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Diamonds protagonists of the first online auction of 2022

Published on February 11, 2022

2022 opens with a success for the world of jewelry auctions. The first jewelry auction organized in New York by Christie in 2022, an online sale lasting 17 days (January 24 – February 9) reached a total of 5.2 million dollars with 131% of lots sold above the highest estimate. low and 96% of sales. The sale received a record turnout with the largest number of bidders for any online jewelry sale in New York. The participation registered bidders from 28 countries.

High prices were achieved for the diamonds, including the highest lot of the sale, an 11.46-carat diamond ring, which was offered without reserve and reached $ 300,000. Additional noteworthy findings include a 10.31-carat emerald-cut diamond ring, which sold for $ 237,500, square earrings with 5.02- and 5.02-carat emerald-cut diamonds (212,500), and a round brilliant-cut diamond ring of 5.21 carats, also offered without reserve, which reached $ 150,000.

Anello con diamante taglio smeraldo di 10,31 carati

Orecchini quadrati con diamanti taglio smeraldo da 5,02 e 5,02 carati

Anello con diamante fancy yellow di 5,25 carati di Oscar Heyman

Anello con zaffiro rettangolare modificato con taglio a gradino, diamanti affusolati taglio baguette, platino, circa 1955, firmato Yard

Christie’s opens 2022 with the first auction

Published on January 25, 2022

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Paul Kutchinsky, spilla in oro con corallo, diamanti, smeraldo

Once the large pre-Christmas auctions have been archived, the jewels are once again put up for auction. Christie’s has scheduled Jewels Online (January 24-February 9), the first jewelry auction of 2022 for the big sales house. The sale features jewelry ranging from antique to contemporary pieces, white diamonds and colored stones, as well as bejeweled items and watches. There are over 250 lots, including designer pieces from Maison such as Angela Cummings, Buccellati, Bulgari, Cartier, Graff, Harry Winston, JAR, Marina B, Oscar Heyman & Brothers, Raymond Yard, René Boivin, Jean Schlumberger, Tiffany & Co. , Van Cleef & Arpels and Verdura.

The sale covers all price ranges and with many lots offered without reserve (the idea is to offer jewelry for gifts before Valentine’s Day). The top is an 11.46-carat diamond ring, offered without reserve ($ 200,000-300,000 estimate). A 5.05-carat (100,000-150,000) diamond ring is also offered without reserve.

The sale includes in particular selections from important collections including the Blair Family Collection, the Collection of Mr. and Mrs. Frederick Edward Guest II, the Collection of Mimi Adler, Property from the Estate of Jacqueline Leeds and Jeweled Object D ‘art from the Contessa Orietta Ascoli Collection which offers an assembly of jewel objects including watches, perfume bottles, desk accessories and evening bags.

Orecchini Cartier art déco, con acquamatina e diamanti

Collana di Oscar Heyman con zaffiri, smeraldi e diamanti

Orologio da tavolo art déco di Cartier, smalto, nefrite, diamanti

Bracciale di Tiffany firmato Jean Schlumberger in smalto e oro a losanghe

Collana con pendente di Van Cleef & Arpels in onice, diamanti, oro

Anello di Oscar Heyman con diamanti bianchi e giallo

A huge black diamond from outer space is for sale

Published on January 17, 2022

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The Enigma, diamante nero di di 555,55 carati

A giant black diamond. Extremely rare. A surprising child of nature. But also an enigma. And precisely this name, The Enigma, has been attributed to a huge gem weighing 555.55 carats and, even more incredible coincidence, with exactly 55 facets. The Enigma is a surprise reserved by Sotheby’s at its headquarters in Dubai, where it will go on sale with an auction open to online offers from 3 to 9 February. The diamond has belonged for over two decades to an owner who has now decided to sell it. Even in exchange for a cryptocurrency payment.

Its sale represents a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to acquire one of the rarest, billion-year-old cosmic wonders known to humankind.
Nikita Binani, Sotheby’s Jewelery Specialist and Head of Sale, London

The diamond also has another attraction: it was not found in a mine, but comes from space. It is thought to have been created by a meteor impact or to have emerged from an asteroid containing a diamond that collided with Earth. It is the largest Fancy Black Natural Color diamond in the world, reported by Gubelin and Gia in 2004, and was listed as the largest cut diamond in the world in the 2006 Guinness Book of Records.

We are honoured that Dubai has been chosen as the first stop for this exceptional rarity and are thrilled to play a part in its journey, which began so many millions of years ago. This is the first time we are introducing our cryptocurrency offering in the UAE, a move that is in line with the government’s own commitment to exploring new digital, technological and scientific advances. Unveiling this one-of-a-kind stone – both in our DIFC gallery and at the unparalleled Dubai Diamond Exchange – is a clear continuation of our dedication to showcasing the best of the best in the UAE.
Katia Nounou Boueiz, head of Sotheby’s United Arab Emirates

The design of the diamond is imbued with meaning, its shape is inspired by the Middle Eastern symbol in the shape of the palm of a hand, the Hamsa, a sign of protection, power and strength. The Hamsa is also associated with the number five, which is imbued with symbolic meaning, which is also the number that distinguishes the gem. The cryptocurrency will be accepted at Sotheby’s, and it’s not the first time: last year the Key 10138 diamond was bought with cryptocurrency at a record price. This diamond will be offered without reserve, which means that the winning bid is the highest, regardless of its amount or the intrinsic value of the diamond itself. Before the auction, the diamond will be exhibited in Dubai, Los Angeles and London.

