PHILADELPHIA, PA.- Freeman’s will present the collection of a prominent Philadelphia lady, a single-collection highlight of our May 19 Jewelry and Watches auction. The 42-lot collection features a wide range of beautiful jewelry and accessories, including pieces from leading design houses, many in Art Deco and Retro styles.

“The style of the collection’s look is large in scale, jewelry that is meant to be seen,” says Virginia Salem, Head of Freeman’s Jewelry and Watches department. “While lunching at Parc on Rittenhouse Square, the client could be seen wearing some of this jewelry. She was always well turned-out, a consummate lady with impeccable style.”

A striking eighteen-karat gold and diamond bracelet is one of the collection’s highlights; the 1950s Van Cleef & Arpels piece is estimated at $20,000-30,000 (Lot 41). A diamond and eighteen karat gold ring centering a star ruby of Burmese origin (Lot 40; estimate: $10,000-15,000) is a fine example of the aesthetic quality of the collection as a whole, combining brilliant diamonds with colored jewel centerpieces and accents. The diamond rivière necklace on offer, estimated at $25,000-35,000 (Lot 1), displays a set of graduating old mine-cut diamonds and is an unmissable addition to any serious jewelry collection.

In addition to the wide range of wristwear, necklaces, rings, and earrings for sale, this particular collection features a number of bejeweled brooches—statement pieces making a notable market comeback. One such brooch, a diamond-encrusted dragonfly (Lot 2; estimate: $5,000-7,000), was designed to be worn in the hair or on the shoulder and features a life-size three-inch wingspan. This collection features a number of brooch styles, from abstract Art Deco and Retro designs to butterflies and bows.

The May 19 Jewelry and Watches auction is a 159-lot sale; in addition to this 42-lot collection, the sale will feature standout pieces from leading houses and designers, including Cartier, Bulgari, Rolex, Patek Philippe, and Tiffany & Co.