Sotheby’s to Offer 75-Carat Diamond with $12 Million Price Tag

The centerpiece of Sotheby’s New York Magnificent Jewels sale on April 17 will be a 75-carat pear-shaped, D-color diamond that the auction house says it is “the most important white diamond ever to appear at auction in the Americas.” It is estimated to sell for $9 million to $12 million.

The spring auction will offer 400 lots of jewelry, gemstones and pearls with an estimated sale value of more than $35 million. Among the other offerings are the following:

* Fancy pink diamond and diamond pendant ear clips. The pear-shaped pendants weigh 5.79 and 5.68 carats. Its estimate is $3.5 million to $4.5 million

* From the Estate of Lynn Wolfson, a square emerald-cut diamond ring with a 21.46-carat, D color, Internally Flawless, type IIa diamond. Its estimate is $2.5 to $3.5 million.

Six jewels from the family of financier and railroad magnate Jay Gould acquired in the first half of the 20th Century. Among the items:
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* From the Estate of Sarah Cantine Shrady Gould and Thence by Descent, an emerald and diamond brooch featuring a 22.48-carat, Classic Colombian emerald. Estimate $400,000 - $600,000.

* From the Estate of Florence Bacon Gould Sturgeon and Thence by Descent, an emerald and diamond ring with a 15.23-carat Classic Colombian emerald, circa 1930. Estimate $750,000 - $1 million.

Other highlights of the sale include:

* From a distinguished European collection, a carved colored stone, diamond and pearl “Tutti Frutti” Bracelet by Cartier. Estimate $300,000 - $500,000.

* Formerly from the collection of Katharine Dexter McCormick, a ruby and diamond ring featuring a 4.36-carat, classic Burmese ruby, circa 1900. Estimate $400,000 - $600,000

* From the Estate of Micheline Muselli Lerner, a diamond Rivière Necklace by Van Cleef & Arpels. Estimate $125000 - 175,000

* A diamond, onyx and emerald panther brooch by Cartier. Estimate $150,000 - $250,000

Highlights from the sale will be on view in the Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Center April 3 – 7 before returning to New York for exhibition on April 13, alongside a selection of pieces from the upcoming Geneva auction of Magnificent Jewels & Noble Jewels.

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75-Carat Briolette Diamond On A Necklace May Fetch $12.5 Million

Christie’s Hong Kong Magnificent Jewels sale on May 28 will feature the biggest briolette diamond that has ever appeared at auction, according to the auction house. The 75.36-carat diamond is part of a pendant necklace that includes a marquise-cut purplish pink diamond suspended above the briolette.

The briolette has been graded as D color and type IIa, indicating its internally flawless clarity, excellent polish, highest level of chemical purity and exceptional optical transparency. The two diamonds are joined to a briolette diamond neck chain mounted in 18k rose and white gold. The necklace is estimated to fetch $8.5 to $12.5 million.

The sale at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre also includes two other standout pieces

* An emerald and diamond necklace mounted by Boucheron in the 1950s. Its eight emeralds of Colombian origin are set with a line of graduate old European and cushion-shaped diamonds each weighing 10 carats or above alternating with baguette-cut diamonds, according to the auction house. The center stone shows no indication of clarity modification and the other emeralds are all in well saturated green color, which further elevates the necklace’s value, according to the auction house. The estimate for this piece is $3 to $5 million.

* A ruby and diamond ring by James W. Currens for Faidee. Its centerpiece is a natural oval-shaped ruby of 8.88 carats with a richly saturated and homogenous color and a high degree of transparency, is joined by pear and marquise-cut diamonds, according to the auction house. The ruby is of Burma (Myanmar) origin, with no indications of heating and this color appearance is described in the trade as “pigeon blood,” the most desirable red color for rubies. Its estimate is $2.3 to $3.5 million.

In total, more than 290 jewels will be offered. It is estimated to realize in excess of $74 million. It includes signed pieces from world-class jewelry houses and fine jewels with distinctive shapes, structures and color combinations. 
  
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Owner of 75-Carat Briolette Diamond Names it 'Star of China'

Tiffany Chen poses by a picture of the 75-carat Star of China diamond while wearing the gem after purchasing it for $11.15 million.

The new owner of what Christie’s auction house has called the largest and most perfect briolette diamond ever sold at auction has identified herself and picked a name for the 75.36-carat gem.

Tiffany Chen, vice chairman of China Star Entertainment Ltd., has revealed herself to be the owner of the briolette diamond. She named the diamond after her company, “The Star of China.”

Chen purchased the diamond May 28 at Christie’s Hong Kong Magnificent Jewels sale for $11.15 million, $148,000 per carat, a world record for a briolette diamond sold at auction.

The briolette has been graded by the Gemological Institute of America to be of D color and type IIa, indicating its internally flawless clarity, excellent polish, highest level of chemical purity and exceptional optical transparency. Less than one carat in every 100,000 carats of diamonds is found to be found in this perfect condition.

The diamond is part of a pendant necklace that includes a marquise-cut purplish pink diamond suspended above the briolette.

Tiffany Chen poses by a picture of the 75-carat Star of China diamond while wearing the gem after purchasing it for $11.15 million at Christie’s Hong Kong Magnificent Jewels sale.

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