Lauren Bacall Auction to Include Jewelry by Schlumberger, Elizabeth Gage, Tiffany, Chanel and Cartier

Lauren Bacall wearing two 18k yellow gold ropework bracelets
 on the same wrist, designed by Jean Schlumberger for Tiffany & Co. Photo credit: NBC/NBC via Getty Images

Lauren Bacall is known for her beauty, her distinctive voice, her high-profile marriage to actor Humphrey Bogart and her impeccable taste. She was less known for her jewelry collection.

Two 18k yellow gold ropework bracelets by Jean Schlumberger with pre-sale estimates of $5,000 - $7,000 and $6,000 - $9,000. The actress was frequently pictured wearing the bracelets together (see top photo), layered on the same wrist. 

However, more than 30 items of the late actress’s jewelry will be part of the extensive 700-lot auction of the “Lauren Bacall Collection,” being offered by Bonhams New York on March 31 and April 1. It will include pieces by Chanel, Cartier, Tiffany, as well as her personal favorite, French jewelry designer Jean Schlumberger (1907-1987).

“Her jewelry was unique in that it reflected her personal taste and the fact she was very sentimental,” Susan Abeles, Bonhams’ head of Jewelry in the United States, said in a recent interview. “The pieces offered are timeless, understated and classic in design and represent the sophistication and glamour of a true Hollywood legend.”

Lauren Bacall wears Elizabeth Gage Camel Brooch while attending the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation Promise Ball Benefit Gala on
November 10, 1990, at Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York. Photo credit: Ron Galella, Ltd.

Abeles, who has been spending a great deal of time researching the life of Lauren Bacall to prepare for the auction, said the actress “didn’t have a tremendous amount of jewelry.” But the collection of rings, bracelets, brooches and earrings had personal significance.

The Elizabeth Gage Mogul-inspired Camel Brooch is made of 18k yellow gold enamel, cultured pearl, and rose diamond. It has a pre-sale estimate of $5,000 - $7,000.

For example, Abeles showed me a Tiffany & Co. gold necklace with dangling gold hearts. Each heart has a letter that spells out the phrase, “To my own beautiful star from my proud director Ron.” Abeles said that she believes the necklace was a gift from Ron Field, who directed Bacall in the Broadway play, “Applause.” Both Bacall and Field won Tony awards for their parts in the play.

Tiffany & Co. 18k yellow gold necklace necklace, each dangling heart has a letter that spells out the phrase, “To my own beautiful star from my proud director Ron.” It is believed that the necklace was a gift from Ron Field, who directed Bacall in the Broadway play, “Applause.” Both won Tony awards. It is shown with a gold pocket watch.

Although it isn’t documented Abeles is certain that Bacall and Schlumberger were friends. Bacall purchased many of her most prized Schlumberger pieces in Paris, where the designer lived and worked.

“I do like that she had a relationship with the designer,” Abeles said. “She had a great thirst for knowledge.”

A sampling of the Schlumberger pieces that are up for auction at Bonhams.

Standout Schlumberger pieces from the collection (all pictured above) include an 18k yellow gold and blue enamel bangle bracelet (estimate $20,000 - $30,000); an 18k yellow gold, diamond, amethyst and turquoise ring designed by Schlumberger for Tiffany & Co., (estimate $8,000 - $12,000); and a pair of amethyst, sapphire and emerald ear clips, mounted by Schlumberger (estimate $6,700 - $8,500).

Perhaps Bacall's most icon jewelry pieces are two 18k yellow gold ropework bracelets, (estimate $5,000 - $7,000 and $6,000 - $9,000). The actress was frequently pictured wearing the bracelets together, layered on the same wrist (top two photos).

Bacall also had personal relationships with other jewelers. One auction highlight is a Mogul-inspired, 18k yellow gold, enamel, cultured pearl, and rose diamond camel brooch by the British jeweler, Elizabeth Gage, (estimate $5,000 - $7,000). The brooch is accompanied by the original drawing and correspondence from the jeweler, which reveals collaboration and friendship between the two.

