Just in time for the holidays, Sotheby’s final jewellery auction of the fall season will be held in New York on 9 December 2015. A number of treasures will be auctioned in a sale which will offer more than 500 lots with estimates starting at $5,000. Perfect timing to pick up your Christmas gift?
Let us check this very nice video by Frank Everett, Head of Sales Jewellery at Sotheby’s New York, to see if there is anything steeling our heart:
Going with Lisa Hubbard, Co-Chairman of Sotheby’s Jewellery Division, North & South America:
If these jewels could talk, what a tale they would tell: an iconic Art Deco diamond necklace made in 1939 by Van Cleef & Arpels for Queen Nazli of Egypt, and an avant-garde creation made by designer Suzanne Belperron circa 1935 for Wallis Simpson, the Duchess of Windsor for whom King Edward VIII gave up his throne. The rare combination of superb original design with romantic provenance is irresistible to lovers of fine jewels, and we are thrilled to present them to collectors this December.
Here are the fabulous highlights of Sotheby’s Magnificent Jewels auction.
Magnificent and Historic Platinum and Diamond Necklace, Van Cleef & Arpels (estimate $3.6/4.6 million), created by the Parisian jeweler in 1939 for Queen Nazli of Egypt. Set with 217 carats of diamonds in a sunburst motif, the sensational bib-style necklace has been called ‘a perfect piece of jewelry’ by Vincent Meylan, author of Van Cleef & Arpels: Treasures and Legends.
Elegant and Rare Platinum, Aquamarine, Sapphire and Diamond Sautoir, Cartier, London. The pendant suspending three variously-cut aquamarines, the rectangular-shaped aquamarine weighing approximately 29.00 carats, supporting an octagonal-shaped aquamarine weighing approximately 54.20 carats, terminating in a pear-shaped biolette-cut aquamarine drop weighing approximately 59.30 carats, spaced by geometric links decorated with cabochon sapphires weighing approximately 5.30 carats, completed by the original silk cord applied with diamond-set accents, the round and single-cut diamonds weighing approximately 1.15 carats, necklace length 30 5/8 inches, pendant length 4¼ inches, unsigned; 1929. Estimate: $450-550,000.
Three superb rings. Important 18 Karat White Gold, Sapphire and Diamond Ring Centering a cushion-cut sapphire weighing 9.11 carats, flanked by two cushion-cut diamonds weighing 1.06 and 1.01 carats, size 6. Estimate: $750-1,000,000. Platinum and Diamond Ring, Cartier Centering a cushion-cut diamond weighing 15.04 carats, flanked by diamond-set rows, the round diamonds weighing approximately 1.25 carats, size 8, signed Cartier, numbered 891956. With signed box. Estimate: $700-900,000. Platinum, 18 Karat Rose Gold, Padparadscha Sapphire and Diamond Ring Centering a cushion-cut padparadscha sapphire weighing 9.12 carats, flanked by trapeze-cut diamonds weighing approximately 1.05 carats, size 5¾. Estimate: $100-150,000.
Pair of Silver, Gold, Topaz and Diamond ‘Feather’ Earclips, JAR. The stylized feathers centering two pear-shaped topazes weighing 20.99 carats, framed by swirled plumage set with round diamonds weighing 10.75 carats, signed JAR Paris; 1987. With signed box. Estimate: $250/350,000
Exquisite Silver-Topped Gold and Diamond Necklace, René Lalique for Lacloche Frères, Paris Composed of 13 entwined ribbon-style links of graduated design, the links supporting articulated old mine-cut diamonds weighing approximately 25.00 carats, the frames further set with smaller old mine-cut diamonds weighing approximately 47.00 carats, length 14 inches, with French assay and maker’s mark for René Lalique; circa 1890. With fitted Lacloche Frères case. Estimate: $750/850,000
Two ‘Drape’ Bracelets by Schlumberger, one lapis lazuli, turquoise and colored diamond, the other coral and diamond, (estimates $20/30,000 each) formerly from the collection of Mrs. Paul Mellon. Mrs. Mellon was known to be a patron of Jean Schlumberger’s jewels and much of her Schlumberger jewelry collection was bequeathed to The Virginia Museum of Fine Arts last year.