Girocollo in oro bianco, con pavé di 181 diamanti neri naturali

The secret of black diamonds
Natural black diamonds, carbonates, date back to approximately 2.6-3.8 billion years ago and are an extremely rare natural event. These gems contain traces of nitrogen and hydrogen abundant in interstellar space, as well as osbornite, a mineral found only in meteors. They are found only in Brazil and the Central Republic of Africa, which millions of years ago were part of the supercontinent, Rodinia – an area believed to have been hit by meteorites. The exclusive presence of carbonadi in these locations adds further weight to the theory that these stones are indeed treasures from interstellar space. Black diamonds are one of the hardest materials and almost impossible to cut and polish. They have typically also been reserved for industrial uses.

Lalique story for sale at Sotheby’s

Published on December 15, 2021

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René Lalique, collier in vetro, smalto e diamanti, Grenouilles

A must for those who love jewelry that has made history. Sotheby’s Paris (auction on December 17) offers a rare museum-quality collection of René Lalique pieces, all being auctioned for the first time. This is a collection curated by Claude H. Sorbac, a collector who passed away a few months ago. Lalique’s jewelry is a career photograph of the ingenious designer, who was a key figure of Art Nouveau. On sale are 39 pieces, including several works purchased by Lalique’s heirs.

Claude Henri Sorbac was part of a family of art lovers and grew up surrounded by a collection of paintings and precious objects, including great works by the likes of Renoir, Sisley, Degas and Tiepolo. He was forced to leave home during World War II, and at the age of 22 he enlisted in the Moroccan Spahi regiment and participated in the liberation of Paris. Then, he became an entrepreneur and, with greater financial means, a collector of antiques, including the works of Lalique, to which he dedicated several decades, traveling to flea markets and auctions alike to seek out the best of the best.

Pendente di collier Art Nouveau in oro e smalto, con viso di donna e glicine

Avant-garde artist-designer, René Lalique has worked in everything from jewelry, goldsmithing and illustration to sculpture and glassware. The collection proposed by Sotheby’s highlights his pioneering use of innovative materials such as glass, aluminum, bronze and copper, mixed with other noble materials such as diamonds, precious gems and gold.

Pettine Cattleya in avorio, smalto e diamanti

Girocollo Chantecler in smalto, vetro e citrino

Collier Libellule in vetro, smalto e diamanti

Joséphine’s jewels double the estimate

Published on December 9, 2021

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Diadema in oro, cammeo e smalto di Jacques-Amboise Oliveras del 1808 circa con cinque cammei ovali in pietra dura raffiguranti Zeus, Dioniso (probabilmente XVIII secolo), Medusa, Pan e Gaia (probabilmente fine XVI secolo); offerto insieme a una chiusura da cintura di design simile, con un cammeo in agata di Medusa (probabilmente fine del XVI secolo) e un ornamento per cintura con un cammeo in pietra dura di Zeus (1780-1800), nella custodia originale

In the year of the anniversary of Napoleon’s death, two diadems which are traditionally thought to have belonged to Joséphine de Beauharnais (1763-1814), wife of the French emperor, were sold by Sotheby’s London for £ 576,600 (approx. 671.00 euros or 759,000 dollars). A figure that has almost doubled the maximum estimate of 300,000 pounds. A sign that historical jewels retain a charm that goes beyond their material value.

Giuseppina di Beauharnais ritratta da Andrea Appiani — Joséphine de Beauharnais ritratta da Andrea Appiani

Tiaras are considered examples of the finest French craftsmanship of the early 19th century. They were made in Paris around 1808 with a neoclassical design. After the French Revolution, in fact, Napoleon had tried to legitimize his new government by resurrecting historical and cultural references to ancient Rome. Joséphine understood the value of her public image of her, and used clothing and jewelry to evoke the ideals of the ancient world and connect her with the present Empire to increase the prestige of her husband’s regime.

The two tiaras are part of a set (designed to also be worn together). They are made of gold and blue champlevé enamel decorated with twenty-five carnelian carvings, predominantly male and female classical heads. They were offered together with a pair of drop earrings, each with a single intaglio and similarly decorated, and a hair comb and belt ornament, centered with a Bacchus carnelian cameo. The jewels have been kept in London for 150 years.

Diamonds and large Maison for Christie’s Magnificent Jewels

Published on November 28, 2021

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Anello con diamante grigio scuro-blu fantasia di 8,74 carati Internally Flawless

Magnificent Jewels: a Christie’s New York auction dedicated to high-end jewelry lovers on 8 December, but also a sale from 23 November to 7 December. The auction offers over 200 lots, enhanced by private collections, diamonds and colored gems, and an impressive number of jewels by Bvlgari, Cartier, Graff, Harry Winston, JAR, Jean Schlumberger, Suzanne Belperron, Tiffany & Co. and Van Cleef & Arpels.

Diamante fancy giallo vivido di 70,19 carati, chiarezza VS2

Let’s start with the Magnificent Jewels auction. The most highly rated pieces are three colored diamonds, including a rare 5.38 carat fancy vivid orange pink diamond ring, VS2 clarity (Estimated $ 2,200,000-3,200,000). Another 70.19 carat fancy vivid yellow diamond, VS2 clarity is set on a pendant ($ 2,000,000-3,000,000 dollars), while a 8.74 carat Internally Flawless fancy dark gray-blue diamond ring is valued at 1,200,000 – 1,500,000 dollars.

