Sotheby’s New York Sale of Magnificent Jewels To be held on December 9, 2008 This December Sotheby’s will hold its annual Jewelry Week in New York including
the sale of Magnificent Jewels on December 9, 2008
News-Antique.com - Nov 18,2008 - ·Offering Precious Gems in a Spectrum of Color·
·60th Anniversary Tribute to David Webb
New York, New York – This December Sotheby’s will hold its annual Jewelry Week in New York including
the sale of Magnificent Jewels on December 9, 2008 and public lectures presented by leading experts from
David Webb, The Calder Foundation and Sotheby’s on December 6-7. Featuring spectacular diamonds and
precious gemstones from Private Collections, the December auction encompasses a spectrum of color,
offering the best of each, ranging from the whitest diamond to the purest blue Kashmir sapphire. Also
bringing to the market an array of signed jewels and period designs, this sale will appeal to connoisseurs and
collectors seeking unique jeweled works of art and precious gems of the highest caliber.
Lisa Hubbard, Chairman of Jewelry, North & South America comments: “While we have seen markets
changing around the world recently, there has also been consistent demand for unique jewels and gemstones
of high quality. Our sale this December includes special pieces that should transcend market conditions, from
one-of-a-kind designs by David Webb to the storied jewels once in the collections of American legends such
as Babe Paley and Jay Gould, as well as European and Russian noble families. For those collectors who
consider rare gemstones wearable assets, we have remarkable stones from private collections, each of which
perfectly combines pure color, beautiful shape and significant size. It’s a very interesting sale that presents
enticing choices before the holiday season.”
One of the most exceptional stones on offer is the centerpiece of a Sapphire and Diamond Brooch, circa
1900, the Property of a Lady (lot 434, $1.8/2.2 million*, pictured on page 1). Set with a breathtaking
Kashmir sapphire of 27.05 carats, the jewel is completed with approximately 10.50 carats of old-mine
diamonds. It is notable that the sapphire is accompanied by a recent letter from the Gubelin Gem Lab stating
that the stone “possesses a saturated colour and a finely proportioned cut. In addition, this gemstone has
been spared of thermal treatment. Such a combination of characteristics is rare in natural Kashmir sapphires
of this size.”
The cover lot of the sale is a
spectacular Fancy Vivid Yellow
Diamond Ring set with an oval
natural colored diamond weighing
36.99 carats that is internally
flawless. The Property of a Florida
Collector, the fancy vivid yellow
diamond is flanked by 2 shieldshaped
diamonds weighing 3.48
and 3.25 carats, both D color, VS2 and VS1 clarity respectively (lot 419, est. $2/3 million). Also included in
the sale is an important pear-shaped Fancy Intense Pink Diamond Ring of 6.32 carats, SI2 clarity that is
from a Distinguished Private Collector (lot 408, est. $1.5/2 million).
Fancy Intense Pink Diamond Ring,
6.32 carats, lot 408, est. $1.5/2 million
Fancy Vivid Yellow Diamond Ring,
36.99 carats, lot 419, est. $2/3 million
Complementing the magnificent colored diamonds and gemstones on
offer will be highly important white diamonds including a Diamond Ring,
mounted by Boucheron, Paris (lot 429, est. $1/1.5 million). Possessing
both charm
