NEW YORK, NY.- Sotheby’s 21 April auction of Magnificent Jewels in New York will offer more than 350 pieces that together are estimated to achieve in excess of $50 million*. Highlights will be on public view in Hong Kong, London and Doha this month**, before returning to New York for exhibition beginning 17 April.
The sale is led by a diamond unlike any offered before: an extraordinary 100-carat perfect diamond in a classic Emerald-cut that is estimated to sell for $19–25 million. At this impressive scale, diamonds of this exceptional quality – D color and Internally Flawless clarity – are incredibly rare, and are considered ‘perfect’. What distinguishes the present example within this rarefied league is its beautiful shape: it is the largest perfect diamond with a classic Emerald-cut ever to be offered at auction. The original rough – weighing over 200 carats – was mined by De Beers in southern Africa. The current owner spent over one year studying, cutting and polishing the rough diamond to deliver the spectacular stone.
HIGHLY-IMPORTANT DIAMONDS
A Magnificent Platinum, 18 Karat Gold, Fancy Purplish Pink Diamond and Sapphire Ring
A beautiful color combination of an unmodified pear-shaped Fancy Purplish Pink diamond weighing 6.24 carats, set in a unique mounting with two cushion-cut Kashmir sapphires of 2.44 and 2.36 carats. Estimate $2,500,000-3,500,000
The Monarch Blue Diamond
An Important Platinum, Rose Gold, Fancy Blue Diamond and Colored Diamond Ring
Centering an oval-shaped mixed cut Fancy Blue diamond of 6.06 carats, VVS2 clarity and complemented with six pink-hued round diamonds. Estimate $3,500,000-4,500,000
Property of a Prominent Collector
A Magnificent Platinum and Diamond Ring
Oval-shaped diamond of 22.30 carats, D color, Internally Flawless, type IIa. Estimate $2,800,000-3,200,000
A Highly Important Platinum and Diamond Pendant-Necklace
Suspending a pear-shaped diamond of 52.26 carats, D color, SI1 clarity, with excellent polish and symmetry. Estimate $3,800,000-4,200,000
TWO SEMINAL CARTIER ART DECO JEWELS
The Baron de Rothschild Necklace
An Elegant and Rare Platinum, Emerald, Sapphire, Lapis Lazuli and Diamond Pendant-Necklace. Designed by Charles Jacqueau for Cartier, Paris, circa 1924. Estimate $1,800,000-2,200,000
This Mughal Empire-style necklace was exhibited recently at the Denver Art Museum exhibition ‘Brilliant: Cartier in the 20th Century’. Created by Cartier’s chief designer Charles Jacqueau, the blue and green necklace – highlighted by three colored stones carved with Mughal floral motifs – was acquired by Baron Eugene de Rothschild in 1924 for his new American wife Catherine. In 1927, Vogue wrote about the Baroness and her Cartier necklace in an article about ‘the beautiful new jewels on the smartest women in Paris,’ stating that her taste in fashion and jewels was faultless.
An Iconic Platinum, Emerald, Ruby, Diamond and Enamel ‘Tutti Frutti’ Bracelet Cartier, New York, circa 1928. Estimate $1,300,000-1,800,000
Although reminiscent of the Tutti Frutti bracelet Sotheby’s sold from the Collection of Evelyn H. Lauder in 2014 for a world-record price of $2,165,000, every Cartier Tutti Frutti bracelet is completely unique. This example features a delicate black enamel frame around each jeweled flower and leaf flourishing from the diamond set vine.
COVETED KASHMIR SAPPHIRES
A Superb Platinum, Kashmir Sapphire and Diamond Ring. Cartier, New York, circa 1915.
The cushion-cut sapphire weighing 11.90 carats, accompanied by Gubelin Gem Lab Report stating that the stone ‘possesses a richly saturated and homogenous color, combined with a high degree of transparency, and a finely proportioned cut.’ Estimate $1,400,000-1,800,000
Property of a Gentleman
An Important Platinum, 18 Karat Gold, Kashmir Sapphire and Diamond Ring. Set with a sugarloaf cabochon sapphire weighing 9.94 carats. Estimate $700,000-1,000,000
Property from a Private Collection
An 18 Karat Gold, Platinum, Kashmir Sapphire and Diamond Brooch. Schlumberger for Tiffany & Co., France
Designed as a stylized flower, this brooch dating from the 1960s and set with a sapphire of approximately 17 carats, was formerly in the collection of Mrs. Paul Mellon. Estimate $750,000-1,000,000
CELEBRATED PROVENANCE
From the Estate of Mary Lily Kenan Flagler, Thence by Descent
The Flagler Emerald
An Important Platinum, Emerald and Diamond Pendant
This exquisite 35.02 carat Classic Colombian emerald jewel belonged to the wife of Henry Flagler, the American industrialist and pioneering developer of Florida’s eastern coastline. Estimate $1,000,000-1,500,000
The Spectacular Bid Collection, comprising a magnificent suite of sapphire and diamond jewels, was acquired in celebration of the sport of kings from Harry Winston, the King of Diamonds. The sapphire jewels pay homage to the blue silks of Hawksworth Farm, owner of Spectacular Bid, a winner of the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness and one of the top U.S. thoroughbred horses of the 20th century. A Platinum, Sapphire and Diamond Necklace, suspending a Burmese sapphire of 16.95 carats, illustrates classic Harry Winston design (estimate $300,000-400,000).
MACHINE AGE STYLE
The sale also spotlights the minimalist Machine Age style of Art Moderne jewelers such as Gérard Sandoz, Jean Després, René Boivin and André Rivaud. Among the selection is the 18 Karat Gold Bracelet, circa 1935 by Jean Després, whose jewels emphasized strong design over intrinsic value (estimate $75,000-85,000).
