NEW YORK, NY.- Sotheby’s unveiled today a new season of jewellery auctions, including dates for the company’s flagship spring jewellery sales. Postponed as a result of the coronavirus outbreak, these highly-anticipated sales - often considered as a bellwether for the market – follow a series of successful online sales and digital breakthroughs. The strong results achieved in the past five weeks were facilitated by Sotheby’s long-term omnichannel strategy and digital innovations which enabled the business to quickly adapt to the new market parameters. These successes are also testament to the resilience of the jewellery market and confirm jewellery as one of the most popular and sought-after collectibles online.

David Bennett, Worldwide Chairman of Sotheby’s Jewellery Division, said: “Unprecedented times are often a catalyst for change, crystallising pre-existing trends and accelerating innovations. In the past few weeks, we have seen the jewellery market further completing its digital revolution: our online sales realised some of their best performances ever, with many new and young collectors from around the world joining. It is also very clear that people are now confident in buying and selling important jewels online. As we look forward to welcoming jewellery lovers back to our salesrooms and exhibitions, we are excited to push ahead with innovative formats in the coming months, starting with the single-lot online sale of a sensational ‘Tutti Frutti’ bracelet by Cartier at the end of this month”.

NEW DATES – NEW HIGHLIGHTS

Single-Lot Online Auction, Open for bidding 24-28 April
The new season will be launched next week, with an unprecedented single-lot online auction, featuring a sensational gem-set, diamond and enamel 'Tutti Frutti' Bracelet made by Cartier in the 1930s. Estimated at US$ 600,000- 800,000, this masterpiece of Art Deco jewellery comes from a distinguished American collection.

Magnificent Jewels – New York, 9 June
Rescheduled from its April sale date, the auction will present an array of important colored and white diamonds, significant gemstones, and vintage and contemporary jewels by the most covetable houses. Highlights include an exquisite 3.67 carat Fancy Intense Blue Diamond Ring (est. US$ 2.5-3.5m), a stunning Kashmir sapphire and diamond bracelet by Cartier from the 1960s (est. US$ 750,000 – 1 million), and a rare 1930s Cartier coral bracelet from the collection of Ganna Walska (est. US$ 80,000 – 120,000).

Paris Joaillerie - 10 June
Paris will celebrate return to live auctions, with a 278-lot sale led by treasures of the French avant-garde, including a sumptuous 1930s gold and diamond “Barbare” necklace by Suzanne Belperron (lot 253, est. €80,000-140,000). Sotheby’s Paris will also pay tribute to 407-year-old Parisian Jeweler Mellerio – the world’s oldest jewellery house - with the sale of 25 pieces created during the last 30 years of the 20th century. Highlights include this emerald and diamond necklace, featuring a 19.76-carat drop-shaped cabochon emerald (lot 169, est. €20,000-40,000).

Magnificent Jewels and Noble Jewels – Geneva, 30 June
Rescheduled from the original date of 12 May, the flagship auction will light up Geneva's lakeside with an array of important diamonds and gemstones selected for their rarity and quality, including the 'The Sunrise Diamond', an exceptional Fancy Intense Yellow diamond weighing 100.52 carats (est. US$ 3-5m / CHF 2.9-4.8m). Among the signed treasures to be offered on 30 June, lovers of Cartier are sure to delight in a beautiful coral and diamond brooch (est. CHF 50,000 - 80,000) and a stunning pair of 1930s diamond clips (est. CHF 60,000 - 100,000) and diamond bracelet (est. CHF 100,000 - 150,000).

Magnificent Jewels – Hong Kong, 10 July
Originally planned in April, the sale will feature exquisite jadeite and coveted coloured diamonds, alongside iconic signed pieces, such this diamond/ bracelet, 'Zip' by Van Cleef & Arpels (est. HK$ 2.4-3.5m).