Auctions

Christie’s Magnificent Jewels Auction Totals Nearly $59M in New York

AuctionsDec 07, 2022

Christie’s Magnificent Jewels Auction Totals Nearly $59M in New York

After a 13-carat pink diamond was pulled ahead of the sale, blue and colorless diamonds reigned supreme.

20221207_Christies-5.jpg
This 2.21-carat fancy intense blue diamond ring was one of the top lots in the Christie’s New York Magnificent Jewels auction held Dec. 6.
New York—After a big pink diamond was pulled prior to the auction, big blue and colorless diamonds reigned supreme at the Dec. 6 Magnificent Jewels sale at Christie’s New York.

The auction was 93 percent sold by lot and totaled $58.8 million.

The top lot of the sale was a necklace set with a 31.62-carat fancy blue pear modified brilliant-cut diamond. It garnered $11.8 million, falling within its pre-sale estimate range.

At No. 2 was a pendant necklace featuring a pear brilliant-cut diamond weighing 86.64 carats and 78 pear diamonds, set in platinum and white gold, which also fell within its estimate when it sold for $5.7 million.

Next up there was a signed Graff brooch centered on a 107.46-carat fancy yellow round-cornered square diamond, with round and baguette-cut diamond accents and set in 18-karat white and yellow gold that sold for $2.6 million.

See: The Top 5 Lots of the NY Magnificent Jewels Auction

Rounding out the top five lots were two platinum rings, one with a 51.60-carat near colorless oval diamond, which went for $2.5 million, and the other with a 2.21-carat fancy intense blue oval diamond, which went for slightly above its pre-sale estimate when it garnered $2.3 million. 

There was also an unmounted 104.04-carat fancy intense yellow modified pear diamond that sold for $2.3 million, and a ring featuring a 5-carat fancy vivid blue modified pear double rose-cut diamond with single-cut diamond accents in platinum that garnered $2.1 million. 

Meanwhile, a Van Cleef & Arpels mystery-set ruby, emerald, and diamond flower brooch more than doubled the low end of its estimate when it sold for $1.2 million, and a circa 1948 diamond palm tree brooch from Cartier, featuring a 13.30-carat round brilliant-cut diamond and marquise, baguette, round, and single-cut diamond accents, sold for $1 million, compared with a pre-sale estimate range of between $500,000 and $700,000. 

 Related stories will be right here … 

A pair of colored diamond earrings—comprised of a fancy deep grayish blue heart shape diamond, fancy intense yellow heart shape diamond, and a colorless heart diamond on one, and a fancy intense purplish pink heart shape diamond, a fancy vivid yellow heart diamond, and a heart shape black diamond on the other—also went for $1.4 million. They were only estimated to sell for $250,000-$350,000.

Had it not been withdrawn from the sale a few weeks ago—Christie’s gave no explanation why—the top lot likely would have been a 13.15-carat fancy vivid pink diamond.

The initial estimate on the VVS1/potentially IF stone was $25 million to $35 million.

To see the full results of the Dec. 6 New York Magnificent Jewels auction, visit Christies.com

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