One notable collection included in the sale is titled A Superlative Eye: Property from a Distinguished Chicago Collection. Includes jewelry from Cartier, Graff, Jean Schlumberger, Chanel, Carvin French and Marcus & Co. The collection is highlighted by a strong selection of Cartier Art Deco jewelry, such as an emerald, sapphire and diamond brooch (200,000-300,000) that once belonged to Ms. Cole Porter, along with colored stones including a Graff ruby and diamond ring ($ 1,000,000-1,500,000), a Kashmir sapphire ring from Carvin French.

Spilla di Cartier Art Déco, con smeraldo, zaffiro e diamanti, appartenuta alla signora Cole Porter

Another highlight of the sale are eight lots of Van Cleef & Arpels Mystery-Set jewelry, including a ruby and diamond bracelet (300,000-500,000) and a pair of ruby and diamond drop earrings (300,000-500,000). The Serti Mystérieux technique represents a Van Cleef & Arpels excellence that combines design and innovation (an average of 1,200 hours is calculated to complete a Mystery-Set jewel).

Van Cleef & Arpels Mystery-Set, braccialetto di rubini e diamanti

Additional private collections within the sale include a Van Cleef & Arpels Art Deco diamond bracelet (1,000,000-1,500,000) previously featured in The Jazz Age: American Style in the 1920s exhibition at the Cleveland Museum of Art in Ohio and Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum of New York. Also for sale is a historic late 17th century rosary with emerald, diamonds and enamel (400,000-600,000).

braccialetto di diamanti Art Déco di Van Cleef & Arpels — Braccialetto di diamanti Art Déco di Van Cleef & Arpels

Perla Rockefeller, perla naturale marrone con diamanti su platino. Ciondolo firmato Gillot Co.

Storico rosario della fine del XVII secolo con smeraldi, diamanti e smalto

Michele della Valle & friends with Christie’s online

Published on November 22, 2021

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Michele della Vallem pupazzo di neve in cristallo di rocca smerigliato, zaffiri gialli tondi, smeraldi e rubini, smalto nero, zaffiro arancione cabochon tondo, diamanti tondi, oro bianco, giallo e annerito 18 carati

In view of Christmas, from 23 November to 7 December Christie’s offers an online auction entitled Jewels Online & Colorful Whimsy: Jewels by Michele della Valle. The sale includes high-end jewelry, with period pieces, contemporary heats, as well as white diamonds and precious stones. The jewels for sale have prestigious brands such as Buccellati, Bulgari, Cartier, David Webb, Graff, Harry Winston, JAR, Tiffany & Co. and Van Cleef & Arpels: over 400 lots, covering all price ranges and with several lots offered without reserve.

But the dessert of this starred menu is represented by 64 imaginative jewels by Michele della Valle, all offered without reservations. Designer, artist, jeweler: Michele della Valle is one of the greatest creatives in business, who combines design skills with irony, pleasure and the wealth of ideas and materials. Often with surprising results. For example, the brooch in the shape of a snowman with gems and diamonds: high jewelery more in a pinch of joy.

Collana con diamanti, zaffiri di diversi colori e granati

Orecchini con zaffiri rotondi arancioni e gialli, tsavorite, diamanti, oro bianco e giallo

Jewelery auction for San Patrignano

Published on November 16, 2021

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San Patrignano, a drug addiction recovery community based in Rimini (Italy), organizes an auction every year (now online until November 22), through the CharityStars platform (www.charitystars.com/astasanpatrignano). This year, among the lots at auction, many of which donated by large companies that have confirmed their support for San Patrignano, some belong to the Watches & Jewelry category. In particular, a pair of Rolex Oyster Perpetual watches will be on sale, a men’s model with a 41 mm diameter case, and a women’s model with a 31 mm diameter case, with a rounded bezel and waterproof up to 100 m (estimate 10,500), a pair of Chantecler Capri Cherie earrings, in rose gold, diamonds and Akoya pearls (8.100).

Also up for auction is a Pomellato ring in pink gold, smoky quartz and diamonds (10,000), Eclisse Midi earrings by Vhernier in white gold and brown diamonds, pavé eyeliner (15,250), a pair of Arpeggio di Lucia Odescalchi bracelets, from the Piano Lesson collection, earrings, white crystal beads, aluminum, hematite beads (960).

Anello di Pomellato in oro rosa, quarzo fumé e diamanti

The adventurous story of the Tsar’s jewels sold by Sotheby’s

Published on November 13, 2021

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Tsar jewels still have charm. So at the Magnificent Jewels and Noble Jewels auction at Sotheby’s in Geneva, a sapphire and diamond brooch and matching clip earrings, smuggled out of Russia at the time of the 1917 revolution, sold for $ 850,000, against a maximum estimate of $ 500,000. They are jewels that belonged to the Romanoff family. To be precise, they belonged to the aunt of Emperor Nicholas II, the Grand Duchess Maria Pavlovna (1854-1920), who entrusted her expatriation to her friend, the British antiquarian and aristocrat Albert Henry Stopford (1860-1939). of jewels in London.

