Christie’s New York announces the December 8 auction of Magnificent Jewels and the concurrent Jewels Online & Colorful Whimsy: Jewels by Michele della Valle sale from November 23 – December 7. The auction will offer over 200 lots, highlighted by renowned private collections, noteworthy diamonds and colored gemstones, and an impressive assemblage of important signed jewels by Bvlgari, Cartier, Graff, Harry Winston, JAR, Jean Schlumberger, Suzanne Belperron, Tiffany & Co., and Van Cleef & Arpels. An exhibition by appointment will be held at Christie’s New York from 3-7 December.  

The Magnificent Jewels auction is led by three important colored diamonds including: a rare fancy vivid orangy pink diamond ring of 5.38 carats, VS2 clarity ($2,200,000-3,200,000); an important fancy vivid yellow diamond pendant of 70.19 carats, VS2 clarity ($2,000,000 – 3,000,000; and a fancy dark gray-blue diamond ring of 8.74 carats Internally Flawless ($1,200,000 – 1,500,000).

A notable collection included in the sale is A Superlative Eye: Property from a Distinguished Chicago Collection, which features jewels by Cartier, Graff, Jean Schlumberger, Chanel, Carvin French, and Marcus & Co. The collection is highlighted by a strong selection of Art Deco Cartier jewels, such as an Art Deco emerald, sapphire and diamond brooch ($200,000-300,000) once belonging to Mrs. Cole Porter, alongside colored stones including a Graff ruby and diamond ring ($1,000,000-1,500,000), and a Carvin French Kashmir sapphire, colored diamond and diamond ring ($500,000-700,000). 

Another highlight of the sale are eight lots of Van Cleef & Arpels Mystery-Set jewels, including a ruby and diamond bracelet ($300,000-500,000) and a pair of ruby and diamond pendant earrings ($300,000-500,000). A triumph of jewelry design, the ‘Mystery-Set’ or ‘Serti Mystérieux’ represents the culmination of Van Cleef & Arpels’ revolutionary eye for design and spirit of innovation. The exceptional technique, perfected by only a few master jewelers, not only transcends technical perfection but also reflects the art of the jeweler. Taking an average of 1,200 hours to complete one Mystery-Set jewel, this process is a testament to the exceptional craftsmanship, dedication and ambition of the firm’s artistic and technical vision.

Additional private collections within the sale include a Van Cleef & Arpels Art Deco diamond bracelet ($1,000,000-1,500,000) previously featured in the exhibition The Jazz Age: American Style in the 1920s at the Cleveland Museum of Art in Ohio and the Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum in New York; an historic late 17^th Century emerald, diamond and enamel rosary ($400,000-600,000) descended from Prince Heinrich to the Dresden Green Vaults into the private collection of Mrs. Jayne Wrightsman; and a Gillot & Co. antique natural pearl and diamond pendant ($500,000-700,000) formerly in the collection of Geraldine Rockefeller Dodge.

The Jewels Online & Colorful Whimsy: Jewels by Michele della Valle sale (November 23 – December 7) features a curated assemblage of fine jewelry ranging from antique through contemporary jewels to white diamonds and colored stones by Buccellati, Bulgari, Cartier, David Webb, Graff, Harry Winston, JAR, Tiffany & Co., and Van Cleef & Arpels. The sale also includes 64 works by Michele della Valle, who is well known for his designs of fine jewels with colorful whimsy, all offered without reserve.