ColumnistsFeb 04, 2026
January Jewelry Sales: More Dollars Spent, Fewer Units Sold Sherry Smith unpacks independent retailers’ January performance and gives tips for navigating the slow-growth year ahead.
AuctionsApr 26, 2017
Historic ‘Stotesbury Emerald’ Sells at Sotheby’s
The top lot of the NY sale, though, was a pair of earrings with emerald-cut diamonds weighing 20.29 and 20.02 carats that went for $5.3 million.
The Stotesbury Emerald, a 34.40-carat hexagonal gemstone, sold for $996,500 at Sotheby’s New York on Tuesday.
New York--The 34.40-carat “Stotesbury Emerald,” which has passed through the hands of three well-known American jewelry collectors in its history, sold for $996,500 Tuesday.
The final hammer price for the stone, which appeared in the Sotheby’s New York Magnificent Jewels sale, fell within its pre-sale estimate of between $800,000 and $1.2 million.
The 34.40-carat hexagonal stone has been in a number of different settings over the years, with the style changing based on its owners’ desires.
According to Sotheby’s, the green gemstone first belonged to American mining heiress and Washington, D.C., socialite Evalyn Walsh McLean, and was set in a Cartier pendant that also featured the 94.80-carat pear-shaped Star of the East diamond.
Just a few years later, after an exchange between her and the jewelry house involving the emerald and the Hope diamond went south and led to a court battle, the emerald ended up back in Cartier’s possession.
The next owner was Eva Stotesbury, the daughter of a well-known lawyer. She acquired many of her great jewels during her second marriage, to prominent financier Edward Stotesbury. She had the emerald, which would thereafter bear her name, set in a pendant with diamonds as part of a Cartier suite.
In 1943, that suite was sold to none other than Harry Winston, who set the emeralds in the suite into more contemporary pieces, according to Sotheby’s. The Stotesbury was set in a ring, the setting it still is in today, and sold to American socialite, philanthropist and jewelry collector May Bonfils Stanton.
The 34-carat emerald next appeared in the 1971 sale of Stanton’s estate by Parke-Bernet Galleries, where it went to a private buyer and has remained until its sale at Sotheby’s this week. 
The emerald was the sixth highest-grossing lot in the sale, which totaled nearly $29 million.
The top lot was a pair of earrings (pictured above) comprised of two square emerald-cut diamonds weighing 20.29 and 20.02 carats, topped by two smaller square emerald-cut diamonds weighing 1.01 carats each and further accented with small round diamonds weighing approximately 0.70 carats. They sold for $5.3 million.
The earrings were followed by a rose gold pendant, set with an 11.19-carat pear-shaped fancy pink diamond that garnered $2.4 million; an emerald-cut fancy gray-blue diamond weighing 5.07 carats, accented on the mounting by baguette, triangle and single-cut diamonds weighing approximately 0.30 carats, which sold for $1.6 million; and a pair of earrings
featuring two suspended pear-shaped diamonds weighing 7.36 and 7.03 carats, topped by six round sapphires weighing approximately 1 carat, which went for $1.3 million.
Also topping the $1-million mark was a cut-cornered square mixed-cut fancy vivid green diamond weighing 1.64 carats, flanked by two cut-cornered triangle-shaped diamonds weighing approximately 0.65 carats, which sold for $1.2 million.
Also topping the $1-million mark was a cut-cornered square mixed-cut fancy vivid green diamond weighing 1.64 carats, flanked by two cut-cornered triangle-shaped diamonds weighing approximately 0.65 carats, which sold for $1.2 million.
More on Auctions
The Latest
MajorsFeb 04, 2026
What Designers Should Know About Saks Global’s BankruptcyFrom how to get an invoice paid to getting merchandise returned, JVC’s Sara Yood answers some complex questions.
TrendsFeb 04, 2026
Amanda’s Style File: February Birthstone BlissAmethyst, the birthstone for February, is a gemstone to watch this year with its rich purple hue and affordable price point.
Brought to you by
The MJSA Mentor & Apprenticeship Program: Attracting & Training the Next Generation of Bench JewelersLaunched in 2023, the program will help the passing of knowledge between generations and alleviate the shortage of bench jewelers.
MajorsFeb 04, 2026
Marco Bicego Names New Global Marketing DirectorThe Italian jewelry company appointed Matteo Cuelli to the newly created role.