Often referred to as the “Queen of St. Petersburg,” the Grand Duchess was by all accounts a glittering figure who fought to maintain her status during the revolution. Albert Stopford, who was fifty-five at the time and therefore ineligible for military service, was an integral part of the St. Petersburg social scene and was the noblewoman’s intimate. The history of jewelry is quite adventurous. Dressed in workman’s clothes, Stopford secretly went to collect the jewels from the Grand Duchess’s home, the Vladimir Palace, a 360-room building on the Neva, not yet plundered by rioters. Entered by a side door and escorted by Maria Pavlovna’s eldest son, Boris, and a trusted servant, Stopford disassembled the jewels, folded them into old newspapers to protect them, and set off on the train. In three nights he reached the spa town of Kislovodsk, in the Caucasus, where Maria Pavlovna had retired to her summer villa. He then left for London on September 26, 1917, carrying 244 Maria Pavlovna jewels in a Gladstone bag, including the sapphire brooch and earrings sold at Sotheby’s auction.

It was then another two years before the Grand Duchess crossed the Russian border (reluctantly), traveling to Venice, Switzerland and finally to Paris in July 1920. Her health as a Russian noblewoman was severely compromised, however, and only a few months after her arrival. in France he died. The jewels, therefore, were inherited from her daughter, Princess Elena of Greece and Denmark (1882-1957) and then to her descendants. A in 2009 they were bought at an auction, again at Sotheby’s, by another European princely family and now resold.

Spilla e orecchini con zaffiri e diamanti

Marie Antoinette doubles with Christie’s

Published on November 11, 2021

bracciale/news

Kirsten Dunst interpreta Maria Antonietta nel film di Sofia Coppola

When we say the charm of the nobility. In spite of the French Revolution, Queen Marie Antoinette (guillotined) takes her revenge. His bracelets don diamonds (old cut, of course), silver and yellow gold, commissioned around 1776, adapted in the 19th century, and placed in a blue velvet case, were auctioned at Magnificent Jewels organized by Christie’s in Geneva. They were sold for around 7 million euros (equivalent to 7.5 million Swiss francs, or 8.2 million dollars), a figure that is almost double the maximum estimate that preceded the auction.

I bracciali con diamanti appartenuti a Maria Antonietta

The jewels were bought by the queen and she bought these two diamond bracelets for 250,000 lire, which was a huge sum for the time. According to Count Mercy-Argenteau, ambassador of Austria to France, they were paid partly in precious stones from the queen’s collection and partly with the funds the queen received from her husband, King Louis XVI. At the time of the Revolution, the jewels were brought to Belgium, then passed to Madame Royale, the surviving daughter of Marie Antoinette. Now they have changed ownership.

The Geneva auction also had other interesting pieces in the catalog. A pear-cut diamond of 55.50 carats was sold for 4.5 million euros. A yellow gold brooch with drop and baguette cut diamonds and cushion cut ruby, signed Van Cleef & Arpels, was sold for 3.8 million euros. A platinum ring with an oval brilliant cut diamond of 43.19 carats totaled 3.1 million euros. In all, the auction closed with sales of over 50 million euros.

Spilla di Van Cleef & Arpels con rubino taglio cuscino e diamanti con taglio a goccia e baguette

Anello con diamante ovale di oltre 43 carati

High jewelry and Brigitte Bardot’s rings up for auction at Christie’s

Published on November 10, 2021

Rings/news

Un'immagine dal matrimonio tra Brigitte Bardot e Roger Vadim

Great jewelry brands for the online auction organized by Christie’s France from 30 November to 14 December. Among the vintage pieces for sale are jewelry by Boivin, Boucheron, Bulgari, Cartier, Chaumet, Jean Fouquet, Jar and Van Cleef & Arpel. In all, there are 290 lots with estimates ranging from 1,000 to 200,000 euros. The most popular pieces are those dating from the 19th and early 20th centuries, including a Belle Époque brooch with Cartier Noeud bodice. It is a unique piece, with flexible sides, set with a 4.92 carat old style cushion diamond (estimate 150,000-200,000 euros).

Spilla a forma di fiocco in diamanti di Cartier

After the success of the Jean Fouquet necklace, which sold for 980,000 last July, here are two other rare necklaces by the Master of the Parisian avant-garde: an Art Déco with aquamarine, coral and diamonds that was owned by the trader and collector Michel Perinet, (estimate 100,000 – 150,000) and a geometric necklace, in platinum embellished with diamonds (estimate 50,000-80,000).

Jean Foquet, collana art déco con acquamarina e corallo

Other pieces at auction include a Cartier bracelet (estimate 100,000-150,000 euros) from the Art Deco period, a 1929 TuttiFrutti clip by Mauboussin, with a large 22.37-carat Ceylon sapphire along with emeralds, rubies and sapphires engraved in Indian style. Other notable pieces: a Boucheron ring featuring an unheated cushion cut Burmese ruby, approximately 7.5 carats (70,000-100,000), a Bulgari ring with a 29.43 carat unheated cushion cut Burmese sapphire (50,000 -80,000).

An entire section of the sale is dedicated to diamonds. Among the stones stands out an old-cut diamond of 15.09 carats (150,000-200,000 euros). For those who love vintage jewelery from the 1940s, 1960s and 1970s, the catalog presents a bracelet by Boucheron and one by Chaumet with ruby, emerald and cabochon sapphire. The animalier theme occupies a section of the sale and includes a Cartier elephant necklace. Finally, the auction also features creations by six important international designers. These include a bracelet by Walid Akkad, a sapphire and diamond ring designed by Mad (Maison Alix Dumas) and jewels by Marie Mas, Rosior, Luz Camino and Bare (by Dries Criel).