“Bacall’s style was unmistakably her own,” Abeles said. “Her jewelry collection represents a woman who knew her own style—one who wore the jewelry rather than the jewelry wearing her. Pieces that might have overshadowed another woman perfectly complemented her beauty.”

Another highlights of the sale is a pair of diamond and grey South Sea cultured pearl ear pendants by Elsa Peretti for Tiffany & Co (estimate $4,600 - $6,700). 

Lauren Bacall

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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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16 Hearts and Arrows Diamonds Fetch $2.6 Million at Bonhams

Diamonds, jade and a collection of Marina B jewelry were among the top achievers for Bonhams Fine Jewellery and Jadeite auction in Hong Kong. 

The top lot of the November 26 sale was a collection of flawless hearts and arrows diamonds that sold for more than $2.6 million. The collection of 16 brilliant-cut diamonds classified as D color, flawless, internally flawless attracted “spirited” bidding, according to the auction house. 

Each gem is accompanied by its own report from the Gemological Institute of America. The individual weight of the 16 gems ranged from 1.16 to 4.49 carats for a total carat weight of 39.98. Each gem is accompanied by its own report from the Gemological Institute of America. 

Hearts and Arrows are described as a clearly defined set of eight hearts and eight arrows in a round diamond. “It is a sign of excellent optical symmetry, an important component of cut. As such, its appearance is a very likely a sign of superior cut, but not a guarantee.” 

Other highlights include the following:

* An emerald and diamond cluster ring featuring a cushion-shaped, 10.09-carat emerald surrounded by brilliant cut diamonds that sold for $933,588.

* A highly translucent jadeite bangle of a bright apple green color, suffused with intense green streaks that sold for $670,532. 

* A fine two-strand jadeite bead necklace comprising of 49 and 53 graduated bright emerald green jadeite beads of very good translucency with a cabochon jadeite clasp that sold for $670,532. 

* A collection of jewelry designed by Marina B fetched more than $1.2 million. The top lot was a sapphire and diamond “Amelia” necklace and earring suite by Marina B that sold for $624,111. The articulated necklace is set with 12 cushion shaped sapphires, the largest weighing 15.95 carats, within pear and brilliant-cut diamond surrounds, spaced by marquise and pear-shaped diamonds. It is accompanied by a pair of earrings. Total diamond carat weight is 92.30 and total carat weight of sapphires is 104.81, signed by Marina B. 

Graeme Thompson, director of Jewellery at Bonhams Asia said the sale “is testament to the strength of the Asian market for rare items such the flawless collection of Hearts and Arrows diamonds and the Marina B jewels.”

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Pink Diamond Sets Auction Record, Natural Pearls Remain in Demand

8.41-carat internally flawless pink diamond

The jewelry auction market continues to show strength as gems sparkled during sales in Hong Kong and New York. 

Sotheby’s Hong Kong said a world auction record was set for a fancy vivid pink diamond when an 8.41-carat internally flawless pink diamond sold for nearly $17.8 million at its Magnificent Jewels sale on October 7. The internally flawless fancy vivid purple-pink gem is a type IIa diamond, among the most chemically pure with exceptional optical transparency.

According to Sotheby’s, the previous world auction record for a fancy vivid pink diamond and record price per carat for a pink diamond were both achieved by a 5-carat pink diamond that sold for more than $10.7 million, or $2.15 million per carat, in Hong Kong in November 2009.

Per-carat price records were also set for a Cartier Kashmir sapphire ring that sold for $193,975 per carat and for a sapphire and diamond ring that sold for $236,404 per carat.

At Bonhams New York Fine Jewelry auction held October 8, a triple stand natural pearl, gem and diamond necklace (pictured above) fetched $185,000, over three times its high estimate. The piece is completed by a triple pavé diamond flowerhead clasp, enhanced by rubies, emeralds, and sapphires; centered by old European-cut diamonds and a fancy-cut emerald.

