Bonhams to Offer 32.20 Carat Fancy Intense Yellow Diamond in New York Auction

 

A remarkable 32.20 carat Fancy Intense Yellow diamond is expected to headline Bonhams’ Exceptional Jewels auction in New York on 8 June, carrying a pre-sale estimate of US$350,000 to US$550,000.

The auction, which will be held at Bonhams’ newly opened headquarters in Steinway Hall at 111 West 57th Street, will feature an impressive selection of coloured diamonds, exceptional white diamonds, rare coloured gemstones and signed jewellery from some of the world’s most prestigious maisons.

The leading lot is an 18 carat white gold ring centred on a cushion-shaped 32.20 carat Fancy Intense Yellow diamond graded VS2 clarity. The diamond is surrounded by pavé-set round brilliant cut diamonds and originates from the collection of noted philanthropist Glorya Kaufman, whose contributions to the arts included the establishment of the USC Glorya Kaufman School of Dance.

Among the most significant white diamond offerings is a platinum ring featuring an 11.20 carat emerald cut diamond graded E colour and VS1 clarity. The stone carries an estimate of US$250,000 to US$350,000 and comes from the collection of luxury retail pioneer Linda Dresner.

Bonhams will also present an important platinum ring by Harry Winston showcasing a 7.08 carat cushion cut Colombian emerald flanked by tapered baguette cut diamonds. The emerald ring is expected to realise between US$250,000 and US$350,000.

Further highlighting the auction’s strong coloured diamond offering is an 8.23 carat cushion-shaped faint pink diamond ring. The internally flawless diamond is mounted in 18 carat white and pink gold and accented with trapezoid-shaped and round brilliant cut pink and white diamonds. It carries an estimate of US$180,000 to US$280,000.

Exceptional Coloured Gemstones Feature Prominently

Bonhams has placed particular emphasis on rare coloured gemstones, led by a striking necklace centred on a 5.02 carat unheated Burmese ruby. The oval-shaped ruby is surrounded by alternating baguette and round brilliant cut diamonds and suspended from a graduated diamond necklace containing approximately 39 carats of diamonds. The piece is estimated at US$100,000 to US$150,000.

Among the standout gemstone lots from the Glorya Kaufman collection is a necklace featuring a 30.61 carat oval-shaped Paraíba-type tourmaline from Mozambique. Mounted in a distinctive 14 carat gold hexagonal frame and suspended from a gold link chain, the necklace is expected to achieve between US$150,000 and US$250,000.

Another notable offering is an impressive platinum necklace by J.E. Caldwell set with step-cut multicoloured sapphires and a central zircon, accented by marquise and round brilliant cut diamonds. Accompanying AGL reports identify the four principal sapphires as originating from Sri Lanka, with three displaying no evidence of heat treatment. The necklace contains an estimated 100 to 120 carats of sapphires and is valued at US$150,000 to US$250,000.

Completing the coloured gemstone highlights is a Bulgari necklace estimated at US$125,000 to US$225,000. The design features oval-shaped multicoloured sapphires separated by pairs of round brilliant cut diamonds and suspends a detachable pendant centred on a 24.10 carat pear-shaped yellow sapphire of Sri Lankan origin.

The sale demonstrates continued strength in the market for important coloured diamonds, unheated gemstones and signed high jewellery, with collectors showing increasing interest in rare stones accompanied by notable provenance and prestigious brand associations.

Source: DCLA

30.20ct Fancy Intense Yellow Diamond to Headline Bonhams New York Auction

 

A remarkable 30.20 carat fancy intense yellow diamond is set to lead the upcoming June 8 Exceptional Jewels auction at Bonhams in New York, carrying an estimated value of up to US$550,000.

The centerpiece ring features a cushion cut fancy intense yellow diamond graded VS2 clarity, mounted within a surround of round brilliant cut diamonds. The impressive stone is expected to attract strong international attention as demand for rare coloured diamonds continues to remain firm among collectors and high net worth buyers.

The New York auction will present more than 150 exceptional jewellery lots, including important creations from renowned houses such as Harry Winston, Tiffany & Co. and Cartier.

Among the standout pieces featured in the sale are:

• An emerald cut 11.20 carat E colour VS1 clarity diamond ring with an estimate of US$250,000 to US$350,000.

• A Harry Winston ring showcasing a 7.08 carat cushion cut Colombian emerald flanked by tapered baguette cut diamonds, also estimated at US$250,000 to US$350,000.

• An 8.23 carat faint pink internally flawless diamond ring surrounded by round brilliant cut diamonds and accented with trapezoid side stones, carrying an estimate of US$180,000 to US$280,000.

• A pair of diamond earrings featuring matching 5.01 carat cushion cut E colour VS1 clarity diamonds, suspended beneath kite shaped diamonds, estimated at US$180,000 to US$280,000.

The sale highlights the continued strength of the high end coloured diamond and important gemstone market, particularly for rare natural fancy colour diamonds and exceptional signed jewellery pieces.

Source: DCLA

Christie’s to Auction the Azure Blue, the Largest Fancy Blue Diamond Ever Offered

 

Christie’s has announced two exceptional natural blue diamonds for its upcoming Magnificent Jewels Auction sale at Rockefeller Center on June 9, highlighting the extraordinary rarity and complexity of the natural coloured diamond market.

Leading the sale is the Azure Blue, a remarkable 31.62-carat pear-shaped Fancy Blue diamond described by Christie’s as the largest Fancy Blue diamond ever offered at auction. The stone carries a pre-sale estimate of USD $6.5 to $8.5 million. Interestingly, sharing almost the identical estimate is a second diamond in the same auction: a 5.04-carat Fancy Vivid Blue marquise-cut diamond. Despite the dramatic size difference, the valuations sit within the same range, illustrating the immense importance of colour grading in the rare blue diamond market.

