November is indeed a hot month for auctions. Let us then continue with the Important Jewels auction, which will take place at Christie’s London next November 26.
The sale includes an array of both antique and modern jewellery, signed pieces by the great houses such as Cartier, Chaumet, Dior, Graff, Mauboussin, Tiffany and Van Clef & Arpels, together with some exceptional coloured stones and diamonds.
The sales totals 444 lots and is expected to achieve in excess of £9 million.
Leading the sale is a late 19th century sapphire and diamond brooch (estimate: £400,000-500,000). At over 14 carats, this exceptional treasure was once owned by the Hon Evelina Rothschild, and could well have been a wedding present to the bride when she married Clive Behrens on 5 December 1899. What makes this brooch so special is the sapphire which is of Kashmir origin, bears no indications of heating and is rare in its finely proportioned cut and richly saturated colour.
The sale offers two more highly desirable sapphires, a ‘royal blue’ late 19th century Burmese sapphire and diamond pendant of over 41 carats (estimate £200,000-300,000), and a Ceylon sapphire and diamond ring of 23 carats (estimate £200,000-300,000).
With collectors’ ever-increasing demand for investment quality diamonds, Christie’s London is proud to offer an excellent selection of stones in a variety of cuts and colours. There are several private collections within this sale, each containing rare jewels of high importance, such as these which follow.
The first piece is a fancy coloured diamond ring. Of crossover design, set with two opposing pear shaped diamonds, comprising a Fancy Deep Blue diamond weighing approximately 1.54 carats and a Fancy Intense Pink diamond weighing approximately 1.78 carats, to tapering shoulders and plain hoop (estimate: £300,000-500,000).
Other two outstanding pieces are signed by Graff. The first is a pair of diamond ear pendants, by Graff. Each brilliant-cut diamond top suspending a similarly-set spacer and pear shaped diamond drop, weighing approxiomately 3.16 and 3.68 carats respectively, 2.5cm long, post fittings, maker’s case.
The second creation is a single-stone diamond ring, by Graff. The oval-cut diamond weighing approximately 5.05 carats, to tapered baguette-cut diamond shoulders, raised on a plain hoop, finger size K, maker’s case.
Estimates are £150,000-180,000, and £180,000-220,000.
Among the lots, there are also a group of beautiful Mystery Set jewels by Van Cleef & Arpels, property of a Lady, and now put on sales by order of The Executors. Among those, two couple of ear pendants, the first one being a pair of ruby and diamonds “fleurette” ear pendants (estimate £80,000-100,000) and the other a pair of superb emerald drop and diamond ear pendants (estimate £60,000-80,000).
Now, here are three highlights from one of my favourite sections when it comes to auction: the Period and Vintage Jewellery (from early 1800s to 1980s):
This pair of ear pendants are definitely my coup de coeur today:
Of typical pendeloque design, each composed of an old-cut diamond pavé-set cluster top to a similarly-set bow design spacer and further pear shaped drop, partially open-set in silver and gold, circa 1810, 4.3cm long, later post fittings.
Quite opulent but magnificent in terms of diamonds display:
Each modelled as a foliate spray, set with a principal old-cut pear shaped diamond weighing approximately 2.90 and 2.96 carats respectively, to a similarly-set diamond cluster surround, raised on a square-cut diamond stem, circa 1950, 2.2cm long.
Finally, a Cartier section which cannot be missed, comprising over 70 pieces and encapsulating a broad spectrum of design of the Maison: from an early 20th century enamel and diamond desk clock, Art Deco aquamarine and diamond ear pendants, an emerald and diamond scarab brooch of the 1950s, to the modern day with eleven iconic ‘Panthere’ jewels, each capturing the essence of this famous Cartier motif in their sleek and alluring form
The circular cream dial with black painted Arabic numerals and rose-cut diamond-set hands, to the white enamel beaded bezel and blue guilloché enamel case, with further white enamel borders and central single rose-cut diamond star motif accents, with moonstone push piece, raised on a carved agate base, mechanical movement, circa 1915, 7.0cm high.
Each composed of a single square-cut aquamarine surmount, to a rectangular-cut aquamarine spacer and brilliant-cut diamond geometric design panel, with adjoining fan of oval-cut aquamarine accents, suspending three graduated pear shaped aquamarine drops, circa 1935, 5.2cm long, case, screw fittings.
The carved emerald cabochon body, to the circular-cut ruby-set head and textured legs, with brilliant-cut diamond-set detail to the eyes, circa 1950, French marks for platinum and gold, 2.7cm long.
Material courtesy of Christie’s Press Office.
Oi! The pearls, rubies, & sapphires, oh my!
Amazing pieces, aren’t they?
It’s so funny. Often-times, as women, we would never buy anything so rich for ourselves, but goodness, oh, goodness, I would LOVE to have a few of those pieces somehow land in my jewelry box!
Ah yes I do agree with you! Just looking at them would make me happy!
I know, right?! LOL
Btw, I started following your blog after I read your piece about Marjorie Merriweather Post and her relationship with Cartier, and some of the pieces she had developed through their house. I recently wrote an article about 8 of her paintings I recently had the pleasure to see, in a museum here in the states. You can see it here: http://princesschaosomaand2crazydogs.wordpress.com/2014/11/17/a-tour-through-the-marjorie-merriweather-post-art-collection-at-south-plains-college-levelland-tx/
Thanks! I’ll go and check it out asap!