Recent Fine Jewelry #Auction at Bonham’s Brings in Over $4 million….

by Robyn Hawk on December 22, 2014


Bonham’s Shares A Few Of Their Favorite Things From the Fine Jewelry Auction

According to Bonham’s, there was intense online bidding and a quick competitive telephone bidding throughout the afternoon, bringing the Fine Jewelry auction at Bonhams New York to a triumphant close, with sales totaling over $4 million.

Colored gems, classic designs, and signature pieces performed fantastically, and Susan Abeles, Vice President and Director of the Jewelry at Bonhams North America, said: ‘Contemporary signed jewels continue to thrive in the auction environment. The sale was dominated by colorful pieces which were well received by an international audience.’


Notable highlights of the afternoon include:


✦  An exquisite diamond ring by Cartier, weighing 8.45 carats, which realized $293,000.
✦ Kashmir sapphire & diamond ring, made $118,750, almost twice the high estimate.
✦  A late Art Deco ruby and diamond bracelet (c. 1935), with a total diamond weight of 
                                               14.00 carats, which sold for $106,250.

  ✦   Sapphire (3.20 ct) and Old European Diamonds (6.85 ctw) brooch with a combined 
           weight of 10.05 carats, which realized $112,500: 9 times the high estimate. 


✦ Renaissance Revival suite of sapphire, demantoid garnet and enamel jewelry (c. 1920),   fashioned by Louis Comfort Tiffany, soared past its high estimate making $161,000.

✦   Colombian emerald cabochon ring weighing approximately 50 carats, surrounded by 
      diamonds. It achieved $106,250, over 3 times the high estimate.

✦  A pair of natural button pearl diamond ear studs, each over 10mm,  mounted in 18k white gold.  Accompanied by GIA report #5161602019, dated October 8, 2014, stating: “the pearls are of natural origin, saltwater, no indications of treatment.”   Achieved  $45,000


Earlier in December…. there seemed to be a resurgence of ruby-adorned jewelry at the London auction…a fact quickly confirmed with the crazy results from a pair of Art Deco, ruby and diamond clip brooches made by Cartier around 1930. They achieved an astonishing £482,500 after pre-sale estimates of £80,000-120,00 – followed by two ruby rings which far exceeded their pre-sale estimates.


First, a single-stone ring set with a large Burmese ruby, fashioned by the renowned jewelers Van Cleef & Arples in 1923, rose past the estimate of £80,000-100,000 to make $548,163. 
Burmese ruby, in a setting made around 1930, and set with a cushion-cut stone weighing over 6 carats, fetched $548,462  after it was set to achieve £50,000-80,000.

As if the bidders needed more convincing, a beautiful belle époque ruby and diamond necklace made more than twice its top estimate, selling for $191,688, while another pair of Art Deco, ruby and diamond pendent earrings by Cartier more than doubled their lower estimate to achieve £72,100.


It was not all rubies, however, as sapphires also performed strongly, with a Cartier Art Deco sapphire and diamond ring making $323, 131, and an octagonal-cut sapphire and diamond ring realizing £146,500, twice its estimate.

Jean Ghika, Head of Jewelry UK and Europe, said: ‘We achieved some outstanding results in the sale, particularly for period jewels and colored gem stones. The collection of Burmese rubies performed exceptionally well, proving that these rare gems continue to have an enduring appeal.’

It was a very busy December for Bonhams and the next Fine Jewelry sale in New York will be April 2015, and a selection of jewelry from the estate of Lauren Bacall will be offered as part of The Lauren Bacall Collection on March 31 and April 1 2015.

Bonhams, founded in 1793, is one of the world’s largest auctioneers of fine art and antiques. The present company was formed by the merger in November 2001 of Bonhams & Brooks and Phillips Son & Neale. In August 2002, the company acquired Butterfields, the principal firm of auctioneers on the West Coast of America. Today, Bonhams offers more sales than any of its rivals, through two major salerooms in London: New Bond Street and Knightsbridge; and a further three in the UK regions and Scotland. Sales are also held in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Carmel, New York and Connecticut in the USA; and Germany, France, Monaco, Hong Kong and Australia. Bonhams has a worldwide network of offices and regional representatives in 25 countries offering sales advice and valuation services in 60 specialist areas. For a full listing of sales, plus details of Bonhams specialist departments go to  www.bonhams.com

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