Christie's Presents Blockbuster Jewels: The New York Sale

The sale’s top lot is an Important Diamond Pendant Necklace with a D color, internally flawless heart-shaped diamond of 28.28 carats.   The diamond is set within a micro pavé diamond surround, and suspends from a kite-shaped diamond link and three rondelle spacers on a fine platinum chain that is finished with a heart-shaped pavé-set diamond clasp.   This exceptional jewel, which displays both excellent symmetry and polish, is expected to achieve in excess of $3,000,000 (estimate upon request).

Also leading the sale are two rare historic jewels with fascinating histories: the Emperor Maximilian Diamond and the Catherine the Great Emerald and Diamond Brooch. T he Emperor Maximilian Diamond , a 39.55 carat cushion-cut diamond, was purchased by Maximilian in Brazil in the years prior to his installation to the throne of Mexico.   It has since been owned by the famed London jeweler Laurence Graff and the former First Lady of the Philippines, Imelda Marcos, among others (estimate: $1,000,000-1,500,000).

The Catherine the Great Emerald and Diamond Brooch centers on a hexagonal-cut Colombian emerald of 60-70 carats.   It was acquired for Catherine II of Russia after she ascended to the throne in 1762 and it became known as one of the most outstanding jewels in her vast collection (estimate: $1,000,000-1,500,000) . The upcoming sale marks the first time in decades that either of these stunning jewels has been exhibited in public.

Top-Quality Diamonds. Following the record-breaking success of Christie’s sale of the 5 carat Vivid Pink diamond last fall in Hong Kong for $10.8 million/ HK$83.5 million, Christie’s New York is delighted to once again present a stunning selection of top-quality colored and colorless diamonds.

Among the colored diamonds, a lead highlight is an exceptional rectangular-cut Fancy Vivid Blue diamond of 3.43 carats (pictured page one, right; estimate: $1,500,000-2,500,000).   This natural colored diamond is mounted as a ring and flanked on either side by trapeze-cut diamonds set in platinum.   Also featured is a rectangular-cut Fancy Vivid Yellow diamond of 9.83 carats (pictured at left; estimate: $700,000-1,000,000).   Mounted as a ring, the diamond is offset by two graduated baguette-cut diamonds. Additional highlights of the group include a D color, VS1 clarity pear-shaped diamond of 13.01 carats mounted as a ring, with tapered baguette-cut diamond shoulders (estimate: $500,000-700,000) and an F color, VS1 clarity circular-cut diamond of 10.87 carats, mounted as a ring by Cartier and flanked on either side by rectangular-cut diamonds (estimate: $600,000-800,000).

Rare Gemstone . Following the record-breaking sale of a 16.65 ct Kashmir sapphire at Christie’s Hong Kong last December for $2.4 million or $144,000 per carat, Christie’s is pleased to offer another exquisite stone from this  coveted source high in the Himalyas.   The upcoming sale features a superb cushion-cut Kashmir sapphire of 13.86 carats that is mounted as a ring with French-cut diamond accents (estimate: $1,000,000-$1,500,000).   Prized for its signature “cornflower” blue hue, the Kashmir sapphire ranks among the most beautiful of all gemstones.  Additional offerings among the large sapphires include a hexagonal-cut Burmese sapphire of 24.70 carats, mounted as a ring by Cartier, and flanked by kite-shaped diamonds (estimate: $100,000-150,000), as well as a cushion-cut yellow sapphire of 109.49 carats, mounted as a ring in 18K gold, with diamond accents (estimate: $70,000-100,000).

For devotees of both 20 th century design and jewels, an elegant antique sapphire and diamond pendant bears a remarkable provenance, having been owned by the legendary Irish-born designer Eileen Gray. During her life, Ms. Gray acquired a cult-like following as a designer and artist active in Paris and London.   Her signature “Dragons” armchair, designed circa 1917-1919, achieved an astonishing $28.3 million at the landmark sale of the Collection of Yves Saint Laurent et Pierre Berge at Christie’s Paris in 2009, establishing a record for the most expensive item of 20 th century design ever sold at auction.   A stand-out of her personal collection is this stylish pendant dating from circa 1890, set with a cushion-cut sapphire of 27.07 carats and mounted within an old European-cut diamond surround. When Ms. Gray passed away in 1976, the pendant was bequeathed to her great niece Fiona Campbell-Gray, and then passed on to her daughter, Victoria, the present owner.

Signed Jewels and Unique Creations. In keeping with the growing demand among collectors for signed pieces from top jewelry houses, Christie’s is pleased to offer an array of items from the likes of Bhagat, Buccellati, BULGARI, Cartier, and Van Cleef & Arpels, among others.   Each of these esteemed houses has their own individual style, making their creations highly sought-after among buyers seeking investments that increase in value with time.

Among the highlights of the section is a trio of Art Deco era bracelets by Cartier, including a custom-designed diamond bracelet circa 1940 that features a large cushion-cut diamond and side segments set with an elegant “lily of the valley” motif (estimate: $200,000-300,000), as well as a sapphire and diamond bracelet circa 1930, featuring a large, cushion-cut sapphire of 10.54 carats (estimate: $220,000-280,000).   A diamond and multi-gem “Tutti Frutti” bracelet circa 1930 features old European-cut diamonds arranged in an undulating vine set with carved ruby, sapphire, and emerald leaves and accented with emerald bead berries and diamonds (pictured at left: estimate: $600,000-800,000). The “Tutti Frutti” creations remain among the most celebrated and innovative of Jacques Cartier’s early 20 th century designs, and are prized the world over for their vibrant colors and flowing naturalistic designs.   Christie’s holds the record for a Cartier bracelet of this type, having sold a gem-set “Tutti Frutti” bracelet for over US$1 million at Christie’s Geneva in November 2005.

The venerable house of Van Cleef & Arpels is represented in the sale by a “Ballerina” brooch, a series first created in the 1940s in collaboration with the great choreographer George Balanchine to immortalize the great dancers and their steps.   The upcoming sale features a gold, turquoise, diamond and ruby ballerina from 1956, with a rose-cut diamond face and horizontal rows of cabochon turquoise decorating the dancer’s polished gold tutu (pictured at right; estimate: $10,000-15,000).   Also from Van Cleef & Arpels, is a selection of “mystery-set” jewels, so named for the absence of any visible post or setting for the individual calibré-cut stones.   The sale includes a stunning pair of ruby and diamond “flower” ear clips (estimate: $40,000-60,000) and a coordinating ruby and diamond ring, from 1965 (estimate: $20,000-30,000).

Rounding out the selection of highlights is a group of necklaces, bracelets and decorative items well-suited for collectors with an eye for the unique, including a Belle Epoque diamond lavalier necklace featuring two staggered old mine-cut yellow diamonds of 16.42 and 15.51 carats suspended from a graduated collet-set diamond chain (estimate: $250,000-350,000), and a dazzling pair of briolette-cut Colombian emerald ear pendants with old European-cut diamond surmounts estimate: ($200,000-400,000).   Also featured are an array of bracelets by Buccellati, including a striking example of bombé design featuring three bezel-set oval citrines set within a sculpted gold and ebony surround (estimate: $15,000-20,000).   As a fitting symbol of Spring in New York, the sale also features a trio of sculpted 22k gold rabbit figurines, each with different colored gemstone eyes of either sapphires, emeralds, or rubies.

Auction: Thursday, April 22 at 10:30am and 2:30 pm

Viewing: Christie's Rockefeller Center Galleries April 17 – 21, 2010

Content and photo credits to Christie's New York

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