Christie's announces Magnificent Jewels auction

Christie’s New York announces the July 29^th auction of Magnificent Jewels and the concurrent Jewels Online sale from July 22 to August 6/7. The auction includes a significant selection of colorless diamonds, colored diamonds, and gemstones, along with signed pieces by Belperron, Bulgari, Cartier, Graff, Harry Winston, JAR, Lacloche, Tiffany & Co., and Van Cleef & Arpels. The sale will offer over 260 lots, with estimates ranging from $10,000 to $5,000,000.

The July 29^th auction is led by impressive white diamonds, featuring a sensational diamond necklace suspending a pear-shaped diamond of 115.83 carats, F color, VVS1 clarity ($5,000,000-7,000,000). Colored diamonds also lead the sale, with a fancy intense blue diamond ring of 7.16 carats, Internally Flawless ($3,500,000-5,000,000); and a fancy intense yellow diamond ring of 33.65 carats, VS2 clarity ($525,000-625,000). Colored gemstones are also strongly represented with a Burma sapphire ring of 42.45 carats ($350,000–550,000); Colombian emerald ring of 35.77 carats ($300,000-500,000); and superb Art Deco sapphire and diamond sautoir, by Bulgari ($650,000–850,000).

Private collections within the sale offer signed pieces by Belperron, Bulgari, Cartier, David Webb, Harry Winston, Jean Schlumberger for Tiffany & Co., Van Cleef & Arpels and Verdura incorporating gemstones of the highest quality with refined design.  The Estate of Pauline Ireland contains over 50 jewels across the live and online sales and features a beryl, yellow sapphire and cultured pearl brooch by Verdura ($10,000-15,000); a diamond necklace and earrings ($20,000-30,000); and an Art Deco ruby and diamond jabot brooch by Cartier ($15,000-20,000). The Collection of James and Marilynn Alsdorf spans classic jewels reflecting their timeless style led by a single-stone pear-shaped diamond ring ($100,000-150,000); and The Collection of Gloria Manney spans important designs by Angela Cummings for Tiffany & Co., Raymond Yard, and Marcus & Co. which all feature opals, her favorite adornment, including a unique black opal, colored diamond and diamond fish brooch by Van Cleef & Arpels ($50,000-70,000).

The Property of a Texas Collector contains over 20 jewels with significant diamonds, colored diamonds, colored stones, and signed pieces by David Webb and Bulgari, including a Colombian emerald ring of 16.79 carats ($200,000-300,000); a diamond bracelet ($120,000-180,000); and a coral, onyx and diamond bracelet by Bulgari ($40,000-60,000).  The Property of a Lady comprises a collection of signed jewelry by Tiffany & Co., Taffin, Verdura, David Webb and four lots by JAR, including a pair of diamond and colored diamond ‘Trellis’ earrings ($150,000-200,000); a diamond Maltese cross brooch by David Webb ($40,000-60,000); and a pair of Antique diamond bracelets ($30,000-50,000). 

Also leading the sale is the one-of-a-kind ‘Sky Tower’ necklace, by Anna Hu ($1,000,000-1,500,000), from the collection of an Important Private Collector. The necklace pairs the beauty of Western contemporary architecture with Chinese history and culture.  Inspired by Pritzker Architecture Prize winner and distinguished French architect Jean Nouvel’s design of 53 West 53 located in the heart of New York City, the necklace centers upon a detachable brooch set with a fine jadeite plaque. 

The Jewels Online sale (July 22 to August 6/7) features a broad selection of fine jewels and iconic designs by Bulgari, Cartier, David Webb, Tiffany & Co., and Van Cleef & Arpels. Full exhibition of the live and online auctions Magnificent Jewels sale will be held at Christie’s 20 Rockefeller Center Galleries by appointment from 25 to 28 July.