The top lot of the evening was a 14.51-carat round brilliant-cut diamond, flanked by tapered baguette-cut diamonds. 

In addition, a ruby and diamond bracelet designed as a graduated band of oval-cut ruby cluster links, enhanced by round brilliant-cut diamond borders, sold for $161,000; and a ruby and diamond pendant/brooch and necklace signed by M. Gerard where the largest ruby weighed 8 carats, achieved $106,250, soaring past its high estimate of $70,000.

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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.

Bulova Stopwatch Used on Apollo 15 Moon Flight Up for Auction

Photo credit: Bonhams

There are plenty of watches at auction with lunar calendars. Here’s one that was actually on the lunar surface.

Apollo 15 astronaut David Scott took a specially made Bulova stopwatch with him to the moon while inside the Command Module Endeavor and the Lunar Module Falcon. This watch is among personal items of several astronauts will be sold at Bonhams New York Space History Sale on May 5. The stopwatch, with Scott’s signed provenance note, has a presale estimate of $120,000 to 180,000.

The watch was used to time the duration of the Descent Orbit Insertion maneuver and to time the rendezvous maneuvers after launch from the lunar surface. The DOI maneuver had to be terminated within 0.3 seconds of the planned 24.5 seconds to ensure that the spacecraft would not impact the moon (as indicated by the small strip of tape on the face of the timer). The timer could also be used with the rendezvous back-up charts to ensure the LM could join the CSM in lunar orbit after the crew launched from the lunar surface.

Scott also had a standard-issue Omega Speedmaster on hand with a stopwatch function, but its dial was dark, and the markings and buttons small, Bonhams said. With its bright, clear dial and large plungers and crown, the Bulova stopwatch was considered ideal for double-checking the duration of engine burns.

The Bulova stopwatch has a two-inch main dial with second hand registering up to 30 seconds in increments of 0.1 second, with a subsidiary dial cumulator registering up to 30 minutes. , numerals in red on white dial. Blued steel hands. Blue stenciled "S" below Bulova name. Strip of duct tape at 23-second mark, and additional strip around rim near right plunger. Two plungers and crown. Reverse with ½-inch square of red velcro, and engraved letters "DRS" (Scott's initials). With original box and papers.

Watch back Photo credit: Bonhams

Scott obtained this timer from Bulova during preflight training at the request of a friend. NASA verified that the stopwatch was onboard the spacecraft during the mission. However it was not included in the official onboard stowage list due to an oversight by the personnel who packaged and stowed the flight equipment. NASA deliberately withheld the name of the manufacturer to avoid commercialization.

Bulova's Accutron clock was an integral part of the spacecraft computer systems, and a Bulova timer was left by Apollo 11 astronauts Edwin "Buzz" Aldrin and Neil Armstrong on the Moon’s Sea of Tranquility, to control the transmissions of data back to Earth. Despite these achievements, it was Omega's Speedmaster that received fame as the "moon watch."

Very few timepieces from the lunar surface have been offered in auction, and no other stopwatch is likely to come to the market, Bonhams said.

Other highlights of the sale include:
• A Russian spacesuit, Sokol K, worn by cosmonaut Alexei Leonov, Commander of the Soyuz 19 Spacecraft, during the historic Apollo-Soyuz Test Project on July 15-19, 1975. This mission represented a symbolic end to the Space Race. Estimate, $100,000-150,000;

• A Russian spacesuit, Sokol KV-2, used by cosmonaut Gennadi Strekalov on the Soyuz TM 10, from August 1 to December 10, 1990, during a mission to the Mir space station. Estimate, $60,000-80,000;

• Apollo 14 Maurer Camera, from the personal collection of Edgar Mitchell, the Lunar Module Pilot of Apollo 14 and the sixth person to walk on the Moon. This 16mm Maurer Data Acquisition Camera was used to film movies through the Lunar Module Pilot's window during the approach and landing of the Lunar Module. Estimate, $60,000-80,000;

• Apollo 14 Tissue Dispenser, flown into orbit to the moon. Estimate, $6,000-8,000.