Christie’s To Hold Inaugural Online-Only Jewelry Auction Beginning Wednesday

Amethyst, diamond and gold necklace by Lily Gabriella. Estimate:
$3,500 – $4,500

“Summer Jewels," is the name of Christie’s first ever online-only sale of jewelry. It will include 100 lots of price accessible pieces from contemporary designers that include Lily Gabriella Elia and Olivia Wildenstein and the venerable names such as Marina B, Roberto Coin and Salavetti. The sale will open for bidding on Wednesday and run through July 26. It is accessible through www.christies.com/summerjewels. 

This isn’t the international auction house’s first foray into e-commerce for jewelry. It has included online bidding for some time during its regular auction, which operates in a similar way as phone bidding. The monumental Elizabeth Taylor auction in December 2011 had an online-only auction component that included jewelry for the record-breaking sale. 

Sapphire cufflinks by Trianon. Estimate: $3,000 – $3,500

Highlights of the upcoming jewelry sale include items from Brazilian born designer Lily Gabriella Elia and her namesake Lily Gabriella collection such as a diamond pendant necklace (estimate: $4,000 – $5,000), an 18K white gold and diamond ring inspired by Elia’s South American heritage (estimate: $2,800 – $3,800) and an amethyst, diamond and gold necklace (estimate: $3,500 – $4,500).

Keemee designer Olivia Wildenstein creations are comprised of rounded and organic jewels worked in 18K gold, diamonds and cultured pearls. Top items include a citrine and diamond ‘Bonbon’ ring (estimate: $1,000 – $1,500), a garnet and diamond ‘Bonbon’ ring (estimate: $1,000 – $1,500), and a pair of cultured pearl and diamond “Coeurs Enlacés” ear pendants (estimate: $6,000 – $8,000).

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Hublot Auction for Young Victims of the Catastrophe in Japan

In support of the Kids Earth Fund in Japan, the Swiss luxury watch brand Hublot began an online auction for its Manchester United King Power Red Devil engraved 000/500 timepiece.

Auction registration is now active on the Hublot website.

All funds from the sale of this rare timepiece made for the Manchester United English soccer team (one of the most popular and successful teams in any sport in the world) will go to the Kids Earth Fund directly benefiting the children suffering from the catastrophe in Japan.

All potential bidders must register on the Hublot website by June 22 at 2 p.m. GMT. The live auction will begin on June 23 at 2 p.m. GMT. The highest bid will win the watch.

And if I may say the 48 mm timepiece is quite a beauty. The hour markers of the sapphire dial are made from grass off the “sacred” turf of Manchester United's Old Trafford stadium. The date window is at 4 o'clock and the Manchester United Red Devil logo at 3 o'clock.

The bezel and case is made of black ceramic and it has an adjustable black rubber strap. The movement is the HUB 4245 skeleton chronograph.

“When you are sitting halfway around the world watching events like this unfold on a television screen, you cannot imagine the suffering, but you can try and help,” said Jean-Claude Biver, Hublot CEO and board member. “It is impossible for us to stop events like this happening but we owe it to our friends in Japan to help where ever and in whatever way that we can. That is why we cannot simply stop now. We must continue to help and send a very clear message to the people suffering from the fall out of the tsunami. We are here and we will not give up on you.”