BIG, BOLD AND GLAMOUR JEWELS DRIVE SOTHEBY’S MAGNIFICENT JEWELS AUCTION IN NEW YORK TO $37.5 MILLION
A Showstopping Masterpiece by Andrew Clunn Achieves $4.1 Million
The necklace featuring a phenomenal 168 carats of diamonds
‘The Sienna Star’ – A 73-carat Fancy Vivid Yellow Diamond Ring by Glenn Spiro
Fetches 3.4 million, establishing a record high for the jeweler at auction
SOTHEBY’S JEWELRY AUCTIONS CONTINUE WITH SALE OF FINE JEWELS
Open for Bidding through 11 June
NEW YORK, 9 June 2021 – A combination of important diamonds, exceptional colored gemstones and iconic designs emerging from private collections drove Sotheby’s Magnificent Jewels auction in New York to achieve $37.5 million, selling a strong 93% by lot. Below is a look at what drove today’s fabulous results:
Facts & Figures
93% of lots sold, with 65% of sold lots achieving prices above their high estimate
74% of bidders participated online
Participants came from more than 30 countries around the world
This auction was presented in our new innovative format, a hybrid of online advance bidding culminating in the drama of a live auction, with 84% of the lots receiving advanced online bids.
At the core of today’s sale was a group of six breath-taking jewels from a distinguished private collection being sold to benefit a charitable foundation. 100% of the lots found buyers, achieving an outstanding $15.4 million, well above the pre-sale estimate (est. $8.5/13.6 million). Leading this group was a showstopping necklace by Andrew Clunn, set with 28 graduated oval-shaped diamonds totaling over 168 carats, which sold for an impressive $4.1 million, establishing a new record for the designer at auction (est. $2/3 million). Among the pieces that also surpassed their pre-sale estimates include: a glamorous Colombian emerald and diamond necklace by the ‘King of Diamonds’ Harry Winston, which realized $2.8 million (est. $1.5/2.5 million); an exquisite 13.02-carat Burmese ruby, mounted as a ring by Carvin French that sold for $2.5 million (est. $1/2 million); and a 23.59-carat D Color, Internally Flawless, Type IIa diamond ring which fetched $3 million (est. $1.8/2.8 million).
EMBLEMATIC SIGNED JEWELS BY CARTIER AND
VAN CLEEF & ARPELS
A fabulous example of the iconic “Zip Antique Udaipur” necklace designed by Van Cleef & Arpels sold for $504,000, surpassing its pre-sale estimate (est. $250/350,000). Thanks to its innovative design, the necklace set with diamonds and pink sapphires can also be worn as a bracelet.
Among Van Cleef & Arpels’ many innovations, their most celebrated is undoubtedly the “mystery setting.” While only a handful of pieces are crafted each year, today’s sale featured four striking examples, all of which were sold, totaling $932,400. Fierce competition was corroborated by the prices achieved for lots 75, 78 and 79 which all soared above estimates.
The sale featured exceptional jewels from the 1920s and ‘30s, Cartier’s most sought-after period, including two emerald, pearl and diamond clips, from the Estate of Mary Ethel Weinmann. Each estimated at $15/20,000, together they achieved an outstanding total of $148,680. Additional highlights included an Art Deco diamond bracelet, set with Old European, single-cut and emerald-cut diamonds, that realized $302,4000 (est. $200/300,000).
Sotheby’s New York Luxury Week continues, with a series of live and online sales:
Important Watches (10 June)
Fine Jewels (27 May – 11 June)
Handbags and Accessories (4 – 16 June)
Fine Watches (3-15 June)
No Reserve: 50 Carats (9 -17 June)
Vine | Finest & Rarest Wines (11 – 25 June)
Distilled | Finest & Rarest Spirits (11 – 25 June)
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