Bonhams Sells Every Jewel on Offer at New York Auction

Bonhams brought in $8.1 million at its Perfect Jewelry Box auction in New York as all 119 items found a buyer — in what the trade terms a “white-glove sale.”

The top piece was a 35-carat diamond ring by Leviev, which sold for $2.7 million at the March 8 event, beating its $2.5 million high estimate, the auction house said Wednesday.

“It was a privilege to present this collection, which had such a diverse mix of period jewels, rare gemstones and exceptional white diamonds,” said Caroline Morrissey, head of jewelry for Bonhams in New York. “Leading the sale were three type IIa, D-color diamonds, all over 10 carats, which is extremely rare. [The] results reflected the quality of the pieces offered.”

Here are the top five pieces:

This emerald-cut, 35-carat, D-color, VVS1-clarity diamond ring by Leviev is accented by round-brilliant cut diamonds weighing a total of 1.90 carats. The piece fetched $2.7 million, above its $2.5 million presale estimate.

A ring bearing an oval-shaped, 22.10-carat, D-color, VVS2-clarity diamond center stone, flanked by bullet-shaped diamonds, brought in $1.6 million, exceeding its $1.5 million upper price tag.

This ring contains a square emerald-cut, 11.37-carat, D-color, VVS2-clarity diamond, bracketed by tapered baguette-cut diamonds. The center stone has the potential to be internally flawless, Bonhams noted. It sold for $800,475, far surpassing its $550,000 high estimate.

A ring set with a rectangular-cut, 24.80-carat Ceylon sapphire accented by round brilliant-cut diamonds garnered $327,975, over its $300,000 upper price.

An Art Deco gem-set, diamond and enamel tassel necklace, created by Mauboussin in France circa 1920, achieved $277,575 against a high estimate of $250,000.

Source: Diamonds.net

Sotheby’s is set to auction off one of the rarest diamonds in the world

 

Sotheby’s is set to auction off a 102 carat diamond that could become the most expensive jewel ever sold to an online bidder.

The stone, a 102.39 carat D Colour Flawless Oval Diamond, could fetch $10 million to $30 million. Only seven flawless white diamonds of more than 100 carats have ever been sold at auction. It is the second-largest oval diamond of its kind ever sold at auction.

“One hundred-carat diamonds as a rule are exceedingly rare,” said Quig Bruning, head of Sotheby’s jewelry department in New York. “One hundred-carat D flawless are even more rare.”

While Sotheby’s doesn’t have an official estimate, comparable diamonds have sold for between $11 million and $30 million in the past, Bruning said.

The stone, described by Sotheby’s as “the size of a lollipop,” will be sold at a live auction in Hong Kong on Oct. 5, but it will also be open to online bidders starting on Tuesday. If it’s purchased by an online bidder, it would likely top the record for the most expensive piece of jewelry ever sold online a pair of fancy blue and pink diamond earrings that sold for $6 million online in 2016.

The 102 carat stone was cut from a 271 carat rough diamond that was discovered in the Victor Mine in Ontario in 2018. The diamond was cut and polished over the course of a year by Diacore to bring out its “best brilliance, fire and scintillation,” according to Sotheby’s. The stone belongs to an elite subgroup of diamonds known as “Type IIa,” which are the most chemically pure type of diamond with the highest level of transparency.

Demand for the rarest, largest diamonds has strengthened during the coronavirus pandemic, as the wealthy have benefited from stronger stock markets and investors look for long-term stores of value in a financial world awash with cash.

While demand for everyday jewelry sold in stores has plunged since people aren’t visiting malls and shops as often, or wearing jewelry as often prices for so-called investible diamonds have remained strong. Wealthy buyers, especially in Asia and the Middle East, covet diamonds as the ultimate hard-asset, since they are durable and portable.

Sales of jewelry and diamonds online have also increased, as people buy more from home. Sotheby’s said its online jewelry sales have totaled $31 million this year, seven times more than the same period last year. It has sold three lots for more than $1 million online.

“The retail experience going into the store, trying things on that’s gone right now, or at the very least has changed substantially,” Bruning said. “A lot of things have moved online, and we have been able to really capitalize on that by showcasing things in a new and compelling kind of way globally.”

When asked whether the buyer of a 100 carat diamond would ever wear it, he said: “Absolutely. They want to enjoy them.”

Source: DCLA

Sotheby’s is set to auction off one of the rarest diamonds in the world

 

Sotheby’s is set to auction off a 102 carat diamond that could become the most expensive jewel ever sold to an online bidder.