Bracciale in oro e smeraldi di Walid Akkad

Those who love objects related to celebrities will find interesting the three wedding rings with sapphires, rubies and diamonds, a gift from Roger Vadim to Brigitte Bardot (estimate 6,000-8,000 euros). Director, screenwriter, actor and novelist Roger Vladimir Plemiannikov, born in Paris in 1928, meets Brigitte Bardot in 1950 during a summer vacation in Cap Myrtes near Saint-Tropez. She brigitte was 15 years old and her parents forbade her to marry until she the actress turned 18. Brigitte Bardot and Vadim eventually got married on December 19, 1952. Both were instant successes and remain a mythical couple of cinema.

Le tre fedi nuziali regalate a Brigitte Bardot da Roger Vadim

Vintage jewels are back with Faraone Casa d’Aste

Published on November 4, 2021

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Orecchini fine anni Venti in oro bianco 18 carati con diamanti old cut per un peso totale di circa 10,65 carati

The pre-Christmas jewelry auction (and more) of Faraone is back, a Milanese company that for some years has expanded its business to auction sales. This year, next November 30th, jewels and diamonds will be accompanied by a 1950s-1960s collection of 46 Gucci designer bags, owned and loved over the years by a single customer and which will be sold in the completely dedicated closing session. to luxury vintage as well as a round of watches and objects signed by Hermes and Cartier, which will be beaten by Vittoria Bianchi, CEO of the Faraone auction house.

As for the jewels, however, among the novelties there are three that belonged to the Genoese photographer Giuliana Traverso. In all, there are 95 lots which include two large brilliant-cut diamonds weighing 7.37 and 10.47 carats respectively, as well as a rectangular, octagonal, D-color, stepped cut diamond weighing 3.59 carats, certified . In the catalog there are also a pair of late 1920s earrings in 18-carat white gold with old cut diamonds for a total weight of about 10.65 carats, a ring in 18-carat white and yellow gold with an octagonal minor oil Colombian emerald weighing approx. 6.65 carats, a gold necklace with drop and heart diamonds, rose and brilliant cut for a total of approx. 100 ct. and a pair of Colombian emeralds, octagonal, minor oil in paper with a total weight of 2.59 carats.

Anello con smeraldo colombiano di 6,65 carati e diamanti

The auction also includes art jewelry, a collection signed by the sculptor-designer Giorgio Facchini, characterized by geometric elements. It includes an 18-karat yellow gold band bracelet with adularia and chalcedony cabochons interspersed with micro-pearl threads, a 18-karat yellow gold band ring, rubies, sapphire and emerald, an 18-karat yellow gold brooch with red corals -orange and sapphire and an 18-karat white and yellow gold band ring with a brilliant-cut diamond weighing approximately 1.80 carats. The auction will be held in live streaming in three rounds, through the website and the dedicated app MyFaraone, or through the more traditional telephone or through written bids.

Anello di Giorgio Facchini con diamanti di 1,80 carati

Anello di Giorgio Facchini in oro giallo, rubini, zaffiri e smeraldi

Bracciale firmato Giorgio Facchini in oro, rubini e zaffiri

Collier in oro giallo rodiato e diamanti per circa 100 carati

Bracciale di Giorgio Facchini in oro, micro perle, adularia e calcedonio

The diadems of Joséphine de Beauharnais up for auction at Sotheby’s

Published on October 29, 2021

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2021 was the bicentenary of Napoleon Bonaparte’s death. The sale by Sotheby’s of two diadems that belonged to Joséphine de Beauharnais (1763-1814), at least according to the current reconstruction, is therefore topical. Joséphine, wife of Napoleon Bonaparte (1769-1821), was empress of France and wore these very rare diadems which, apart from their material value, constitute a historical testimony of French craftsmanship of the early nineteenth century.

The jewels were made in Paris around 1808, in the neoclassical style that Napoleon liked, who was looking for historical and cultural references in ancient Rome. Joséphine, in perfect harmony, used clothing and jewelry to evoke the ideals of the ancient world and linking it with the current Empire to increase the prestige of her husband’s regime. Just like an influencer, she is. The empress was a lover of jewelry. In just six years, Joséphine has spent an impressive sum of more than 25 million francs on jewelry and clothing, far exceeding the allowance she had been awarded.

Set Filetto o Collare con nove cammei e 10 piccoli intagli con animali, francese o italiano, XIX secolo

These majestic jewels set with cameos and carvings certainly evoke the style of the great Empress Joséphine – her rank as wife of Napoleon Bonaparte, her impeccable taste and her interest in the classical world. Empress Joséphine was much more than just a collector of antiques. Being the first to incorporate these cameos and carvings into her dress, wearing them side by side with pearls and diamonds, she created a completely new fashion that swept Paris and the world, based on neoclassical forms. The jewels offered here demonstrate the finest and most delicate work of the best French workshops and, today, there are hardly any comparable pieces in the world. As fashions changed, the jewels were broken down and reshaped, making their survival truly exceptional.
Kristian Spofforth, Head of Sotheby’s Jewels Department in London

Chiusura da cintura, cammeo in agata di Medusa fine del XVI secolo e un ornamento per cintura con un cammeo in pietra dura di Zeus (1780-1800), nella custodia originale

The two diadems are part of two sets. They are set with precious stones engraved with classic heads, many of which are perhaps ancient: it was believed that they bestow on the wearer virtues such as heroism, fidelity and love. The jewels are part of a private collection in the UK, where they have remained for at least 150 years, and both are still contained in their original leather boxes. They will be offered with estimates of 200,000-300,000 and 100,000-200,000 pounds in the sale of Sotheby’s London Treasures, scheduled for 7 December.

