Sotheby's Sells Jewels of "First Supermodel"

 

Sotheby’s London is selling a private collection of rare Art Deco Cartier jewelry that once belonged to 1920’s “supermodel” Phyllis Frank (nee Francatelli).

She was an original model for The House of Lucile, the world’s first global couture brand and a groundbreaking British fashion house that was founded in 1894.

Francatelli (1892 – 1972) met and married New York financier, Jesse Frank, who showered her with Art Deco jewels that epitomized Cartier’s mastery of style and design throughout the Roaring 1920s and beyond.

Sotheby’s is offering seven lots, several featuring lapis lazuli, her favorite blue stone.

Highlight of her collection is a pair of diamond bracelets (pictured), circa 1925, millegrain-set with old brilliant-cut diamonds (estimate £ 20,000 to £ 40,000 (USD 27,000 to USD 54,000).

There’s also a diamond bow brooch, a sapphire and diamond bracelet and a lapis lazuli and diamond bracelet.

The House of Lucile, with salons in New York, Paris and Chicago, was founded by visionary British designer Lucy Christiana, also known as Lady Duff Gordon, who pioneered the modern catwalk and the concept of the fashion model.

Source: DCLA

Sotheby’s Hong Kong Jewellery Sale Achieves HKD 58.3 Million ($7.4 Million)

 

A striking black diamond ring emerged as one of the standout performers at Sotheby’s recent Fine Jewellery auction in Hong Kong, highlighting continued collector appetite for rare and unconventional diamond pieces.

The ring, centred on an impressive approximately 22-carat rose-cut black diamond, realised HKD 960,000 (USD $122,499), dramatically exceeding its pre-sale high estimate of HKD 160,000. The result six times expectations—underscores the growing market recognition of black diamonds as distinctive statement stones within high jewellery.

The piece is designed with a classic yet bold aesthetic, featuring the central black diamond surrounded by an elegant halo of pear-shaped, oval and round rose-cut white diamonds, enhancing contrast and visual impact.

Overall, the auction achieved a total of HKD 58.3 million (USD $7.4 million), with strong participation across signed and high-quality gemstone jewellery. Notable maisons represented included Graff, Cartier, and Chanel, reinforcing the importance of branded provenance in today’s auction market.

Other Notable Results

• Colombian Emerald and Diamond Earrings
  A pair of earrings set with pear-shaped Colombian emeralds weighing 11.52 and 13.74 carats sold for HKD 960,000, in line with expectations. The emeralds were framed and suspended by approximately 10 carats of pear-shaped and brilliant-cut diamonds.
• Brazilian Alexandrite Ring
  A rare 4.37-carat oval alexandrite achieved HKD 832,000. The gemstone displays a pronounced colour-change effect, shifting from greenish-blue in daylight to purple under incandescent light—an attribute highly prized among collectors.
• Pear-Shaped Diamond Earrings
  Featuring two E-colour, VVS2-clarity diamonds weighing 3.10 and 3.16 carats, this pair realised HKD 832,000, comfortably surpassing its estimate and reflecting continued demand for high-quality white diamonds.
• Cartier Fancy Yellow Diamond Ear Clips
  A signed pair by Cartier, set with two cushion-shaped fancy-yellow diamonds (5.01ct VS2 and 5.03ct SI1), alongside additional yellow-tinted stones, also sold for HKD 832,000 well above estimate.

Market Insight

The sale reinforces several key trends observed by DCLA:

• Increasing demand for distinctive and unconventional diamonds, including black and coloured stones
• Continued strength in signed jewellery, particularly from established maisons
• Strong performance of high-quality coloured gemstones, especially emeralds and alexandrite
• Ongoing resilience of the auction market in Asia, particularly Hong Kong as a global jewellery hub

As collectors continue to diversify beyond traditional white diamonds, pieces with character, rarity, and design distinction are achieving significant premiums well above conservative estimates.

Source: DCLA