and skills that enable them to make the right choices for their health, education and livelihood.

Others sale highlights include:

* Pear-shaped diamond ring of 10.05 carats, D color, internally flawless. Estimate: $1 million – 1.5 million.

* Pear-shaped fancy light pink diamond ring of 10.52 carats by Galt. Estimate: $900,000 – 1.1 million.

* Pair of pear-shaped diamond ear pendants of 6.94 carats and 6.79 carats. Estimate: $600,000 – $800,000.

* Colombian emerald and diamond ear pendants of 22.12 carats and 21.47 carats by Van Cleef & Arpels. Estimate: $600,000 – 800,000.

* Cushion-cut Burmese sapphire diamond ring of 32.31 carats. Estimate: $350,000 – $500,000.

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Grima Jewelry Auction at Bonhams

Emerald and diamond ring by Andrew Grima (est. $20,000 $30,000).

The first auction to focus on the work of legendary jewelry Andrew Grima, since his death in 2007, will be presented by Bonhams New York on October 19.

British Royal jewelry, designer and artisan, Grima was the foremost modern jewelry designer in the West End of London in the 1960s and 1970s with clients including Queen Elizabeth, Princess Margaret, Princess Anne, The Duke of Edinburgh, Barbara Hepworth and Jacqueline Onassis. Grima gained recognition following the 1961 Exhibition of International Jewelry where his pieces of highly textured materials and abstract shapes led to his appointment as a Crown Jeweler in 1970 commissioned to make items of jewelry for the British and Scandinavian royal families.

Consisting of 35 Grima designs, the collection comes from the New York estates of Marvin and Laura Speiser and was amassed over the course of two decades of close friendship between the Speisers and Andrew Grima and his wife Jojo, Bonhams said in a statement.

Highlighting the sale is a circa 1988 emerald and diamond ring (top image), centering a cut-cornered, square-cut 11.35 cts. emerald “pool” within a raised surround of round brilliant-cut diamonds, the ring is completed by a textured gold mount. It has an estimated auction value of $20,000-30,000.

A cultured pearl, gold and diamond necklace with cultured pearl drop (left), designed as textured gold abstract shaped gold beads mirrored by fresh water pearls and diamonds, has an estimated value of $12,000-15,000.

Also included in the auction will be a 'sunburst' brooch (below), similar to the one designed exclusively for Queen Elizabeth who presented the piece as a gift to Madame Pompidou in 1972 on her State Visit to France. One of only four created, this example is designed as rays of textured gold centering a forest green tourmaline and can be worn as a pendant as well as a brooch (est. $8,000-10,000).

The Fine Jewelry sale, also to be presented that day, will feature a sapphire and diamond pendant from Rio, Brazil (est. $100,000-150,000); a South Sea cultured pearl and diamond necklace by Van Cleef & Arpels (est. $70,000-90,000); an Art Deco diamond and sapphire bracelet by Ostertag (est. $30,000-50,000); and a collection of antique jewelry.

Previews will take place at Bonhams' London showrooms from September 19 to 21; the Los Angeles showrooms from October 1 to 3; the San Francisco showrooms from October 8 to 10; and the NewYork showrooms from October 16 to 18. The sale will be simulcast to the San Francisco and Los Angeles showrooms.

‘The Collection of Elizabeth Taylor’ Tour Dates Announced

Photo Credit: Christie's

Admirers of Elizabeth Taylor will have a chance to view many of her most cherished items as they will appear on a world tour before going up for auction at Christie’s.

The international auction house unveiled the dates of a landmark series of public exhibitions and special events around the world. The tour will begin in Moscow and go through major cities in Europe, Asia the Middle East and the U.S. before returning to New York for a final 10-day exhibition and the four-day sale at Christie’s Rockefeller Center headquarters in December. The auction house will devote its gallery space to the exhibition and sale to what it is calling, "The Collection of Elizabeth Taylor."

Photo Credit: MPTV images

Christie’s said it will donate a portion of the money generated through exhibition admissions, events and publications to The Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation. Founded in l991, ETAF provides funding to AIDS service organizations throughout the world to assist those living with HIV and AIDS.

The exhibition tour schedule and sale dates are as follows:

Moscow:

September 15-16

GUM, Red Square 3

London:

September 24-26

Christie's, 8 King Street, St. James’s

Los Angeles:

October 13-16

Venue TBD

Dubai:

October 23

Jumeirah Emirates Towers

Geneva:

November 11-12

Four Seasons Hotel, 33 quai des Bergues

Paris:

November 16-17

Christie's, 9 avenue Matignon

Hong Kong:

November 24-27

Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Center

New York:

December 3-12

Christie's, 20 Rockefeller Plaza

The Legendary Jewels, Evening Sale, December 13

Jewelry (Sessions II & II), December 14

The Icon and her Haute Couture, Evening Sale, December 14

Fashion and Accessories (Sessions II, III & IV), December 15

Fine and Decorative Art & Film Memorabilia, December 16, including costumes

Daryl Wickstrom To Lead Sotheby’s International Jewelry And Watch Divisions

Sotheby’s on Friday named longtime executive Daryl Wickstrom as international managing director of Sotheby’s Worldwide Jewelry and Watch Divisions. In this newly-created role, he will be tasked with expanding activity and growing sales in these areas, which experienced record results in recent years, the New York-based multinational company said in a statement. 