The sets will first be exhibited from 2 to 9 November at the Mandarin Oriental, Geneva, together with the highlights of Sotheby’s sales of Magnificent Jewels. A similar set is kept in the collection of the Swedish royal family, inherited from Joséphine’s son, Eugène Rose de Beauharnais, Duke of Leuchtenberg. Her daughter, Joséphine of Leuchtenberg, brought numerous jewels to the Swedish royal family when she married the future King Oscar I in 1823.

Sei cammei in pietra dura e un grande intaglio, con quattro piccoli intagli in corniola, attaccati a una collana associata più tardi, italiano, fine XVIII/inizio XIX secolo

Sotheby’s is putting marahaja glasses up for auction

Published on October 8, 2021

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I due occhiali Astaneh Ye Ferdaws (smeraldi) e Halqeh Ye Nur (diamanti)

The charm of exotic and precious jewels: Sotheby’s dedicates an auction to the theme Arts of the Islamic World & India. Most of the pieces concern objects, carpets, prints, paintings. But there are also jewels. And two, in particular, attract attention: they are glasses from an unknown princely treasure. The truly unique aspect of these glasses is that they are made with diamonds and emeralds. The auction estimate (London, October 27) for these unique jewels is 1.5 – 2.5 million pounds each. They can be seen by the public in Hong Kong (October 7-11) and London (October 22-26).

These extraordinary curiosities bring together myriad threads – from the technical mastery of the cutter and the genius of craftsmanship to the vision of a patron who chose to fashion two pairs of eyeglasses quite unlike anything ever seen before. They are undoubtedly a marvel for gemologists and historians alike, and it is a real thrill to be able to bring these treasures to light and to offer the world the opportunity to wonder at their brilliance and the mystery behind their creation.
Edward Gibbs, president of Sotheby’s Middle East & India

The history of these glasses begins in 17th-century Mughal India, at a time when imperial wealth, scientific knowledge and artistic endeavor simultaneously reached their peak. Commissioned by an unknown prince, an artist carved a diamond weighing over 200 carats and a brilliant emerald weighing at least 300 carats. Evidence of the technical skill involved, there is no known existence of any comparable example of both. Around 1890, the lenses were inserted into new frames, decorated with rose-cut diamonds.

The original patron for whom the glasses were commissioned remains unknown, but they stem from a rich period of artistic and architectural achievement during the reigns of the Great Mughal of the Akbar emperors (1556-1605), Jahangir (1605-1627), Shah Jahan (1627 -1658) and Aurangzeb (1658-1707).

The quality and purity of the gems is in itself extraordinary and stones of this size would undoubtedly have been an emperor’s reserve. The diamonds are flawless, thought to come from the Golconda mines in South India. Cut in pairs from a single natural diamond, possibly the largest ever found, they now weigh 25 carats together. The facet around the edge shows extreme skill, arranged to maintain transparency in the lenses while releasing light from the edges. The emeralds also come from a single natural Colombian gem and now weigh 27 carats. The bevel of the emeralds has been precisely angled to maintain the intensity of the color in the stone.

While ordinary lenses work simply to improve vision, these filters were aids for a spiritual function, with diamonds meant to illuminate and emeralds believed to possess miraculous powers to heal and ward off evil. In the work Naturalis historia, a treatise that dates back to the first century, Pliny the Elder tells that the Roman emperor Nero observed the gladiator contests through the surface of a precious green stone. Nero’s tutor, Seneca, was an expert in refraction of light, mirrors and optics, and these are thought to have been one of the first glasses ever. Many centuries later, an inventory of the treasure of Charles V of France mentions beryls (a family of precious stones, which includes emerald and aquamarine) framed like spectacles.

Collana del Deccan, con gemme. Circa Ottocento

Closer to where these examples originate, in India, following the tragic death of Shah Jahan’s beloved wife, in whose honor the Taj Mahal was painstakingly built, the emperor is said to have wept so many tears that he had need to heal his sick eyes with emerald gems.

Set di gioielli del Marocco, 18-19esimo secolo

Collana in argento dorato. Marocco, Ottocento

Collana Moghul con perle e smeraldo intagliato

A Wallis Simpson bracelet up for auction at Christie’s

Published on September 29, 2021

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Il bracciale in oro bianco, diamanti e rubini appartenuto alla Duchessa di Windsor

The Magnificent Jewels auction on November 9 adds another piece of nobility to the catalog of lots for sale. In addition to the two diamond bracelets that belonged to Queen Marie Antoinette of France, Christie’s will offer the first gift on the occasion of her wedding anniversary, received on June 3, 1938 by the Duchess of Windsor. Her husband, in case anyone does not remember, was the Duke of Windsor, former King of Great Britain, who had abdicated precisely to marry Wallis Simpson.

The history of the jewel is testified by the order received from Cartier. This is a white gold bracelet with two large rubies set. On the bracelet is engraved the phrase: “For our first anniversary of June 3”. The bracelet is an elegant and sophisticated reinterpretation of the Art Deco style. Very avant-garde, the jewel is considered one of the most unusual models of the Maison (the estimate for the auction has a very wide range: 1-2 million Swiss francs). At the time of the gift, the couple was on holiday on the French Riviera in Antibes, at Villa La Croë.

Wallis Simpson indossa il bracciale di Cartier

History
In December 1936 Edward VIII abdicated the British throne to marry the American Wallis Warfield Simpson, who had already been divorced twice. The couple then married in France at Château de Candé in June 1937. For years the Windsors have been a fixture of international society and will always be remembered for their chic lifestyle and beautiful jewelry.

