The top lot in Christie’s upcoming online sale is, the Flawless Star, a 45.46-carat flawless D-color round diamond. Its estimate is $4 to $6 million, which the auction house says is the highest valued jewel to be offered in an online-only sale.
The Flawless Star belongs to the rare Type IIa category, which make up fewer than 2% of all diamonds. Type IIa diamonds are the most chemically pure diamonds and are characterized by their exceptional transparency. These stones have no traces of nitrogen, which creates a purity of color that is observed only in the finest diamonds originating from the fabled mines of Golconda, Brazil and South Africa.
The Flawless Star is the top item in a sale of 200 lots in Christie’s online jewelry sale, opening Monday and running until April 7. More than half of the lots will be offered without reserve.
Other highlights of the sale include designs by renowned jewelry houses such as Buccellati, Bulgari, Cartier, Graff, Harry Winston, Oscar Heyman & Brothers, Seaman Schepps, Tiffany & Co., and Verdura.
Among the pieces featured in the sale are selections of Van Cleef & Arpels jewels, including several interpretations of the iconic Alhambra motif such as a turquoise “Vintage Alhambra” long necklace (estimate $10,000 - $15,000) and diamond “Magic Alhambra” earrings (estimate $15,000 - $20,000).
Other important lots in the sale include a diamond pendant necklace of 12.12 carats ($550,000 - $650,000), an emerald and diamond necklace ($25,000 - $35,000), a gold “Juste Un Clou” bracelet by famed Cartier jewelry artist, Aldo Cipullo, ($20,000 - $30,000), a Cartier Art Deco diamond and multi-gem “Panthère” brooch ($20,000 - $30,000), Hermès diamond earrings ($12,000 - $18,000), and aluminum “Geranium” earrings by renowned American-French contemporary high jewelry artist, JAR ($2,000 - $3,000).
