The following article appears courtesy of National Jeweler Network
Intellectual property of National Jeweler
From the collection of Patricia Kluge, this sapphire and diamond Panthère wristwatch by Cartier will be among the pieces up for the auction at Sotheby's April 20 "Magnificent Jewels" sale. The timepiece is estimated between $100,000 and $150,000. Image courtesy of National Jeweler Network
New York–Sotheby’s will commence its spring jewelry sale in New York with a single-owner auction chronicling a century and a half of jewelry design, followed by a “Magnificent Jewels” auction of important diamond and colored gemstone jewels.
The April 20 event will begin with “Always in Style: 150 Years of Artistic Jewels and Magnificent Jewels,” a comprehensive survey of period and signed jewels. The more than 200 pieces in this single-owner collection range from 19th century micro-mosaic and revival styles to delicate belle epoque and art deco designs, opulent jewels from the 1940s and 1950s, and modern-day creations.
The sale is intended to be a chronology in style, illustrating how jewelry design evolved under the influence of fashion, society and world history, Sotheby’s says. It includes pieces from such makers as Boivin, Cartier, Daniel Brush, Giorgio Facchini, Marcus and Co., Giuliano and T.B. Starr. Estimates for the collection pieces start at $5,000.
Sotheby’s says the major highlight of Magnificent Jewels will be pieces from the collection of Patricia Kluge, including a pair of platinum and diamond pendant-ear clips set with almost 64 carats of pear-shaped diamonds and estimated between $600,000 and $800,000.
Also up from the Kluge collection are fancy-intense yellow diamonds, suites of sapphires and rubies, plus a sapphire and diamond Panthère wristwatch from Cartier circa 1985. The latter piece is estimated between $100,000 and $150,000.
The Magnificent Jewels sale will also include a necklace featuring 42 Gemological Institute of America-certified fancy-vivid yellow diamonds weighing a total of 100.17 carats set in a graduated rivière-style necklace estimated between $2 million and $3 million. Sotheby’s says the piece is believed to be the first necklace set entirely with fancy-vivid yellow diamonds ever to appear at auction.
Colored gemstone offerings include a Tiffany and Co. bracelet, circa 1925, featuring 14 matched Colombian emeralds weighing approximately 39.60 carats (estimated between $350,000 and $550,000); a collection of seven loose Kashmir sapphires (estimated between $1.1 million and $1.5 million) and a ruby and diamond ring set with an 8.66-carat, cushion-shaped Burmese ruby (estimated between $1 million and $1.5 million). The latter stone is property of the Gardner Family and was previously in the collection of Isabella Stewart Gardner, the philanthropist and arts patron.
The sale will also include a number of important colorless diamond designs, including a platinum ring set with a 9.25-carat, D-color, internally flawless stone (estimated between $1 million and $1.5 million); the “Marlene Rose,” a platinum and diamond brooch formerly in the collection of Marlene Dietrich (estimated between $30,000 and $50,000); and a pair of platinum pendant-ear clips from Cartier set with over 30 carats of diamonds (estimated between $75,000 and $100,000).
Highlights for both jewelry sales will be on public exhibition at Sotheby’s Los Angeles March 26 and Sotheby’s Hong Kong April 3-6. Pre-sale exhibitions will be held in New York April 16-20.
Gemma News Service 