NEW YORK, NY.- Christie’s New York auction of Magnificent Jewels achieved a total of $44,583,875 with 95% sold by value, 91% sold by lot, and 118% hammer above low estimate after a marathon ten-hours of bidding. There was global participation with bidders from 39 countries. Additionally, the preceding Jewels Online sale from November 18 to December 1 totaled $2,575,500 with 100% sold by value and 90% sold by lot. Together, the December Jewels sales in New York achieved a combined total of $47,159,375.

The top lot of the Magnificent Jewels auction was an extraordinary Kashmir sapphire and diamond bracelet of 43.10 carats surrounded by 67.90 carats of D color internally flawless diamonds that was purchased for $6,030,000 by Harry Winston. Nayla Hayek, CEO of Harry Winston, comments, “We are very proud to have purchased this extraordinary Kashmir Sapphire which joins the ranks of the finest diamonds and colored gemstones acquired by Winston to form our superb Legacy Collection.”

Other notable sapphires include a cabochon Kashmir sapphire ring of 21.72 carats by Van Cleef & Arpels from 1917 that achieved $1,722,000; a Burma sapphire necklace of 80.86 carats that sold for $1,110,000; and an Art Deco Kashmir sapphire of 12.64 carats and diamond brooch by Cartier, formerly from the collection of Jean Stralem that realized $1,530,000. Among other top lots were a pair of fancy intense purplish pink and fancy intense pink diamond earrings of 2.61 and 2.34 carats, potentially internally flawless that sold for $2,070,000; a diamond of 102.61 carats, Y to Z color, VS2 clarity, which achieved $1,650,000; and the Vanderbilt Diamond Necklace formerly belonging to Wendy Vanderbilt Lehman that sold for $750,000.

Additionally, private collections within the Magnificent Jewels sale performed with exceptional results including:

• Important Jewels from the Estate of Mireille Lévy totaled $2,746,000

• Important Jewels from the Estate of Mrs. Henry Ford II totaled $2,253,750




• Property from the du Pont Family Collection totaled $1,248,125

• Property from the Collection of Mary M. and Robert M. Montgomery, Jr. totaled $1,090,000

• The Collection of Barbara Allen de Kwiatkowsi totaled $975,000

• Property from the Collection of Athena Blackburn Sold to Benefit Charitable Causes totaled $788,750

• American Muse: The Collection of Nina Griscom totaled $598,750

• Jewels offered in loving memory of Lana Chenko-Haddad to benefit the Shriners Hospitals for Children, the ASPCA, and Breast Cancer Research achieved $525,000

Specially featured in the sale was a custom-ring by JAR, recreated after the signature jewel made for Elizabeth Taylor’s 70th birthday (pictured left), which sold for over seven times its estimate realizing $62,500. The single-cut diamond and platinum ring will be custom-fit and set on one-side with the initial of the buyer’s choosing. Proceeds from this unique lot are designated for The Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation (ETAF). ETAF’s initiative HIV Is Not A Crime advocates for the modernization of criminal laws and penalties affecting people living with HIV.