The fanciful floral bouquet set with a marquise-shaped Fancy Vivid Yellow, I1 clarity diamond weighing 2.86 carats, a round-cornered square modified brilliant-cut Fancy Intense Blue, VS2 clarity diamond weighing 2.47 carats and a round Fancy Intense Bluish Green, artificially irradiated, SI1 clarity diamond weighing 2.09 carats, accented by marquise-shaped diamonds weighing approximately 7.40 carats, further set with round, baguette and pear-shaped diamonds weighing approximately 9.20 carats, signed Bulgari, with maker’s mark; circa 1960
Estimate USD 500,000-700,000
Important Pair of Platinum, Diamond and Sapphire Earrings. Suspending two cushion-cut diamonds weighing 29.39 and 28.03 carats, surmounted by round sapphires weighing 1.02 carats. Estimate: $1,650,000 — 1,850,000
Highly Important Pair of Emerald and Diamond Earrings (estimate $1.8/2.2 million) are set with Classic Colombian emeralds. Known as The Stars of Muzo, the impressive emeralds weighing 22.97 and 21.37 carats are accompanied by two gemological reports stating the stones are unenhanced. These exceptionally rare emeralds are accented by more than 5 carats of D color, Internally Flawless diamonds.
Centering a pear-shaped Fancy Pink diamond weighing 6.93 carats, VS1 clarity, flanked by two pear-shaped near colorless diamonds weighing approximately 2.10 carats, size 5¼.
Magnificent Platinum and Diamond Ring (estimate $3.5/4.5 million), set with a square emeraldcut diamond weighing 38.27 carats, D color, VVS2 clarity and type IIA – on offer from the Estate of an Italian Countess sold to benefit her charitable foundation. Estimate: $3.5/4.5 million
Exceptional Platinum, Sapphire and Diamond Ring. Centering a cushion-cut sugarloaf cabochon sapphire weighing 25.87 carats, and with no indication of heating, flanked by two bullet-cut diamonds weighing approximately .40 carat, size 5; 1930s. This Kashmir sapphire hails from three generations of one of America’s most prominent families: that of Thomas Fortune Ryan (1851-1928), who stands alongside J.P. Morgan, Andrew Carnegie and John D. Rockefeller in the annals of American financial history. Est. $3.5/4.5 million
The double-strand necklace composed of 49 chalcedony beads measuring approximately 13.5 mm, gathered at the side with an articulated floral clasp centering eight cabochon sapphires, framed by five carved chalcedony petals, further decorated by trim set with old European-cut diamonds weighing approximately .85 carat, length 15 inches, with French assay and workshop mark for Groëne et Darde; 1932-1937. With fitted box. (Photo by Bryan Bedder/Getty Images for Sotheby’s). Estimate: $350-550,000
The double-fluted cuff-bracelets composed of carved chalcedony in the form of stylized crowns, bordered by 14 chalcedony beads, each bead topped by a cabochon sapphire, further decorated by old European-cut diamonds weighing approximately 2.80 carats, internal circumference 6 and 5¾ inches; 1932-1937. With fitted box. Estimate: $400-600,000.
Another view of Queen Nazli’s necklace by Van Cleef & Arpels. A large part of Nazli’s jewelry collection, including her Van Cleef & Arpels diamond necklace and tiara, was sold by Sotheby Parke Bernet in New York in November 1975. The diamond necklace has since remained in a private collection for 40 years, and is to be sold this December for the benefit of a charitable foundation.
The Belperron Chalcedony suite once belonging to the Duchess of Windsor.
Queen Nazli (1894-1978), mother of Egypt’s King Farouk, commissioned the diamond necklace and a matching tiara for the wedding ceremony of her daughter, Princess Fawzia, to the Crown Prince of Iran, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, in 1939.
Post edited by Claudia Carletti, Jewellery Through Time. All material courtesy of Sotheby’s.
Pingback: Initiative highlights local art in relation to humanity and Earth - RiyadhVision