Sale Results of "Magnificent Jewels" @ Sotheby's NY yesterday

10 décembre 2008

Sale Results of "Magnificent Jewels" @ Sotheby's NY yesterday

Lisa Hubbard, Chairman, International Jewelry, North and South America, said, “In today’s sale, we saw that truly special stones and beautiful jewels still manage to withstand the volatility of the market. Our cover lot, the Fancy Vivid Yellow Diamond, brought $2,658,500, and our back cover lot, the pear-shaped D color type IIa Diamond Ring, achieved $1,224,900. We saw another strong price for the Diamond Ring by Harry Winston, which sold for over $1 million. The sale also showed the strength of colored stones, for instance, the12.42 carat Colombian Emerald, which fetched $218,500, well above estimate, and we realized a per carat price of over $24,000 for Burmese sapphires. Competitive prices were achieved for beautiful jewels including the René Boivin Necklace, the Gold and Diamond Serpent Necklace, and contemporary signed jewels by Van Cleef and Arpels, which attracted buyers from around the world. The David Webb Collection brought $1.3 million, within its pre-sale estimate of $1.1 to 1.5 million. This designer, who previously catered to fashionable women of the 1960s and 1970s, has found a new generation of admirers who appreciate his vision and strong sense of design. David Webb has evolved into the ultimate classic American designer.”

Oval Fancy Vivid Yellow Internally Flawless Diamond Ring, weighing 36.99 carats

The oval diamond of fancy vivid yellow color weighing 36.99 carats, flanked by 2 shield-shaped diamonds weighing 3.48 and 3.25 carats, mounted in gold and platinum, approximately size 5.. Accompanied by GIA report no. 13040165 stating that the oval diamond is Fancy Vivid Yellow, Natural Color, Internally Flawless. Also accompanied by 2 GIA reports nos. 12407996 and 12409000 stating that the 3.48 carat and 3.25 carat diamonds are D color, VS2 and VS1 clarity respectively. Estimate 2,000,000—3,000,000 USD. Lot sold 2,658,500 USD to an Asian Private.

Pear-Shaped D color, VS2 clarity, type IIa, Diamond ring, weighing 15.37 carats, Mounted by Boucheron, Paris

The pear-shaped diamond weighing 15.37 carats, flanked by 2 baguette diamonds, mounted in platinum, size 4¾, signed Monture Boucheron, French assay marks.. Estimate 1,000,000—1,500,000 USD - Lot sold 1,224,900 USD to an Asian Private.

NOTE: Accompanied by GIA report no. 17191032 stating that the diamond is D color, VS2 clarity. Together with a letter from the GIA stating that the diamond has been determined to be a type 11a.

As the letter from the GIA attests, under 2% of the world's diamonds fall into the type 11 category, stones that contain little or no nitrogen. Within the rare classification, those stones graded as type 11a are the most chemically pure and are often completely colorless. Type 11b stone which contain boron, are often blue in color.

Type 11a diamond originated in the legendary Golconda region in India. These alluvial deposits, mined since antiquity and long depleted, produced some of the world's most famous and historically important diamonds, including the Koh-i-Nur, the Regent and the Great Mogul, all classified as type 11a. Today the term 'Golconda' is often used to denote quality rather than place and is reserved for those few diamonds that display extreme transparency with no trace of yellow body color.

Jay Gould (1836-1892)

One of America's leading railroad developers, speculators and financiers, Jason "Jay" Gould was born in Roxbury, New York. After working a short time in the lumber and tanning business in western New York and Pennsylvania, he moved to Manhattan and turned his attention to Wall Street, mastering the art of corporate management and security trading in a short time.

Gould served on the board of the Erie Railroad but his efforts to gain total control were ultimately unsuccessful. He then turned his attention to expanding a railroad system in the Midwest and eventually gained control of four lines - the Wabash, the Texas and Pacific, the Missouri Pacific and the Union Pacific. By 1880 he owned over 10,000 miles of railway, and within two years, he obtained controlling interest in 15% of the country's tracks earning him a considerable fortune. His expanding empire soon included the Manhattan Elevated Railroad of New York, a monopoly of the city's rapid transit system, and Western Union Telegraph Company. Western Union was to become one of the most profitable companies in America as it was the means by which all Associated Press stories were circulated.

Jay Gould married Helen Day Miller in 1863 and the couple had six children.

Pear-Shaped G color, VS1 clarity Diamond Ring weighing 19.86 carats, by Harry Winston

The pear-shaped diamond weighing 19.86 carats, flanked by 2 tapered baguette diamonds, mounted in platinum, size 5¼, signed Winston. Accompanied by GIA report no. 17237982 stating that the diamond is G color, VS1 clarity. Estimate 800,000—1,200,000 USD - Lot sold 1,046,500 USD to an Anonymous.

Rectangular Modified Brilliant-Cut, Fancy Pink, S/I clarity, Diamond Ring, weighing 9.11 carats

The cut-cornered rectangular modified brilliant-cut diamond of fancy pink color weighing 9.11 carats, flanked by 2 tapered baguette diamonds, mounted in platinum and 18 karat rose gold, size 5¼. Accompanied by GIA report no. 14901964 stating that the diamond is Fancy Pink, Natural Color, SI1 clarity. Estimate 900,000—1,200,000 USD - Lot sold 962,500 USD to an American Trade.

