Rare French Gold and Exceptional Diamonds Headline Major Auction Sales

 

Two significant jewellery auctions this March are drawing global attention, highlighting the enduring appeal of rare craftsmanship and investment-grade diamonds.

At Freeman’s Auction House in Chicago, collectors will see a remarkable balance between exceptional diamonds and a deep exploration of mid-century French gold craftsmanship. The auction, taking place on March 18, features property from a prominent local family and focuses heavily on post-war French jewellery design.

According to April Matteini, Senior Vice President and Head of Jewellery at Freeman’s, the sale represents an important moment for collectors. She noted that the auction showcases highly sought-after pieces from the celebrated workshop of Georges L’Enfant, whose creations defined much of the sophisticated gold jewellery produced in France during the mid-20th century.

The L’Enfant atelier was renowned for producing technically refined and sculptural gold pieces for some of the world’s most prestigious maisons, including Cartier and Van Cleef & Arpels. Their designs are admired for their tactile textures and architectural form. One of the standout lots in the auction is a striking textured gold curb-link necklace that perfectly illustrates the distinctive craftsmanship of the L’Enfant workshop.

Meanwhile, Christie’s is preparing for its own high-profile jewellery sale. A remarkable ring from Tiffany & Co., featuring a 10.02-carat emerald-cut diamond, is expected to achieve up to US$700,000.

The diamond is graded D colour, internally flawless, and belongs to the rare Type IIa category diamonds that are chemically pure and among the most sought after in the world.

The Tiffany ring will headline Christie’s Jewels Online auction running from March 9 to March 19, which will feature 156 lots. The sale includes jewellery from renowned houses such as Cartier, David Webb, and Van Cleef & Arpels, as well as pieces from notable private collections including the collection of Elizabeth Taylor and property from the collection of Yvonne Kalman.

These auctions highlight the continued global demand for rare diamonds and historically important jewellery pieces, reinforcing the strong position of exceptional natural diamonds within the international luxury and collector markets.

Source: DCLA

Two 20-Carat Diamond Watches From Jaeger-LeCoultre Have World’s Smallest Movement

Jaeger-LeCoultre has held the record for the world’s smallest mechanical movement – since 1929. The caliber 101, a mere 14mm long and less than 5mm wide, is still used today. It drives two new high jewelry models from the brand, the Snowdrop and the Bangle. Both are made of 18k pink gold and designed as bracelets, according to standards of high jewelry making, with integrated cases and movements. Each is set with about 20 carats of diamonds, all classified as IF-internally flawless to VVS clarity grade.

The Jaeger-LeCoultre Snowdrop, with 20.9 carats of diamonds. JAEGER-LECOULTRE

The Snowdrop is set with of 904 diamonds, 204 of which are substantially sized pear-shaped gems. The remainder are classic brilliant cuts, for a total of 20.9 carats. The design was inspired by the white bell-shaped flowers of the same name that grow through the snow in the Vallee de Joux watchmaking district of Switzerland. The case is integrated with the manchette-style bracelet, with a circle of pear-shaped diamonds surrounding the dial to form a flower. Waves of diamonds repeat the petal pattern in perfect symmetry throughout the bracelet.Recommended For You

The Jaeger-LeCoultre Bangle watch, with 19.7 carats of diamonds. JAEGER-LECOULTRE

The diamonds in the center of the bracelet are set according to the griffe  or claw method, which minimizes the amount of metal surrounding the gem and allows more light to pass through from different angles. The bracelet’s structure is supported by two bands of gold with diamonds that are grain-set, a linear setting technique in which tiny beads of gold are pulled up from the surface of the metal and pushed over the stone to secure them. The gemsetting work for this piece represents 130 hours of work by Jaeger-LeCoultre artisans.

The Jaeger-LeCoultre Bangle watch, with 19.7 carats of diamonds. JAEGER-LECOULTRE

The Bangle watch is a swirling, geometric Art Deco design with an interplay of symmetry and asymmetry. The bracelet is set with 996 diamonds totaling 19.7 carats, graduated in size to emphasize the sweeping, 3D curves of the design. Altogether, there are 144 griffe-set diamonds and 852 grain-set diamonds. The Bangle opens with a simple twist of each side. 

Setting diamonds into the Snowdrop watch by Jaeger-LeCoultre. JAEGER-LECOULTRE

Over the past 90 years, Jaeger-Le Coultre’s caliber 101 has been used in jewelry watches under its own name as well as in creations by other high-end brands. These rare timepieces have graced the wrists of many notable women, including Queen Elizabeth II, who wore one for her coronation in 1953. The movement has benefited over the years from many improvements in materials and machining, but its dimensions and architecture remain unchanged. The present, fourth-generation movement, caliber 101/4 has 98 components (compared with the original 78).

Source: DCLA

Two 20-Carat Diamond Watches From Jaeger-LeCoultre Have World’s Smallest Movement

Jaeger-LeCoultre has held the record for the world’s smallest mechanical movement – since 1929. The caliber 101, a mere 14mm long and less than 5mm wide, is still used today. It drives two new high jewelry models from the brand, the Snowdrop and the Bangle. Both are made of 18k pink gold and designed as bracelets, according to standards of high jewelry making, with integrated cases and movements. Each is set with about 20 carats of diamonds, all classified as IF-internally flawless to VVS clarity grade.

