EditorsNov 07, 2025
Piece of the Week: An MVP’s Sapphire Tennis Necklace At the 2025 World Series, the Los Angeles Dodgers’ Yoshinobu Yamamoto sported a custom necklace made by California retailer Happy Jewelers.
AuctionsSep 25, 2018
Diamonds, Art Deco Top Auction of Gold Medalist’s Collection
Hungarian swimmer Katherine Domyan’s estate included a Van Cleef & Arpels ruby and diamond bracelet that sold for $504,000 at a jewelry auction in New York.
This Van Cleef & Arpels late Art Deco ruby and diamond bracelet sold for $504,000 at the Bonhams New York Fine Jewelry sale last week, just topping its highest pre-sale estimate of $500,000.
New York—Diamonds and Art Deco shone brightly during the recent auction of an Olympic champion’s expansive jewelry collection.
On Sept. 21, Bonhams New York offered jewelry from the estate of Katherine Domyan, two-time gold medalist, as part of its Fine Jewelry sale.
Domyan was born in Budapest, Hungary, the daughter of two-time Olympic champion water polo player Marton Homonnai and Hungarian swimming champion Katalin Szoke.
She competed in the 1952 Helsinki Olympics at the age of 17, winning two gold medals and setting world records, and won gold again at the 1954 European Aquatics Championships in Turin, Italy.
Domyan and the man who would become her husband, Arpad, also an accomplished athlete, both competed in the 1956 Olympics in Melbourne, Australia.
After the ‘56 Games ended, Domyan and dozens of other Hungarian athletes defected, declining to return home to Soviet rule. They were stranded in Australia until Sports Illustrated magazine stepped in to help, and were granted political asylum in the United States in late 1956.
She moved to the United States in 1957 and married Arpad four years later. In the U.S., the couple built a successful real estate business, building offices and apartment complexes nationwide.
Domyan died in October 2017 at the age of 82.
When her jewelry went up on the block last week in New York, her Art Deco and diamond pieces proved to be the most popular.
Her jewelry lots were led by an Art Deco-era ruby and diamond bracelet by Van Cleef & Arpels. The piece featured a geometric openwork design centered on three rectangular-shaped emerald-cut rubies, flanked by half-moon-shaped diamonds and set throughout with baguette and round brilliant-cut diamonds accented by calibré-cut rubies.
It went for $504,500, just topping its pre-sale high estimate of $500,000.
Following that was Domyan’s Harry Winston necklace circa 1984, pictured below, featuring 86.30 carats of diamonds, which went for $492,500, falling within its pre-sale estimate of $350,000- $550,000. 
This was followed by the Harry Winston ring seen below.
The ring, circa 1985, centered on an emerald-cut diamond weighing 23.13 carats flanked by trillion-shaped diamonds and set in platinum. It sold for $444,500, topping a pre-sale estimate of $250,000 -$350,000.
Another of the top lots was a second Harry Winston fringe necklace, this one with a total diamond weight of 66.20 carats, which sold for $ 324,500.
Domyan’s David Webb jewelry also was in high demand at the sale, according to Bonhams.
Top lots included a rock crystal, diamond and ruby bangle that sold for $70,000; an emerald and diamond necklace that garnered $75,000; and a pair of enamel and diamond cuffs, which sold for $56,250, exceeding their pre-sale estimate of $30,000 to $40,000.
The collection ended up selling 59 lots for a total of $2.9 million.
The collection ended up selling 59 lots for a total of $2.9 million.
More on Auctions
The Latest
IndependentsNov 07, 2025
Foundrae’s New Palm Beach Location Is a ‘Golden Solarium’The brand’s seventh location combines Foundrae’s symbolic vocabulary with motifs from Florida’s natural surroundings.
FinancialsNov 07, 2025
Watches of Switzerland’s H1 Sales Up 8%The retailer also shared an update on the impact of tariffs on watch customers.
Brought to you by
Jewelers of America Aligns New Mission to Create Meaningful Impact for MembersFrom educational programs, advocacy, and recent MJSA affiliation, Jewelers of America drives progress that elevates businesses of all sizes.
SourcingNov 06, 2025
Pink Tourmaline Bracelet, Emerald Suite Take Top Spectrum Honors Pink and purple stones were popular in the AGTA’s design competition this year, as were cameos and ocean themes.
