A MAGNIFICENT 24.31 CARAT DIAMOND RING SELLS FOR £1.86 MILLION AT BONHAMS FINE JEWELERY SALE IN LONDON
A magnificent step-cut diamond, weighing 24.31 carats, D colour, Internally Flawless and Type IIa, sold for £1,868,750 (US$2,387,105), US$98,194 per carat, at Bonhams London December Jewellery sale this week (5 December 2018).
The diamond was the subject of fierce bidding in the saleroom, online, on the phones and eventually sold to a telephone bidder, exceeding its pre-sale estimate of £1,300,000 – 1,800,000 (US$1,700,000 – 2,300,000).
Emily Barber, Director of Jewellery at Bonhams UK, said: “This magnificent gem was greatly admired during our previews in London, New York, LA and Hong Kong. It attracted a lot of interest not only due to its significant size – top quality diamonds over 20 carats are very rare – but also due to its Internal Flawless clarity and its exceptional white colour. We’re delighted with how well it performed.”
The sale brought in a total of £5,201,000 (US$6,643,656).
Rare Kashmir sapphires achieve strong prices
Sapphires from Kashmir also caught the eyes of buyers with two notable lots selling during the sale. These included:
A LATE 19TH CENTURY SAPPHIRE AND DIAMOND BROOCH.
The cushion-shaped sapphire, weighing 4.08 carats, sold for £248,750 (US$317,748), US$77,880 per carat, beating its pre-sale estimate of £120,000 – 180,000 (US$160,000 – 230,000).
A SAPPHIRE AND DIAMOND RING BY ASPREY.
The cushion-shaped sapphire, weighing 3.09 carats, sold for £87,500 (US$114,625), $37,095 per carat, also exceeding its pre-sale estimate of £60,000 – 80,000 (US$78,000 – 100,000). The lot is accompanied by a report from SSEF stating that the sapphire is of Kashmir origin and may be called ‘royal blue’.
Both Kashmirs are accompanied by reports confirming no indications of heat treatment.
Emily Barber added: “Kashmir sapphires have continued to be in high demand from Bonhams’ clients globally due to their rarity and because the finest specimens are the benchmark against which all other sapphires are judged.“
Fancy coloured diamond dazzled in December
A FANCY COLOURED DIAMOND AND DIAMOND RING BY BOODLES also performed well at the sale. The marquise-cut Fancy Intense Blue diamond, weighing 1.03 carats, VS1 clarity, smashed its pre-sale estimate of £150,000 – 200,000 (US$190,000 – 260,000), selling for £284,750 (US$363,734) (US$353,139 per carat).
Collectors snap up Van Cleef & Arpels jewellery
Jewellery from the house of Van Cleef & Arpels dating from the early Art Deco period right through to the 1990s also proved popular with Bonhams clients.
Notable highlights include:
THREE UNUSUAL GEM-SET BRACELETS which sold for £175,000 (US$223,541). The trio of bracelets, made in 1926, are accompanied by three certificates of authenticity from Van Cleef & Arpels. The first bracelet is set with peridots and onyx, the second is set with amethysts and the third one is set with citrines.
Emily Barber said: “These remarkable bracelets – possibly a unique commission – were made by Van Cleef & Arpels in 1926 and are an extraordinary example of Van Cleef’s early Art Deco style. They were created at time when the finest jewellers were experimenting with unusual cuts and coloured gemstones, prioritising contemporary design over the use of traditionally precious materials“
A PAIR OF ‘MYSTERY-SET’ SAPPHIRE “COSMOS” EAR CLIPS which sold for £81,250 (US$103,787). Dated circa 1991, the ear clips are designed as two invisibly-set calibré-cut sapphire flower heads, each with a brilliant-cut diamond pistil.
A ‘MYSTERY-SET’ SAPPHIRE “COSMOS” BROOCH which sold for £68,750 (US$87,819). Dated circa 1989, the brooch is designed as an invisibly-set calibré-cut sapphire flower blossom with a brilliant-cut diamond pistil on a baguette-cut diamond stem.
Signed jewellery from the world’s great jewellery houses find new homes
An impressive selection of jewellery from the world’s most famous jewellery houses and designers featured in this sale including:
A RUBY, EMERALD, ENAMEL AND DIAMOND ROSE BROOCH BY LACLOCHE FRÈRES. Dated circa 1925, this brooch is a beautiful example of the early 1920s’ vogue for pictorial jewels and of Lacloche Frères’ execution of design. It sold for £56,250 (US$71,852), exceeding its pre-sale estimate of £12,000 – 18,000 (US$16,000 – 23,000) by three times.
AN EMERALD AND DIAMOND RING BY ANDREW GRIMA, 1971. The large pale green emerald cabochon, within a ‘wave’ of brilliant-cut diamonds, and an engraved yellow gold mount, sold for £50,000 (US$63,869) beating its pre-sale estimate of £30,000 – 40,000 (US$39,000 – 52,000).
Details of the results of the sale can be found on the following link: http://www.bonhams.com/auctions/24578.
Bonhams sells more jewellery lots each year than any other international house and has more dedicated jewellery auctions annually. Two further Bonhams jewellery sales will be conducted before the end of the year: the first will take place at Bonhams Knightsbridge on 12 December and the second, California Jewels, will take place at Bonhams LA on 17 and 18 December.
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