An exceedingly rare and exceptionally beautiful fine Fancy Pink diamond weighing 5.03 carats, VS1 clarity, sold for £2,228,750 ($2,935,263, $583,551 per carat) at Bonhams London Fine Jewellery sale this week (26th September) and sets a new auction world record for a Fancy Pink diamond per carat*.
Emily Barber, Director of Jewellery at Bonhams UK, said: “We were honoured to be chosen to offer this magnificent pink diamond to our global clients and we were delighted to see how well it performed at the sale. This was due to a number of factors: its size – it’s exceptionally rare to see a pink over five carats on the market today; its even colour saturation and its extraordinarily elegant cut.
“Large pink diamonds are continuing to increase in value year on year. They are highly desirable to discerning collectors given their rarity and limited supply. A diamond like this would definitely be one of the most prized pieces in an important jewellery collection.”
In addition to the Fancy Pink diamond, Bonhams also sold A Fancy-Coloured Diamond Three-Stone ring, circa 1910, for £168,750 against its pre-sale estimate of £80,000120,000. This featured an old brilliant-cut Fancy Blue diamond, weighing 0.95 carat, set between Fancy YellowOrange marquise-cut diamonds, weighing 0.51 and 0.56 carats.
The overall sale total was £6,936,250 with 89 per cent lots sold by value.
White diamonds in demand
The Bonhams London sale had a number of important white diamond lots up for auction and among the many admired during pre-sale previews was A 9.18 carat Asscher-Cut Diamond Ring. The magnificent diamond, H colour, VVS2 clarity, went under the hammer for £200,000, far exceeding its pre-sale estimate of £120,000150,000.
Diamond jewellery from a number of the famous French jewellery houses also achieved strong prices. These included:
An Art Deco Diamond Rivière by Cartier, circa 1930, weighing a total of approximately 60.00 carats, sold for £320,750, exceeding its pre-sale estimate of £200,000-300,000.
An Art Deco Rare Raymond Templier bracelet sold for £62,500. Made in 1932, the bracelet is characteristic of Templier’s ultra-modern geometric style.
Jewels formerly in the collections of Sir Alfred Chester Beatty and Lady Powerscourt
Two Art Deco lots from the collections of one of the most significant art collectors of the 20th century, Sir Alfred Chester Beatty, and his esteemed friend, the poet and writer Lady Powerscourt, captured interest from collectors.
An Art Deco Hardstone Seal, Gem-Set and Enamel Jewel, French in origin, dated circa 1925, sold for £43,750. This was originally a shoulder ornament and then converted to a bracelet.
An Art Deco Nephrite, Onyx and Diamond Pendant by Cartier, sold for £81,250, exceeding its pre-sale estimate of £20,000-30,000.
Tiaras reign supreme at Bonhams!
Not one but two magnificent tiaras featured in the sale and both attracted worldwide media attention given their remarkable provenance and rarity.
The first, A Belle Époque Diamond ‘Meander’ Tiara, designed by Spanish royal jeweller Ansorena, was owned by Spanish noblewoman Esperanza Chávarri Aldecoa, Countess of Villagonzalo, wife of Fernando Maldonado Salabert, 8th Count of Villagonzalo. The Countess was a lady-in-waiting of Victoria Eugenie of Battenberg, Queen Consort of King Alfonso XIII of Spain. Dated circa 1900, it went under the hammer for £162,500, exceeding its pre-sale estimate of £80,000-120,000, selling to an Asian private collector.
One of the descendants from the Countess of Villagonzalo’s family comments: “This tiara was much loved by the Countess and was worn at the many important royal and glamorous events she attended both in Europe and further afield. It has been greatly admired over the years due to its exceptionally fine craftsmanship. We are delighted that Bonhams has helped to find a new owner and the tiara will be as enjoyed and appreciated by others as it has been by our family.”
The second lot, An Art Deco Diamond Tiara/Necklace/Brooch combination by Hennell, sold for £81,250, exceeding its pre-sale estimate of £40,000-60,000. The tiara belonged to Viscountess Churchill (1895-1972), the second wife of the 1st Viscount Churchill, and was worn by Viscountess Churchill at the 1937 coronation. The tiara can also be worn as necklace, pair of bracelets and various clips and brooches.
Emily Barber, Director of Bonhams Jewellery (UK), said: “It is a privilege to sell jewels of exceptional provenance and this sale offered a superior selection. Many of these jewels offered a rare glimpse into the history of their owners and the interesting lives they lived. It is a pleasure to see historic jewels start their next chapter with new owners.”
Coloured gemstones strong as ever
Sizeable coloured stones of exceptional quality and saturation regularly achieve top prizes at Bonhams sales in London, New York and Hong Kong and this sale had four fine examples. The first, An Emerald and Diamond Necklace, Bracelet, Earring and Ring Suite by Chatila, sold for £656,750 against its pre-sale estimate of £200,000-300,000.
The second, A Ruby and Diamond Ring by Bulgari, weighing 3.28 carats, of Burmese origin, with no indication of heating, sold for £242,750 ($319,701, $97,469 price per carat).
The third, An Art Deco Sapphire and Diamond Ring by Tiffany & Co, circa 1920, featured a Sri Lankan sapphire weighing 11.09 carats, with no indication of heating. It sold for £150,000, ($197,550, $17,813 price per carat), exceeding its estimate of £60,000-80,000.
The fourth, An Antique Emerald and Diamond Ring, featured a cushion-shaped emerald, weighing 12.81 carats, Colombian in origin with minor clarity modification (oil), sold for £236,750 ($311,799, $24,340 price per carat), outstripping its estimate of £80,000-120,000.
Details and full information on the results of the sale can be found here http://www.bonhams.com/auctions/24577.
The next Bonhams Fine Jewellery sales takes place in Hong Kong on November 25, in New York on December 4, and in London on December 5. Jewellery sales will also take place in Knightsbridge, London, on October 17, November 21, December 12, in Edinburgh on November 28, and in LA on November 19 and December 17.
Bonhams sells more jewellery lots each year than any other international house and has more dedicated jewellery auctions annually. Follow Bonhams Fine Jewellery on Instagram on @BonhamsJewels.