The Jaeger-LeCoultre Snowdrop, with 20.9 carats of diamonds. JAEGER-LECOULTRE

The Snowdrop is set with of 904 diamonds, 204 of which are substantially sized pear-shaped gems. The remainder are classic brilliant cuts, for a total of 20.9 carats. The design was inspired by the white bell-shaped flowers of the same name that grow through the snow in the Vallee de Joux watchmaking district of Switzerland. The case is integrated with the manchette-style bracelet, with a circle of pear-shaped diamonds surrounding the dial to form a flower. Waves of diamonds repeat the petal pattern in perfect symmetry throughout the bracelet.Recommended For You

The Jaeger-LeCoultre Bangle watch, with 19.7 carats of diamonds. JAEGER-LECOULTRE

The diamonds in the center of the bracelet are set according to the griffe  or claw method, which minimizes the amount of metal surrounding the gem and allows more light to pass through from different angles. The bracelet’s structure is supported by two bands of gold with diamonds that are grain-set, a linear setting technique in which tiny beads of gold are pulled up from the surface of the metal and pushed over the stone to secure them. The gemsetting work for this piece represents 130 hours of work by Jaeger-LeCoultre artisans.

The Jaeger-LeCoultre Bangle watch, with 19.7 carats of diamonds. JAEGER-LECOULTRE

The Bangle watch is a swirling, geometric Art Deco design with an interplay of symmetry and asymmetry. The bracelet is set with 996 diamonds totaling 19.7 carats, graduated in size to emphasize the sweeping, 3D curves of the design. Altogether, there are 144 griffe-set diamonds and 852 grain-set diamonds. The Bangle opens with a simple twist of each side. 

Setting diamonds into the Snowdrop watch by Jaeger-LeCoultre. JAEGER-LECOULTRE

Over the past 90 years, Jaeger-Le Coultre’s caliber 101 has been used in jewelry watches under its own name as well as in creations by other high-end brands. These rare timepieces have graced the wrists of many notable women, including Queen Elizabeth II, who wore one for her coronation in 1953. The movement has benefited over the years from many improvements in materials and machining, but its dimensions and architecture remain unchanged. The present, fourth-generation movement, caliber 101/4 has 98 components (compared with the original 78).

Source: DCLA

313 Carat Diamond Emerges as World’s Largest D Colour

Nemesis International on Thursday unveiled a 313 carat diamond that has been certified as the largest D colour polished stone in history.

The emerald shape, VVS1 clarity diamond, known as Constellation 1, is one of eight stones that make up a collection manufactured from the 813 carat Constellation rough, which Nemesis bought in partnership with Swiss jeweler de Grisogono for $63.1 million in 2016. At $77,613 per carat, the stone still ranks as the most expensive rough diamond ever sold.

Tom Moses, executive vice president and chief laboratory and research officer at the Gemological Institute of America, confirmed with Rapaport News that the stone was the largest graded D colour diamond on record.

However, Nemesis has no immediate plans to sell the diamonds, CEO Konema Mwenenge told Rapaport News on the sidelines of the Dubai Diamond Conference. “We want to showcase this as the work of art that it is,” he stressed. “Diamonds are not just a commodity and this stone is impossible to value. We’re focused on building its legacy.”

The company is considering a roadshow to display the collection around the world at museums and other platforms. “We want to keep them as a family from the same rough,” Mwenenge added. The eight stones vary in size and shape, and range in clarity from flawless to internally flawless and VVS. The second largest stone in the family is a 102 carat diamond.

The diamonds will also be presented in their full polished form for now, but will eventually be mounted into jewelry. That contrasts with the company’s last major project, the Art of de Grisogono, an emerald cut, 163 carat, D flawless diamond, cut and polished in New York from a 404 carat rough diamond. That piece was sold as a necklace that could also transform into a bracelet, fetching $33.7 million at a Christie’s auction.

Source: DCLA

313 Carat Diamond Emerges as World’s Largest D Colour

Nemesis International on Thursday unveiled a 313 carat diamond that has been certified as the largest D colour polished stone in history.

The emerald shape, VVS1 clarity diamond, known as Constellation 1, is one of eight stones that make up a collection manufactured from the 813 carat Constellation rough, which Nemesis bought in partnership with Swiss jeweler de Grisogono for $63.1 million in 2016. At $77,613 per carat, the stone still ranks as the most expensive rough diamond ever sold.

Tom Moses, executive vice president and chief laboratory and research officer at the Gemological Institute of America, confirmed with Rapaport News that the stone was the largest graded D colour diamond on record.

However, Nemesis has no immediate plans to sell the diamonds, CEO Konema Mwenenge told Rapaport News on the sidelines of the Dubai Diamond Conference. “We want to showcase this as the work of art that it is,” he stressed. “Diamonds are not just a commodity and this stone is impossible to value. We’re focused on building its legacy.”

The company is considering a roadshow to display the collection around the world at museums and other platforms. “We want to keep them as a family from the same rough,” Mwenenge added. The eight stones vary in size and shape, and range in clarity from flawless to internally flawless and VVS. The second largest stone in the family is a 102 carat diamond.

The diamonds will also be presented in their full polished form for now, but will eventually be mounted into jewelry. That contrasts with the company’s last major project, the Art of de Grisogono, an emerald cut, 163 carat, D flawless diamond, cut and polished in New York from a 404 carat rough diamond. That piece was sold as a necklace that could also transform into a bracelet, fetching $33.7 million at a Christie’s auction.

Source: DCLA