Christie’s New York recently announced the April 13 auction of Magnificent Jewels.
The auction includes a superb selection of colored and colorless diamonds, and impressive gemstones, along with historic jewels from renowned private collections, and an impressive assemblage of signed jewels by Bvlgari, Cartier, JAR, Tiffany & Co., and Van Cleef & Arpels. Highlights from the sale were on view at Christie’s Dubai between 26-29 March, followed by an exhibition of the full sale at Christie’s New York from 8-12 April.
The auction is led by The Fuchsia Rose, a fancy intense purple-pink diamond of 8.82 carats, potentially internally flawless ($4,000,000-6,000,000). The sale also features superb colored diamonds, such as a fancy blue diamond ring of 11.63 carats, VS1 clarity ($2,500,000-3,500,000); a fancy vivid yellow diamond ring of 15.31 carats ($1,000,000-1,500,000); and a fancy intense pink diamond ring of 2.44 carats ($1,000,000-2,000,000).
Also headlining the sale are exceptional colorless diamonds, including a stunning round brilliant-cut diamond ring of 51.28 carats, I color, SI1 clarity ($1,300,000-1,800,000); a magnificent diamond ring of 21.05 carats, E color, Internally Flawless ($1,400,000-2,400,000); and a Tiffany & Co. diamond ring of 13.91 carats, H color, VS2 clarity ($350,000-500,000).
Specially featured in this sale is a rare and historic antique Tiffany & Co. diamond and enamel ‘Subway’ pendant watch ($20,000-30,000). Presented for the first time to the public at auction, the pendant watch was a specially commissioned jewel made to commemorate the opening of the New York City subway system.
Behind the domed crystal of one side of the watch is earth taken at the groundbreaking of the Subway on March 24, 1900, together with the initials of the original owner, Georgie Annie McDonald, daughter of John B. McDonald who was responsible for overseeing the construction of the city’s first subway line. The engraving along the exterior reads “some of the earth from the first shovelful taken out by Mayor Van Wyck at the breaking of ground for the first underground railway”.
The sale is rounded out with Property from the Rockefeller Family, which includes: a Cartier Art Deco sapphire and diamond bracelet ($60,000-80,000); a Van Cleef & Arpels sapphire and diamond ring ($100,000-150,000); and an Art Deco emerald bead, diamond and multi-gem necklace ($100,000-150,000).
Christie’s Magnificent Jewels | 13 April | Highlights
VAN CLEEF & ARPELS
BURMESE SAPPHIRE AND DIAMOND RING
$100,000-150,000
JAR
DIAMOND, GARNET AND COLORED SAPPHIRE ‘WATERCOLOR FLOWERS’ BROOCH
$150,000-250,000
TIFFANY & CO.
ANTIQUE DIAMOND AND ENAMEL
SUBWAY PENDANT-WATCH
$20,000-30,000
CARTIER
ART DECO RUBY AND DIAMOND
BRACELET
$200,000-300,000
FANCY INTENSE PINK
DIAMOND RING OF 2.44 CARATS
$1,000,000-2,000,000
