LOS ANGELES, CA.- As we say goodbye to April and hello to May,
John Moran Auctioneers is blooming with excitement to present their Spring rendition of the Fine Jewelry & Timepieces auction, Wednesday, May 24, 2023. The sale, starting at 10:00am, will feature over 90 lots of stunning jewelry pieces and an impressive selection of watches. For fine jewelry, the offerings will include gold and fine gemstones, specifically diamonds (and a lot of them!), emeralds, aquamarine, and rubies and feature designers such as Tiffany & Co., Cartier, Georgio Armani, John Hardy, Carimati, Bulgari, Jason of Beverly Hills, and Ivana Cella. Collectors are sure to watch out for the spectacular collection of watches, including examples from Patek Philippe, Cartier, Boucheron, and Tiffany & Co., but especially the multiple lots of Rolex!
One of the most anticipated pieces is a Rolex President, Day-Date II Watch. Introduced in 2008, the Day-Date II is a contemporary take on a Rolex classic. Displaying bold roman numerals marking the hour, and magnified date display and the weekday written at 12 oclock, the Day-Date II is a triumph of form and function. This watch, with an estimate of $30,000-40,000, is precise to the second, minute, and hour, and never loses sight of the day or calendar date.
There will also be three Rolex Cosmograph Daytona watches in this sale. Named after Daytona, Florida, where racing flourished in the early 20th century, this model is a mechanical chronograph wristwatch designed to meet the needs of racing drivers by measuring elapsed time and calculating average speed. One of the examples has a two-tone stainless and 18k yellow gold band and is valued at $20,000-30,000. For those that love a unique, bold look, there will be a MAD Paris custom 18k Cosmograph Daytona. MAD Paris specializes in out-there luxury watch customizations, most notably its Rolexes. Featuring custom black round face, matte DLC coating, automatic movement, adjustable PVD finish over two-tone stainless and 18k yellow gold link bracelet, three chronograph sub-dials, index hands, screw-down crown, MAD open case back, two chronograph pushers, and 45mm case, this watch is estimated $10,000-15,000.
For those that prefer diving to driving, a Rolex Oyster Perpetual Date Sea-Dweller will be offered with an estimate of $18,000-24,000. The Sea-Dweller is a line of divers watches manufactured by Rolex that features a gas escape valve which allows the helium trapped in the watch while decompressing to be released at a given pressure during decompression, while preserving the watch cases water resistance, and this Deepsea model can withstand an underwater diving depth of up to 12,800 ft. The Deepsea models come equipped with the brands patented Ringlock system, which was designed to provide a higher degree of pressure resistance.
Highlighting the selection of fine jewelry are diamonds. The main attraction is a 16.52ct. round diamond ring set in 14k white gold, estimated $150,000-200,000. The GIA report dated February 10, 2023, stated M color and VS1 clarity, flanked by two cut-cornered step-cut diamonds totaling approximately 0.75ct. in combined weight and each graded J-K color and VS clarity. A perfect pair to the diamond ring is a diamond line necklace, estimated $12,000-18,000. This piece, set in 18k white gold, features a center 1.07 ct. round brilliant-cut diamond, followed by one hundred eighteen round full-cut and old European-cut diamonds graduating in size and totaling approximately 18.80cts. in weight and each graded I-L in color and SI1-I1 in clarity. There will also be a pair of Tiffany & Co. diamond stud earrings, set with two round full-cut diamonds each gauged in the mounting at 0.96ct. and 0.97ct. and graded E-F color and VVS clarity. These earrings have a $5,000-7,000 estimate.
Other featured items emphasize the gold variety. For a little arm candy, a gold and diamond bracelet comprising of clusters of textured circular disks further set with thirty round full-cut diamonds totaling approximately 2.75cts. will be offered with a $5,000-7,000 estimate. Collectors are sure to be intrigued by the interesting muti-colored sapphire and diamond ring, estimated $4,000-6,000, along with a gorgeous set of high karat gold jewelry, valued at $3,000-5,000.