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FANCY COLOR DIAMONDS

Fancy vivid yellow VS2 clarity diamond

The fancy vivid yellow VS2 clarity diamond weighing 70.19 carats, which sold for $2.85 million at Christie’s in New York on December 8. (Photo courtesy of Christie’s)

NOT A PINK OR A BLUE FANCY COLOR,
BUT RATHER A YELLOW TAKES TOP SPOT AT CHRISTIE’S

 

Fancy colored diamonds have perennially stolen the thunder at major jewelry auction in recent years, but generally in more limited range of colors – most often pinks and blue stones. Not so at Christie’s on December 8 in New York, where the top lot was a yellow diamond, which pulled in $2.85 million, at the upper end of its pre-sale estimate of between $2 million and $3 million.

To be sure, it was a massive stone, weighing 70.19 carats. Described as fancy vivid yellow with VS2 clarity by the Gemological Institute of America, the diamond was polished with a cut-cornered rectangular shape.

According to Christie’s, the New York sale achieved a total value of close to $55 million, with 91 percent sold by lot, 94 percent sold by value, and prices generally 20 percent above the low estimate. There was global participation with registered bidders representing 30 countries across five continents.

The fancy dark gray-blue internally flawless diamond ring of 8.74 carats, ,which sold for $2.61 million. (Photo courtesy of Christie’s)

OTHER NOTABLE FANCY COLOR DIAMONDS

The 70.19-carat yellow diamond was not the only fancy color stone to go on the block at Christie’s New York sale. Other notable results were achieved for a rare fancy vivid orangey pink diamond ring of 5.38 carats, VS2 clarity, which realized $2.67 million, midway between its pre-sale estimate of between $2.2 million and $3.2 million. Conventional thinking before the sales was this pinkish stone would have been the top lot.

Also fetching a high price was a fancy dark gray-blue diamond ring of 8.74 carats, internally flawless, which brought in $2.61 million. This was well above the $1.2 million to $1.5 million that was predicted earlier.

Also beating its pre-sale estimate was a fancy blue pear-modified brilliant-cut diamond of 7.00 carats, with VS2 clarity. It sold for $2.19 million, above the end of pre-sale estimate, which has been $1.4 million to $1.8 million

A notable collection included in the sale was “A Superlative Eye: Property from a Distinguished Chicago Collection,” which was highlighted by a strong selection of Art Deco Cartier jewels. The collection achieved exceptional results for an impressive Graff ruby and diamond ring that realized $1,290,000; an Art Deco emerald, sapphire and diamond brooch once belonging to wife of Cole Porter, the famous singer, which achieved $381,250; and a Cartier Art Deco multi-gem and diamond Egyptian revival brooch that realized over three times its high estimate and sold for $268,750.

VAN CLEEF & ARPELS JEWELRY HIGHLIGHTED

Other highlights of the sale were eight lots of Van Cleef & Arpels Mystery-Set jewels, which represent the culmination of Van Cleef & Arpels’ revolutionary spirit of innovation and design.

Notable results include: a sapphire and diamond double-flower brooch that sold for $575,000; a ruby and diamond bracelet that achieved $525,000; and a ruby and diamond pendant-earrings that realized $412,500.

Other impressive prices were realized for an important Kashmir sapphire ring of 17.73 carats that achieved more than double its high estimate and sold for $2,070,000.

A fancy intense yellow diamond ring of 44.12 carats sold for $1,.11 million, and a Van Cleef & Arpels Art Deco diamond bracelet previously featured in the exhibition “The Jazz Age: American Style in the 1920s” at the Cleveland Museum of Art in Ohio and the Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum in New York achieved a price of $1.23 million.

 

The fancy vivid orangey pink diamond ring of 5.38 carats, with VS2 clarity, which realized $2.67 million. (Photo courtesy of Christie’s)

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