Christie’s New York upcoming Magnificent Jewels auction has a bit of everything: statement diamonds, important contemporary jewels, loose gems and, as always, important signed jewels from heritage jewelry houses. The sale of 143 lots will be held June 8 at Christie’s Rockefeller Center headquarters.
The top lot of the sale is the “Dancing Sun,” a fancy intense yellow diamond of 204.36 carats with VVS2 clarity. The cushion modified brilliant-cut gem also exhibits “excellent polish and symmetry,” according to the Gemological Institute of America report that accompanies the stone. Its estimate is $3.5 million - $5.5 million.
It is one of seven diamonds in the sale cut and polished from a single rough yellow diamond of 552.74 carats, the largest rough diamond ever discovered in North America. The diamond was unearthed in October 2018 in the Diavik Diamond Mine, located in Canada’s Northwest Territories. The remaining diamonds, all set in jewels, range from 1.06 carats to 14.52 carats with prices from $2,000 to $150,000.
The number two lot of the sale combines an exceptional gem with impeccable provenance. Known as the “Chrysler Diamond,” it is a 54.03-carat pear brilliant-cut diamond once owned by Thelma Chrysler, daughter of Walter Chrysler, railroad and automotive executive. In addition to its size, the GIA report describes it as a D color, internally flawless stone with VS2 clarity.
It is mounted on a platinum pendant necklace with 43 pear brilliant-cut diamonds ranging from 1.69 to 0.50 carats, along with smaller pear and round diamonds. Its estimate is $3.5 million - $4.5 million.
A collection of 19 jewels by JAR, from an “Important West Coast collection,” are a highlight of the sale with a few of the pieces among the top overall lots. They include:
* Earrings with drop-shaped natural pearls along with kite-shaped and round diamonds, set in silver and 18k rose gold. Its estimate is $700,000 - $1 million; and
* A platinum bracelet in the shape of a branch mounted with briolette and round diamonds, named, “Branch Under Snow,” 2010. Its estimate is $400,000 - $600,000.
The collection of JAR jewels “captures the wide range of color and materials that often drive each jewel’s overall design,” Christie’s said. “The presence of purplish pink and yellow diamonds, purple and pink sapphires and topazes, blue green tourmalines and emeralds present in this collection equally embodies JAR’s exceptional skill of blending various colors and gemstones.”
There’s an even larger collection of jewels by the iconic London diamond jeweler, Graff. A total of 40 pieces with emeralds, rubies and sapphires mixed with diamonds as well statement diamonds that stand own their own. Among the highlights are:
* A 10.13-carat square emerald-cut diamond with I color, VVS2 clarity, and excellent polish and symmetry, set on an 18K white gold ring adorned with baguette and round diamonds. Its estimate is $300,000 - $500,000.
* A diamond and emerald pendant necklace in a circular pattern with an estimate of $200,000 - $300,000.
* A pair of 18K white gold earrings featuring pear modified brilliant-cut diamonds of 10.18 and 10.18 carats, further adorned with pear and round diamonds. Its estimate is $180,000 - $250,000.
The sale will also include important colorless and colored diamonds, colored gemstones, and jewels from historic jewelry houses and designers including Schlumberger for Tiffany, Belperron, Bulgari, Cartier, Hemmerle and Van Cleef & Arpels.
