44-Ct. ‘Perfect Diamond’ Up for Auction at Christie’s

'The Perfect Diamond,' a 44.09-Carat rectangular-cut diamond ring; D-color, internally flawless clarity, Type IIa, excellent polish and excellent symmetry; Estimate on request.  Photo Credit: CHRISTIE'S IMAGES LTD. 2012

Christie’s New York will hold its Magnificent Jewels auction on April 17 at its Rockefeller Center headquarters. The sale features more than 300 individual jewels, including top-quality diamonds, gemstones, natural pearls and signed pieces, with estimates ranging from $2,000 to $8 million. The total sale is expected to surpass $40 million.

16.33-Ct., pear-shaped diamond ring by Van Cleef & Arpels; D-color, potentially internally flawless clarity, Type IIa; Estimate, $1.85 million - $2.5 million. Photo Credit: CHRISTIE'S IMAGES LTD. 2012

The sale features no less than 10 top-quality D-color diamonds. The assortment is led by what is known as “The Perfect Diamond,” (top photo) a 44.09 carat D-color internally flawless, emerald cut diamond (estimate upon request). Christie’s says the diamond exhibits excellent polish and symmetry with no fluorescence. It is certified as a type IIa diamond, the most chemically pure classification prized for its exceptional optical clarity.

15.08-Ct. oval-cut diamond ring; F-color, internally flawless clarity, Type IIa; Estimate, $1.25 million - $1.55 million. Photo credit: CHRISTIE'S IMAGES LTD. 2012

Also among the top lots of the evening, as previously reported, are “The Clark Pink,” an extremely rare 9-carat pink diamond ring, and The Clark Diamond, a 20-carat D-color diamond ring. Both items are part of the sale from the estate of Huguette M. Clark, one of the last heiresses of America’s Gilded Age. Ms. Clark’s personal jewelry collection, which is believed to have been stored in a bank vault since the 1940s, includes signed Art Deco jewels by Cartier, Dreicer & Co. and Tiffany & Co. The complete collection of 17 jewels is expected to fetch up to $12 million.

A Colored Diamond Necklace, by Graff; Estimate $1.5 million - $2.5 million. Photo credit: CHRISTIE'S IMAGES LTD. 2012

The sale also includes a selection of signed jewels from the Estate of Lucille E. Davison, a prominent collector, philanthropist and long-time trustee of Saint Anselm College in New Hampshire. Her jewelry collection includes more than 40 signed jewels that represent the best in modern design, including several “mystery set” jewels by Van Cleef & Arpels, and a selection of bracelets and brooches conceived by the legendary designer Jean Schlumberger for Tiffany & Co. The total collection is estimated to reach $1 million. 

Cushion-cut Colombian emerald ear pendants of 26.03 and 25.32 cts. $1 million - $1.5 million. Photo credit: CHRISTIE'S IMAGES LTD. 2012

The April 17 sale is the first jewelry auction since the record-breaking $137.2 million jewelry sale of The Collection of Elizabeth Taylor in December—which served as the final note on a record $600 million in jewelry sales worldwide for the auction house that was “shaped by continuing demand for top colored and colorless diamonds with exceptional provenance,” said Rahul Kadakia, Head of Jewelry at Christie’s New York.

View all the major sale items by following this link.

From the Estate of Lucille E. Davison, a 'Mystery-Set' ruby and diamond “Pavot” flower brooch by Van Cleef & Arpels; Estimate $60,000 – 80,000. Photo credit: CHRISTIE'S IMAGES LTD. 2012