The bracelet had already reappeared at auction for the first time since the historic sale of the Jewels of the Duchess of Windsor, in 1987: a mythical sale thanks to the record prices, the attention of the media and the renewed interest it aroused in the jewels of sourced and signed, which have persisted ever since.

Preview
New York September 27-29 Christie’s Rockefeller Center
Hong Kong October 7-10 Christie’s
Beijing October 19-20 Christie’s
Shanghai 23-24 October Christie’s
Geneva November 6-8 Four Seasons Hotel des Bergues

Edoardo d'Inghilterra assieme a Wallis Warfield Simpson — Edoardo d’Inghilterra assieme a Wallis Warfield Simpson, nel 1954

Jewelry for Afghan women

Published on September 27, 2021

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Ruth Tomlinson, collana in oro 14 carati con peridoto, citrino e diamanti

Jewelry for Afghan women. Or, more precisely, for Women for Afghan Women, an organization that aims to help women in the country of the Taliban. The jewels sold at the auction are made available by 25 independent British jewelers. The auction was organized and led by Rosie Lillis Communications, and aims to raise funds to provide urgent resources, shelter and assistance to women and children, now even more vulnerable. The jewels are sold at affordable prices, between 270 and 1,570 pounds, with the aim of engaging the largest number of people.

Collana di Theo Fennel in oro bianco con diamanti bianchi e neri

Among the best known jewelers who have joined the initiative are Annoushka Dukas, Bear Brooksbank, Boochier, By Pariah, Christopher Thompson Royds, Gee Woods, Georgina Boyce, Humphrey Butler, Jessie Thomas, Liv Luttrell, Minka Jewels, Otiumberg, Pippa Small , Rachel Boston, Rebus, Rosa de la Cruz, Ruth Tomlinson, Shaun Leane, Solange, Sophie Keegan, Sophie Theakston, Tada & Joy, Tessa Packard, Theo Fennell and Theodora Warre. Art auctioneer Roseberys will waive her commissions, so that 100% of the proceeds raised can go directly to Women for Afghan Women.

Shaun Lane, bracciale in argento con diamanti

Rachel Boston, orecchini in oro e diamanti

Solange Azagury-Partridge, anello in oro

Online jewelry, Christie’s in goal

Published on September 25, 2021

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Anello di diamanti Harry Winston di 5,03 carati

Until a few years ago, buying jewelry costing thousands of dollars online was just a fantasy. Today it is reality, as evidenced by the sale of Christie’s September Jewels Online, which reached a total of 3.2 million dollars with a total budget of 140% above the lowest starting estimate and with 91% of the lots awarded. The sale saw global participation with registered bidders from 32 Oaesi and attracted 20% of first-time subscribers.

Leading the sale were white diamonds offered without reserve, including a 5.03-carat Harry Winston diamond ring, which sold for $ 175,000, and 3.13-carat and 3.01-carat diamond stud earrings, which had made $ 137,500.

Anello con zaffiri e diamanti di 12,32 carati

The sale also achieved excellent results for jewels with sapphires, the birthstone for the month of September. A 12.32-carat sapphire and diamond ring sold for $ 106,250, a diamond, sapphire and emerald ring for 50,000, sapphire and diamond earrings sold for 30,000, and a retro gold and sapphire bracelet for $ 20,000.

Collana Alhambra di Van Cleef & Arpels con madreperla e onice

Orecchini in oro giallo e diamanti di Van Cleef & Arpels

Anello di Oscar Heyman con diamante fancy yellow e diamanti bianchi

Marie Antoinette’s diamonds at Christie’s auction

Published on September 8, 2021

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Jewels witnesses of great history: their intrinsic value adds an incalculable charm. As in the case of the diamonds that belonged to Marie Antoinette, queen of France who ended up on the guillotine during the French Revolution at the end of the eighteenth century. On 9 November Christie’s will put up for sale at auction in Geneva, as the first lot, 112 diamonds originally belonging to the queen (1755-1793). The stones are set in a historic pair of bracelets. The estimate is between $ 2 and $ 4 million.

Over the past 255 years Christie’s have offered many Historic Jewels from Royal Houses around the world. It is a privilege to be able to offer these exceptional and unique bracelets for sale at Christie’s where they will attract bidding from collectors globally. As seen in recent Geneva sales, the market for jewels of noble provenance continues to perform extremely well.
François Curiel, president of Christie’s Luxury

It is worthwhile to retrace the history of the jewel: in 1776 Marie Antoinette was queen of France for two years and already recognized for elegance and style. She couldn’t resist jewelry, especially diamonds. Her unhappy phrase (“if the peasants don’t have bread, they should eat brioche” seems not to have been uttered by her, but it conveys the idea of the time).

In any case, in the spring of 1776 the queen bought these two diamond bracelets for 250,000 lire, which was a huge sum for the time. According to Count Mercy-Argenteau, ambassador of Austria to France, they were paid partly in precious stones from the queen’s collection and partly with the funds the queen received from her husband, King Louis XVI. Recent discoveries by the jewelery historian Vincent Meylan show that in February 1777, in the personal papers of King Louis XVI, we read: “to the queen: down payment of 29,000 lire for the diamond bracelets she bought from Boehmer”.