Natural blue diamonds derive their colour from boron, a trace element incorporated into the diamond’s crystal structure during formation deep within the Earth’s mantle. Boron causes selective absorption of red, orange, and yellow light wavelengths, leaving blue wavelengths dominant to the human eye.

Blue diamonds are exceptionally rare, predominantly occurring within the Type IIb category, which accounts for fewer than 0.1 per cent of all natural diamonds. Many Type IIb diamonds also possess electrical conductivity, a highly unusual physical property rarely seen in gem materials.

Within the blue diamond category, colour saturation is one of the most significant drivers of value. GIA grades blue diamonds across a spectrum including Fancy Light, Fancy, Fancy Intense, Fancy Vivid, Fancy Deep, and Fancy Dark. Among these, Fancy Vivid Blue represents the highest level of saturation and rarity found in nature.

The Azure Blue carries a Fancy Blue grade, combined with exceptional size and clarity, reportedly potentially Internally Flawless. It is a stone of immense importance for collectors and connoisseurs alike. However, the 5.04-carat marquise achieves the far rarer Fancy Vivid Blue grade, alongside VVS2 clarity and Type IIb classification. That single grading distinction effectively compensates for the significant size difference between the two stones, explaining why Christie’s has valued them similarly.

The Azure Blue is mounted in a platinum ring featuring a concealed halo of natural pink diamonds, while the 5.04-carat Fancy Vivid Blue marquise is set in platinum with baguette-cut side diamonds. Both mountings are intentionally understated, allowing the diamonds themselves to remain the focal point.

Recent auction history demonstrates the extraordinary premiums achieved by the finest Fancy Vivid Blue diamonds. In May 2023, the The De Beers Blue sold at Sotheby’s Geneva for USD $57.5 million, achieving approximately USD $3.8 million per carat. Prior to that, the The Oppenheimer Blue achieved the same price at Christie’s Geneva in 2016, becoming the most expensive jewel ever sold at auction at the time.

In 2015, the Blue Moon of Josephine sold for USD $48.4 million at Sotheby’s Geneva after being purchased by Hong Kong businessman Joseph Lau for his daughter.

All of these record-breaking stones shared the coveted Fancy Vivid Blue grade, helping explain their extraordinary per-carat values. While the Azure Blue surpasses them all in physical size, its Fancy Blue classification places it within a different rarity category. By contrast, the 5.04-carat marquise sits within the same elite colour tier as those historic diamonds, reinforcing the significance of its estimate.

Christie’s continues to play a leading role in presenting some of the world’s most important natural coloured diamonds to market. According to Claibourne Poindexter, Head of Jewelry Americas at Christie’s, “With its striking color, exceptional size, and elegant shape, The Azure Blue is a rare masterpiece of nature.”

The appearance of both the Azure Blue and a highly significant Fancy Vivid Blue diamond within the same sale positions the June 9 Magnificent Jewels auction as one of the most important blue diamond auction events in recent years.

Source: DCLA

26.36 Carat White Diamond Expected to Exceed $1 Million at London Jewellery Auction

 

A rare 26.36 carat round brilliant-cut white diamond is set to headline a major jewellery auction in London, where it is expected to sell for more than $1 million, highlighting continued global demand for exceptional natural diamonds.

The impressive stone will appear in the upcoming Fine Jewellery sale at Elmwood’s, carrying a pre-sale estimate of £800,000 to £1,000,000 (approximately $1.07 million to $1.34 million). The diamond features VVS1 clarity and I colour, placing it firmly within the category of high-quality investment-grade stones sought by collectors and connoisseurs.

To emphasise the diamond’s exceptional brilliance, the stone is set in a simple platinum solitaire ring, allowing the size and quality of the diamond to remain the central focus.

Of particular importance to collectors is the stone’s “Triple Excellent” grading—the highest possible standard for cut, polish and symmetry. The diamond also shows no fluorescence, a characteristic that helps preserve the stone’s natural brilliance and fire under a wide range of lighting conditions.

According to Joe Kendrick, Head of Sale at Elmwood’s, diamonds of this calibre rarely appear on the U.K. market.

“Stones combining this level of size, VVS1 clarity and triple excellent cut are extraordinarily rare in the United Kingdom,” Kendrick noted. “A diamond of this magnitude may only appear once in a decade. This solitaire is a remarkable example of why large white diamonds remain among the most prized gemstones in the world.”

The last comparable stone offered at auction in the U.K. was a 26.27 carat white diamond sold by Sotheby’s in 2017 for £656,750. Known as the “Tenner Diamond,” the stone gained international attention after it emerged that the owner had originally purchased it for just £10 at a car boot sale.

The upcoming auction marks an important moment for Elmwood’s, a relatively young auction house founded in 2017 and based in Notting Hill, London. The firm has positioned itself as a challenger in the international jewellery auction market by introducing a 0% seller’s commission, a strategy designed to attract high-value consignments that might otherwise be directed to the larger auction centres of Geneva or New York.

Large natural diamonds of 25 carats and above rarely appear at auction outside these major global hubs, making this London offering particularly noteworthy for collectors and the broader international diamond market.

For the global trade and collectors alike, the sale reinforces the enduring appeal of large natural diamonds with exceptional cut quality, a segment where rarity and provenance continue to drive value in the high-end gemstone market.

Source: DCLA