Wickstrom will work closely with David Bennett, Lisa Hubbard and Quek Chin Yeow, the company’s three Jewelry chairmen, Tim Bourne, worldwide head of Watches, and Patti Wong, chairman of Sotheby’s Diamonds, the company said. He will oversee activities in North America, Europe and Asia, as well as the company’s expanding Sotheby’s Diamonds retail business and related private sales activity.

The announcement was made by Bruno Vinciguerra, Sotheby’s chief operating officer. 

Wickstrom joined Sotheby’s in 1996 and was appointed executive VP and deputy chairman, Asia, in July 2008. He was instrumental in developing the growth strategy in Asia and particularly Sotheby’s expansion in China. During his time in this role, total sales in Asia surpassed $1 billion in 2011.

From 2002 through 2008 Wickstrom served as managing director of Sotheby’s Global Auction Division. During his tenure, he orchestrated many significant single-owner sales and helped launch of Sotheby’s Diamonds retail venture in 2005, the company said.  

In 2013, Sotheby’s saw its highest-ever annual totals for its jewelry and watch categories, with worldwide Jewelry sales achieving $529 million, and worldwide Watch sales reaching $97 million. This spring, Sotheby’s set new benchmark prices for: any jadeite jewel and any jewel by Cartier (the Hutton-Mdivani Necklace, $27.4 million); any yellow diamond and any jewel by Graff (the Graff Vivid Yellow, $16.3 million); and any ruby (29.62-Carat Oval Burmese Ruby, $7.3 million). In addition, world auction records were set this spring at Sotheby’s for several iconic models by Patek Philippe: any Ref. 5207P ($867,000); any contemporary time-only watch by the firm ($737,000); any Celestial model ($545,000); and any Ref. 5033 ($509,000).

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Record-Breaking Henry Graves ‘Supercomplication’ To Be Sold At Sotheby's

The Henry Graves Supercomplication, Patek Philippe, 1933

The watch that set a worldwide auction record 15 years ago will return to the block in November at Sotheby’s Geneva sale of Important Watches November 14. The Henry Graves “Supercomplication” has an estimate in excess of CHF 15 million ($16.8 million).

The Henry Graves Supercomplication made by Patek Philippe in 1933 is the most complicated watch ever made completely by human hand, Sotheby’s said. It is also considered to be the world’s most famous watch. It’s reappearance on the market after its record sale will coincide with Patek Philippe’s 175th anniversary celebrations. 

Sotheby’s first sold the timepiece in New York in December 1999, with an estimate of $3-5 million. It sparked an extended bidding war and sold for a record-breaking $11 million, becoming the most expensive timepiece ever sold at auction.

“The list of superlatives which can be attached to this icon of the 20th century is truly extraordinary,” Tim Bourne, Sotheby’s worldwide head of Watches, and Daryn Schnipper, chairman of Sotheby’s Watch Division, said in a joint statement. “Indisputably the ‘Holy Grail’ of watches, The Henry Graves Supercomplication combines the Renaissance ideal of the unity of beauty and craftsmanship with the apogee of science.”

In 1925, Patek Philippe was commissioned by Henry Graves, a prominent New York banker, to produce the most complicated watch in the world. The product of three years of research and five years of effort it resulted in a gold openface minute repeating chronograph clockwatch with Westminster chimes. Among its features are a perpetual calendar, moon phases, sidereal time, power reserve, and indications for time of sunset and sunrise and the night sky of New York City. With a total of 24 horological complications, The Graves watch retained the title of the world’s most complicated watch for 56 years and even then was only surpassed by technicians working with the aid of computer-assisted machines.

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JAR Diamond Ring, 6-Carat Burmese Ruby and Jade Necklace at Christie’s Hong Kong Auction

JAR three-diamond ring. Photo Credit: CHRISTIE'S IMAGES LTD. 2012

The upcoming Christie’s Hong Kong Magnificent Jewels sale is turning out to be something special in the quality and quantity of the items for sale. As previously reported, the May 29 sale at the Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Centre, will have the largest round fancy intense pink diamond to ever appear at auction and a 11.85-carat D VVS1 potentially flawless round brilliant-cut diamond—both with Harry Winston pedigree. But there’s more.