The stone, a 102.39 carat D Colour Flawless Oval Diamond, could fetch $10 million to $30 million. Only seven flawless white diamonds of more than 100 carats have ever been sold at auction. It is the second-largest oval diamond of its kind ever sold at auction.

“One hundred-carat diamonds as a rule are exceedingly rare,” said Quig Bruning, head of Sotheby’s jewelry department in New York. “One hundred-carat D flawless are even more rare.”

While Sotheby’s doesn’t have an official estimate, comparable diamonds have sold for between $11 million and $30 million in the past, Bruning said.

The stone, described by Sotheby’s as “the size of a lollipop,” will be sold at a live auction in Hong Kong on Oct. 5, but it will also be open to online bidders starting on Tuesday. If it’s purchased by an online bidder, it would likely top the record for the most expensive piece of jewelry ever sold online a pair of fancy blue and pink diamond earrings that sold for $6 million online in 2016.

The 102 carat stone was cut from a 271 carat rough diamond that was discovered in the Victor Mine in Ontario in 2018. The diamond was cut and polished over the course of a year by Diacore to bring out its “best brilliance, fire and scintillation,” according to Sotheby’s. The stone belongs to an elite subgroup of diamonds known as “Type IIa,” which are the most chemically pure type of diamond with the highest level of transparency.

Demand for the rarest, largest diamonds has strengthened during the coronavirus pandemic, as the wealthy have benefited from stronger stock markets and investors look for long-term stores of value in a financial world awash with cash.

While demand for everyday jewelry sold in stores has plunged since people aren’t visiting malls and shops as often, or wearing jewelry as often prices for so-called investible diamonds have remained strong. Wealthy buyers, especially in Asia and the Middle East, covet diamonds as the ultimate hard-asset, since they are durable and portable.

Sales of jewelry and diamonds online have also increased, as people buy more from home. Sotheby’s said its online jewelry sales have totaled $31 million this year, seven times more than the same period last year. It has sold three lots for more than $1 million online.

“The retail experience going into the store, trying things on that’s gone right now, or at the very least has changed substantially,” Bruning said. “A lot of things have moved online, and we have been able to really capitalize on that by showcasing things in a new and compelling kind of way globally.”

When asked whether the buyer of a 100 carat diamond would ever wear it, he said: “Absolutely. They want to enjoy them.”

Source: DCLA

Rare Australian diamonds expected to fetch millions

Ultra rare pink Australian diamonds are expected to sell for millions of dollars at an upcoming auction.

The diamonds have generated interest among buyers as they were sourced from the Argyle site in Western Australia, which is the largest diamond mine in the country which plans to close it by 2021. 

This Argyle pink diamond necklace will also be put up for bidding on Sunday

‘We expect there to be some fierce bidding come auction day in a couple of days time in the bid to win these unique, highly desirable and collectable pieces,’ Head of Fine Art and Antiquities for Lloyds Auctions Amanda Benson said.

The Argyle mine turns out less than 0.1 per cent of the world’s diamonds, though its gems are world renowned.

Earlier this year, an incredible 28 carat ultra-rare white diamond was discovered at the site. General manager of Argyle Diamonds, Andrew Wilson, said: ‘Argyle Octavia is unique in its size, shape and beautiful provenance.’

The diamonds have generated buzz among bidders as they were sourced from Argyle Australia’s largest diamond mine in Western Australia.

Source: DCLA

Rare Australian diamonds expected to fetch millions

Ultra rare pink Australian diamonds are expected to sell for millions of dollars at an upcoming auction.

The diamonds have generated interest among buyers as they were sourced from the Argyle site in Western Australia, which is the largest diamond mine in the country which plans to close it by 2021. 

This Argyle pink diamond necklace will also be put up for bidding on Sunday

‘We expect there to be some fierce bidding come auction day in a couple of days time in the bid to win these unique, highly desirable and collectable pieces,’ Head of Fine Art and Antiquities for Lloyds Auctions Amanda Benson said.

The Argyle mine turns out less than 0.1 per cent of the world’s diamonds, though its gems are world renowned.

Earlier this year, an incredible 28 carat ultra-rare white diamond was discovered at the site. General manager of Argyle Diamonds, Andrew Wilson, said: ‘Argyle Octavia is unique in its size, shape and beautiful provenance.’

The diamonds have generated buzz among bidders as they were sourced from Argyle Australia’s largest diamond mine in Western Australia.

Source: DCLA