Weekly QuizNov 06, 2025
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
IndependentsNov 06, 2025
Greenwich St. Jewelers Hosts Raffle Supporting Food RescueAll proceeds from the G. St x Jewel Boxing raffle will go to City Harvest, which works to end hunger in New York City.
IndependentsNov 06, 2025
Cornell’s Jewelers Names New PresidentCourtney Cornell is part of the third generation to lead the Rochester, New York-based jeweler.
SourcingNov 06, 2025
De Beers’ Production, Sales Increase in Q3 De Beers also announced more changes in its upper ranks ahead of parent company Anglo American’s pending sale of the company.
WatchesNov 05, 2025
Shinola President Steps Down Just as He Starts Former Signet CEO Mark Light will remain president of Shinola until a replacement for Ulrich Wohn is found.
FinancialsNov 05, 2025
Pandora Posts Modest Q3 Sales Growth Amid ‘Weak’ Consumer Sentiment The company focused on marketing in the third quarter and introduced two new charm collections, “Pandora Talisman” and “Pandora Minis.”
FinancialsNov 05, 2025
Brilliant Earth’s Q3 Sales Climb 10%The jewelry retailer raised its full-year guidance, with CFO Jeff Kuo describing the company as “very well positioned” for the holidays.
Policies & IssuesNov 04, 2025
Supreme Court to Hear Tariffs Case WednesdayAhead of the hearing, two industry organizations co-signed an amicus brief urging the court to declare Trump’s tariffs unlawful.
MajorsNov 04, 2025
Danny Clark to Become Stuller CEO, Succeeding Matt StullerStuller COO Belit Myers will take on the additional role of president, with all changes effective at the start of 2026.
ColumnistsNov 04, 2025
Peter Smith: What Do Birds Have to Do With the Price of Gold? Smith cautions retailers against expending too much energy on things they can’t control, like the rising price of gold.
TrendsNov 04, 2025
Amanda’s Style File: Fall Colors for November BirthdaysCitrine and topaz are birthstones fit for fall as the leaves change color and the holiday season approaches.
IndependentsNov 04, 2025
Weston Jewelers Heads to Fort LauderdaleThe family-owned jeweler will open its fourth store in Florida in late 2027.
CrimeNov 03, 2025
Men Dressed as Construction Workers Burglarize Jeweler’s Home The NYPD is looking for three men who stole a safe and jewelry valued at $3.2 million from the home of a jeweler in Jamaica Hills, Queens.
MajorsNov 03, 2025
Matthew Rosenheim Takes Over as JA Board ChairThe trade organization also announced its executive committee and five new directors.
CollectionsNov 03, 2025
Muse’s ‘Have a Heart’ Collab Returns, Now With DDGThe “Have a Heart x Diamonds Do Good” collection is championed by model and humanitarian Flaviana Matata and will benefit her foundation.
TrendsOct 31, 2025
Piece of the Week: A Spinner Fit for ‘Frankenstein’This “Mother Father” spinner necklace from Heavenly Vices Fine Jewelry draws inspiration from Victorian Era jewelry.
CrimeOct 31, 2025
5 More Arrested in Louvre Heist, Jewelry Still Missing The suspects were rounded up in Paris and its suburbs on Wednesday night, but none of the stolen jewels were recovered with them.
Recorded WebinarsOct 31, 2025
Watch: How to Master Google Reviews for Your BusinessExperts share top tips on how to encourage positive reviews and handle negative feedback.
Supplier BulletinOct 30, 2025
Protect Your Customers and Your BusinessSponsored by the Gemological Institute of America
CrimeOct 30, 2025
29-Year-Old Man Charged in Multiple Seattle-Area Smash and Grabs The suspect faces charges in the August robbery of Menashe & Sons Jewelers and is accused of committing smash and grabs at two pawn shops.
Lab-GrownOct 30, 2025
Alison Lou’s New Collection Uses Lab-Grown Diamonds and ResinThe “Lumière Fine” collection was born from designer Alison Chemla’s interest in the transformative power of light.
TrendsOct 30, 2025
Amanda’s Style File: A Haunted HalloweenShow off your spooky side with these 12 festive jewels.