Maria Antonietta, ritratta da Antoine Jean-Gros, indossa i due bracciali di diamanti

On the run with the jewels
Count Mercy-Argenteau left his post as ambassador of the Austrian Empire to France in 1790 and settled in Brussels. On 11 January 1791 he received a letter from Queen Marie Antoinette, then a prisoner at the Tuileries in Paris. She announced that she would be sending a wooden crate for safekeeping. Mercy-Argenteau kept it closed for a couple of years. On October 16, 1793, Marie Antoinette was guillotined and in February 1794 the emperor Franz II of Austria (1768-1835) ordered the opening of the box in Brussels. The inventory included “Article no. 6 – A pair of bracelets where three diamonds, with the largest set in the center, form two clips; the two clips act as clasps, each made up of four diamonds and 96 diamonds set in a collar ».

Ritratto di Maria Antonietta con bracciale

Madame Royale (1778-1851), surviving daughter of Marie Antoinette, received these jewels in January 1796 upon her arrival in Austria. Among the pieces with a traceable provenance from the Queen of France, these extraordinary bracelets are the only example to include diamonds owned by her and to maintain the exact design described in the Brussels inventory. Although it is possible that the bracelets were reassembled at a later stage, no changes were made to the overall composition and the number of diamonds, with the exception of those on the clasp, was kept identical as per inventory. Over time, the jewels have become “the property of a European royal family”, which is now selling them.

The super crypto-diamond sold by Sotheby’s

Published on July 13, 2021

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It happened: Sotheby’s sold a 101.38 carat diamond to a private and anonymous collector during an auction held in Hong Kong. The novelty, however, is that the 101.38-carat super diamond was bought with a cryptocurrency. It has not been communicated whether the cryptocurrency used is bitcoin or ethereum, the two required by the auction regulation. What is known, however, is the price paid, which is equivalent to 12.3 million dollars, on average with estimates.

The diamond, called 10138 The Key, is a flawless stone classified as a pear-shaped D. It is the first time that a precious stone of this value has been paid for with a virtual currency, which essentially allows an even more secure anonymity to the buyer, given that the virtual money is not deposited in a bank (and is therefore also protected from eyes of the taxman). Sotheby’s also recalled that the 101.38-carat diamond is the second largest pear-shaped diamond ever sold at auction, slightly surpassed by the flawless 101.73-carat Winston Legacy D sold in 2013.

Il diamante taglio a pera di oltre 101 carati

With 200 lots, the sale of Faraone Casa d’Aste is back

Published on May 19, 2021

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Anello Art Déco in platino e diamante con un raro zaffiro Ceylon ottagonale di circa 12 carati cangiante, non scaldato

There is also a return to normal with regard to auction sales of jewelery and watches. Even though Faraone Casa d’Aste has set another sale in live streaming mode for June 14th. On the other hand, the Milanese company points out, auctions in Italy in the first months of 2021 recorded turnover up by + 40%, compared to the same period in 2020. Now that the price of gold has started to rise again, the interest in precious goods as a safe haven therefore seems to be confirmed.

Demi-parure di fine XVIII secolo composta da collier con motivo floreale, pendente/spilla da corsetto e pendenti laterali adattati a orecchini, realizzata in argento, oro, diamanti e rubini

By mid-June, therefore, the auction house completed the collection of 200 lots, presented on the digital platform and the app that has already made it possible to efficiently organize remote sales, on the one hand finding a good predisposition on the part of the public. to purchase online and attract new ones. The jewelry at auction includes excellent brands, such as Cartier, Bulgari, Tiffany, Buccellati, as well as Rolex and a number of diamonds.

One of the protagonists will be an Art Deco ring in platinum and diamond with a rare iridescent octagonal Ceylon sapphire of about 12 carats, unheated and accompanied by a certificate from the Swiss foundation SSEF. Another piece to note is an ancient and rare demi-parure from the late 18th century, consisting of a necklace with floral motif, corset pendant / brooch and side pendants adapted to earrings, made of silver, gold, diamonds and rubies set with back foil. .

Pendente Art Nouveau realizzato in Spagna intorno al 1910 firmato Masriera Hs, raffigurante un profilo di dama in oro giallo 18 carati, smalti, diamanti e zaffiri

The list of niche jewelery lots also boasts a bracelet and a brooch signed Frascarolo from the Bestiario collection, an Art Nouveau pendant made in Spain around 1910 signed Masriera Hs, depicting a lady profile in 18 carat yellow gold, enamels, diamonds and sapphires and two 1950s bracelets signed by the sculptor Giò Pomodoro. An Art Nouveau-style brooch watch from 1909 in platinum, gold, guilloché enamels and rosette diamonds is by Tiffany.
Signed Cartier is an Art Deco cigarette case made in France in 18K yellow gold and black enamel, a rare 18K gold and bakelite clip watch dated around 1920/1930 with original case.

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Gioielli, Jewelry, Joaillerie, Joyas, Jewelen

asta - Page 4

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Diamonds and large Maison for Christie’s Magnificent Jewels

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Jewelery auction for San Patrignano

The adventurous story of the Tsar’s jewels sold by Sotheby’s

Marie Antoinette doubles with Christie’s

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Vintage jewels are back with Faraone Casa d’Aste

The diadems of Joséphine de Beauharnais up for auction at Sotheby’s

Sotheby’s is putting marahaja glasses up for auction

A Wallis Simpson bracelet up for auction at Christie’s

Jewelry for Afghan women

Online jewelry, Christie’s in goal

Marie Antoinette’s diamonds at Christie’s auction

The super crypto-diamond sold by Sotheby’s

With 200 lots, the sale of Faraone Casa d’Aste is back