Weekly QuizJan 29, 2026
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
MajorsFeb 04, 2026
Frederick Goldman Updates Leadership TeamThe manufacturer said the changes are designed to improve speed, reliability, innovation, and service.
Policies & IssuesFeb 03, 2026
Tariff Relief on Horizon for India as Trump, Modi Make DealPresident Trump said he has reached a trade deal with India, which, when made official, will bring relief to the country’s diamond industry.
Brought to you by
How Jewelers Can Fight Back Against Cell JammersCriminals are using cell jammers to disable alarms, but new technology like JamAlert™ can stop them.
CollectionsFeb 03, 2026
Jade Trau Releases New Charms, Introduces RondellesThe designer’s latest collection takes inspiration from her classic designs, reimagining the motifs in new forms.
WatchesFeb 03, 2026
Casio America Calls Jersey City HomeThe watchmaker moved its U.S. headquarters to a space it said fosters creativity and forward-thinking solutions in Jersey City, New Jersey.
SourcingFeb 03, 2026
Nivoda Reveals Upgraded Gemstone MarketplaceThe company also announced a new partnership with GemGuide and the pending launch of an education-focused membership program.
GradingFeb 02, 2026
IGI to Acquire American Gemological Laboratories IGI is buying the colored gemstone grading laboratory through IGI USA, and AGL will continue to operate as its own brand.
CrimeFeb 02, 2026
Ylang 23’s Dallas Store BurglarizedThe Texas jeweler said its team is “incredibly resilient” and thanked its community for showing support.
EditorsFeb 02, 2026
Stars Choose Chokers, Elongated Earrings at 2026 GrammysFrom cool-toned metal to ring stacks, Associate Editor Natalie Francisco highlights the jewelry trends she spotted at the Grammy Awards.
CollectionsFeb 02, 2026
2026 Winter Olympic Medal Design Symbolizes UnityThe medals feature a split-texture design highlighting the fact that the 2026 Olympics are taking place in two different cities.
SurveysJan 30, 2026
These Are the Top Brands of 2026, Says YouGovFrom tech platforms to candy companies, here’s how some of the highest-ranking brands earned their spot on the list.
CollectionsJan 30, 2026
Follow the Beat With Etiq’s ‘Khol’ RingThe “Khol” ring, our Piece of the Week, transforms the traditional Indian Khol drum into playful jewelry through hand-carved lapis.
MajorsJan 30, 2026
Arch Crown’s 2026 ‘Tag & Label’ Catalog Is HereThe catalog includes more than 100 styles of stock, pre-printed, and custom tags and labels, as well as bar code technology products.
CollectionsJan 29, 2026
Ghirardelli’s ‘Chocolocket’ Returns for Valentine’s DayThe chocolatier is bringing back its chocolate-inspired locket, offering sets of two to celebrate “perfect pairs.”
SourcingJan 29, 2026
Stuller Website to Mark AGTA-Sourced GemstonesAny gemstones on Stuller.com that were sourced by an AGTA vendor member will now bear the association’s logo.
WatchesJan 29, 2026
Audemars Piguet Opens AP House in AtlantaThe Swiss watchmaker has brought its latest immersive boutique to Atlanta, a city it described as “an epicenter of music and storytelling.”
SourcingJan 28, 2026
Ethical Gem Fair to Debut Designer Showcase in TucsonThe new addition will feature finished jewelry created using “consciously sourced” gemstones.
ColumnistsJan 28, 2026
Peter Smith: Setting the Next Generation Up for SuccessIn his new column, Smith advises playing to your successor's strengths and resisting the urge to become a backseat driver.
SurveysJan 28, 2026
Consumer Confidence Falls Below Pandemic Lows in JanuaryThe index fell to its lowest level since May 2014 amid concerns about the present and the future.
IndependentsJan 28, 2026
Foundrae Heads to Aspen for Latest Store OpeningThe new store in Aspen, Colorado, takes inspiration from a stately library for its intimate yet elevated interior design.
FinancialsJan 28, 2026
Tiffany & Co., Bulgari Sales Resilient as LVMH’s 2025 Sales SlipThe brands’ high jewelry collections performed especially well last year despite a challenging environment.
CollectionsJan 27, 2026
De Beers London, GemFair Debut New Collection Highlighting Artisanal DiamondsThe collection marks the first time GemFair’s artisanal diamonds will be brought directly to consumers.