The 1:30 p.m. sale, in the Woods Room of the convention hall, will include a three-diamond ring from JAR, a 6-carat, pigeon’s blood Burma ruby and diamond ring, and being Hong Kong, a superb jadeite bead necklace. The auction will also include natural pearls, Burmese sapphires, Colombian emeralds, rare period pieces, and selection of signed contemporary jewels.

The ring from JAR is set with three diamonds. They are a 10.67-carat D color, internally flawless, oval-shaped diamond at its center, flanked by two D color, internally flawless diamonds of 6.07 and 6.04 carats. The estimate is $2.5 million – $3.5 million. Perhaps the world’s most influential jewelry designer, Joel Arthur Rosenthal, along with his Swiss business partner, Pierre Jeannet, founded JAR in 1977. It is housed discreetly in an apartment boutique on Place Vendôme in Paris, only accepting clients by appointment. The one-of-a-kind and often made-to-order JAR creations are sought after by clients around the world and their appearance on the auction market marks an important event for collectors.

Photo Credit: CHRISTIE'S IMAGES LTD. 2012

Also among the highlights of the auction is a 6.04-carat Burmese ruby and diamond ring by Etcetera (pictured above) with an estimate of $2.5 million – $3.8 million. This no heat cushion-shaped stone possesses the most desirable “pigeon’s blood red” color and an extraordinary degree of transparency. Burmese rubies over 5 carats, particular those gems that have not undergone any thermal enhancement are extremely rare.

Photo Credit: CHRISTIE'S IMAGES LTD. 2012

Another item that will attract the attention of bidders is a jadeite bead necklace (pictured above) with an estimate of $3.2 million - $4.5 million. “Evenly and strongly saturated, each of the jadeite beads featured in this necklace exhibits the optimal combination of color, translucency and texture,” Christie’s says. “The beads display a vivid emerald green color with a desirable tone that is neither too dark nor light. Their fine texture and excellent glass-like translucency only bolsters the rareness of such high-quality material, resulting in one of the most anticipated jewels offered at auction this year.”

11-ct. Fancy Pink Diamond Up for Auction at Sotheby’s Geneva

Sotheby’s Geneva will offer a 10.99-ct. pink diamond at its Magnificent & Noble Jewels sale on May 17. It is being offered for sale from a private collection and has not appeared on the market for more than 30 years. It has a pre-auction estimate of $9 to $16 million.

The diamond features a classic emerald cut, normally associated with white diamonds. This type of cut is highly sought-after when found in rare colors such as pink and blue, Sotheby’s said. This gem, mounted as a ring, has been graded “fancy intense pink,” natural color and VS1 clarity. It’s further assessed to be type IIa, meaning it is almost or entirely devoid of impurities with extraordinary optical transparency. Fewer than 2 percent of all diamonds in the world are given this grade of purity and most of those diamonds are white.

Colored diamonds are very desirable on the auction market right now. In November 2010, Sotheby’s Geneva set a world auction record for any diamond and any jewel when it sold the 24.78-ct. Graff Pink for $46.15 million.

“I do not remember the market for colored diamonds to have ever been as strong as it is today,” said David Bennett, chairman of Sotheby’s Jewellery Department for Europe and the Middle East.

Nothing Says Valentine’s Day Like a 56-Ct. Heart-Shaped Diamond

Photo from Lorre White, “The Luxury Guru,” website

International auction house Christie’s will be offering a 56.15-ct. heart-shaped diamond at the Geneva Magnificent Jewels sale on May 18. The D color, internally flawless, exceptionally white diamond is expected to fetch from $9 million to $12 million. While the sale is well after Valentine’s Day, it certainly isn’t too late to promise the romantic gem to the special person in your life.

Last Chance To Bid On Jacqueline Kennedy’s Christian Dior Necklace

A gold-plated necklace personally owned by former first lady Jacqueline Kennedy is currently up for auction at the Nate D. Sanders Auctions in Los Angeles. The company is taking bids online and by phone, with the bidding scheduled to conclude Thursday.

The necklace features six graduated strands of gold-plated square-linked chains, punctuated with 23 fluted spherical beads in faux coral. A charm near the clasp identifies it as Dior, made in Germany in 1973, while she was married to Greek tycoon Aristotle Onassis. There’s documentation stating that the necklace is from the Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis estate sale, sold by Sotheby's in April of 1996, lot 501.

The auction is scheduled to end tomorrow (January 30) at 5 p.m. PST. However, there is a possibility of the bidding being extended until a bid hasn’t been placed for 30 minutes. Bids can be placed online at the auction house's website or by phone at 310-440-2982.

Additional information on Jackie Kennedy’s Dior Necklace can be found at this link.

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