Gemmes & Gemmologie

Lot 3479. Large and Rare Non-nacreous Melo Pearl, Melo melo volutidae, Saltwaters near Vietnam. Weighing approximately 36.29 carats and measuring 16.8mm. Sold for US$30,500. © Bonhams Relatively unknown in the West, even George Kunz's compendium of 1908, The Book of The Pearl, had no references to the rare orange pearl offered here. So few have been found, it is no wonder. The Melo melo is the marine snail that produces orange pearls the color of a ripe papaya. The snail generates a pearl-like... [Lire la suite]

Lot 3124. Large Orange Non-Nacreous Pearl--"Melo Pearl", Melo melo volutidae, Saltwaters near Vietnam. Weighing approximately 24.54 carats and measuring 16.60 x 11.65mm. Sold for US$31,875. © Bonhams 2001-2023 Relatively unknown in the West, even George Kunz's compendium of 1908, The Book of The Pearl, had no references to the rare orange pearls offered here. So few have been found, it is no wonder. The Melo melo is the marine snail that produces orange pearls the color of a ripe papaya. The snail generates a... [Lire la suite]

Lot 181. Non-nacreous Saltwater Orange Pearl--"Melo Pearl", Melo melo, Saltwaters near Vietnam. Weighing approximately 13.45 carats and measuring 12.26 x 11.84mm. Estimate US$14,000 - US$18,000. © Bonhams 2001-2023 Relatively unknown in the West, even George Kunz's compendium of 1908, The Book of The Pearl, had no references to the rare orange pearl offered here. So few have been found, it is no wonder. The Melo melo is the marine snail that produces orange pearls the color of a ripe papaya. The snail... [Lire la suite]

Los Angeles – This month Bonhams Natural History department will present two distinct online sales, The Zen Garden: Mineral Decor for the Home and Garden, August 19 – 30, and Gemstones and Exotic Gemstone Jewelry, August 19 – 29. With more than 200 lots overall, The Zen Garden sale will feature a significant private single-owner collection of self-collected mineral works primarily from California's Death Valley and Palm Desert, as well as a number of scholar rocks dating back as far as the Qing Dynasty. Of particular... [Lire la suite]

Lot 51. 21.77 carats Crystal Opal with Multi-Color Fire, Lightning Ridge, New South Wales, Australia. Estimate US$ 35,000 - 45,000 (€ 35,000 - 44,000). © Bonhams A large oval cabochon crystal opal with slight potch to the underside having a rolling flash play-of-color dominated by bright reddish orange and a full array of hues. Weighing approximately 21.77 carats and measuring 26.5 x 16.3 x 7.5mm. Bonhams. The World of Gold, Opals and Other Phenomenal Gems, Los Angeles, 30 June 2020, 10:00 PDT

Lot 52. 26.01 carats Stunning Large Blue Green Opal, Lighting Ridge, New South Wales, Australia. Estimate US$ 40,000 - 50,000 (€ 35,000 - 44,000). © Bonhams A large and impressive "nobby" opal (nodule) with a black base color and a vivid broad rolling flash of color electric green mixed with blue and purple and a dash of orange, in a pattern known in the opal hobby as "straw" pattern, with a bar of orange at the side. Weighing approximately 26.01 carats and measuring 30.1 x 18.5 x 7.0mm. Bonhams. The World... [Lire la suite]

Lot 53. 26.01 carats Black Opal with "Grass" Pattern, Lightning Ridge, New South Wales, Australia. Estimate US$ 45,000 - 55,000 (€ 40,000 - 49,000). © Bonhams A large and impressive "nobby" opal (nodule) with a black base color and a vivid broad rolling flash of color electric green mixed with blue and purple and a dash of orange, in a pattern known in the opal hobby as "straw" pattern, with a bar of orange at the side. Weighing approximately 26.01 carats and measuring 30.1 x 18.5 x 7.0mm. Bonhams.... [Lire la suite]

Lot 58. 36.92 carats Midnight Black Opal with Red and Green Pattern Cathedral Window, Lightning Ridge, New South Wales, Australia. Estimate US$ 55,000 - 65,000 (€ 49,000 - 58,000). © Bonhams This stunning "nobby" opal cabochon (nodule opal) has a midnight black base color with a "cathedral window" patterned effect of broad patches of vivid green, vermilion red, orange and yellow. Such large opals with a rich saturation of color are now difficult to find in the marketplace. Weighing approximately 36.92 carats and... [Lire la suite]

Lot 58. 20.88 carats Black "Nobby" Opal with Multi-color Fire, Kelly's Field, Lightning Ridge, New South Wales, Australia. Estimate US$ 60,000 - 80,000 (€ 53,000 - 71,000). © Bonhams With its inky, midnight black base color, this fine nodule opal displays large, broad flagstone pattern of color in chartreuse green, orange, yellow, red and electric blue. This is a notable pattern opal suitable for the knowledgeable collector. Weighing approximately 20.88 carats and measuring 25.56 x 16.47 x 7.37mm. ... [Lire la suite]

Lot 114. 41 carats Black Opal with Floral Pattern Red Play of Color, Lightning Ridge, New South Wales, Australia. Estimate US$ 70,000 - 80,000 (€ 62,000 - 71,000). © Bonhams A large and impressive "nodule" opal (a nobby), having an incredible pinfire play-of-color dominated by reds and orange with minor flashes of green and blue. This is an exceptional opal with a true black base color and a notable offering for the knowledgeable collector. Weighing approximately 41.40 carats and measuring 37.99 x 22.07 x... [Lire la suite]