Pair of Cushion-Shaped Burmese Sapphire and Diamond Earrings, weighing 16.28 and 17.94 carats

Set with 2 cushion-shaped sapphires weighing 16.28 and 17.94 carats, surmounted by 2 cushion-shaped and 2 square-cut diamonds, weighing a total of approximately 2.10 carats, mounted in platinum. Accompanied by AGTA reports no. 98021811 and no. 98021711 stating that the sapphires are of Burmese origin; no indications of heating. Estimate 750,000—1,000,000 USD - Lot sold 850,500 USD to an Anonymous.

Emerald-Cut Fancy Vivid Yellow, VS2 clarity Diamond Ring, weighing 10.05 carats

The square emerald-cut diamond of fancy vivid yellow color weighing 10.05 carats, flanked by 2 shield-shaped diamonds weighing approximately 1.30 carats, mounted in 18 karat gold and platinum, size 6. Accompanied by GIA report no. 15318440 stating that the diamond is Fancy Vivid Yellow, Natural Color, VS2 clarity. Estimate 450,000—650,000 USD - Lot sold 536,500 USD to a Private Collector.

Emerald and Diamond Necklace

Designed as a series of graduated fringes of geometric design in two alternating styles, set with 5 emerald-cut emeralds weighing approximately 37.10 carats, further decorated with numerous round, baguette and triangular-cut diamonds weighing approximately 92.80 carats, mounted in platinum, length 16 inches, French assay marks. Accompanied by SSEF report no. 47421 stating that the emeralds are of Colombian origin; clarity enhanced by oil, extent of enhancement: minor to moderate. Estimate 400,000—600,000 USD - Lot sold 458,500 USD to a Private Collector.

Pair of Fancy Intense and Vivid Yellow Diamond Pendant-Earclips

Composed of 2 pear-shaped diamonds of fancy vivid yellow color weighing 5.37 and 5.39 carats, 2 cut-cornered modified brilliant-cut diamonds of fancy intense yellow color weighing 3.01 and 3.07 carats and 2 oval diamonds of fancy intense yellow color weighing .68 and .78 carat, mounted in 18 karat gold. Estimate 350,000—550,000 USD - Lot sold 422,500 USD to a Private Collector.

NOTE: Accompanied by six GIA reports:
No. 17429592 stating that the 5.37 carat diamond is Fancy Vivid Yellow, Natural Color, SI1 clarity
No. 17429591 stating that the 5.39 carat diamond is Fancy Vivid Yellow, Natural Color, VS2 clarity
No. 17429600 stating that the 3.01 carat diamond is Fancy Intense Yellow, Natural Color, VS2 clarity
No. 17429603 stating that the 3.07 carat diamond is Fancy Intense Yellow, Natural Color, SI2 clarity
No. 17429602 stating that the .68 carat diamond is Fancy Intense Yellow, Natural Color, VVS2 clarity; together with original working diagram stating that the stone may be potentially flawless.
No. 17429601 stating that the .78 carat diamond is Fancy Intense Yellow, Natural Color, VVS2 clarity; together with original working diagram stating that the stone may be potentially flawless.

Natural Pearl and Diamond Pendant, circa 1910

The natural pearl drop measuring approximately 17.8 by 16.1 mm. in diameter, the openwork surmount of foliate design set with single-cut and rose-cut diamonds, mounted in platinum. Estimate 300,000—400,000 USD - Lot sold 362,500 USD to a Private Collector.

NOTE: Accompanied by GIA report no. 17465905 stating that the pearl is natural.

Natural pearl drops of this size and quality are extremely rare and always generate excitement when offered in a public sale. Sotheby's has been fortunate to have offered several of these miracles of nature over the last few years. In May of 2008, the sale of Noble Jewels held at Sotheby's in Geneva included a spectacular natural pearl drop surmounted by a large 'Golconda' diamond, once in the collection of a British Noble Family. In April of the same year, Sotheby's in New York sold a pair of important natural pearl drop pendants supported on a diamond sautoir, part of the magnificent jewels from the Estate of Rita K. Hillman. Another natural pearl pendant, it's exceptional quality matched only by its rich provenance, was sold by Sotheby's in New York in December of 2007 as part of the collection of Kelly and Calvin Klein. This large and lustrous pearl, mounted in a diamond setting by Cartier, Paris, was formerly owned by the Duchess of Windsor. The Duchess was often photographed wearing the pendant suspended from a pearl choker that the Duke of Windsor had inherited from his mother, Queen Mary. The pendant was ultimately sold by Sotheby's in Geneva as part of the jewels of the Duchess of Windsor in 1987 and was purchased at that time by Calvin Klein as a gift for his wife.

Considered the ruler's gem, pearls have adorned gods, Kings and Queens throughout history. Born perfect, they are the only gem that needs no prior fashioning to be worn. The exceptional pearl offered in the present sale is truly a wonder of nature and would be a welcome addition to any collection of magnificent jewels.

Marquise-Shaped Diamond ring, weighing15.72 carats

The marquise-shaped diamond weighing 15.72 carats, flanked by 2 tapered baguette diamonds, mounted in platinum, size 5¼. Acompanied by GIA report no. 5101237998 stating that the diamond is I color, VS2 clarity. Estimate 200,000—300,000 USD - Lot sold 350,500 USD to an International Trade.