This Cartier charm bracelet, created in 1937 to commemorate Disney’s first animated film, earned over five times the high-end of its pre-sale estimate when it sold at Christie’s Magnificent Jewels auction in New York City Tuesday.
New York—Of all the incredible works available at Christie’s Magnificent Jewels sale, held in New York on April 16, one piece went for well above its pre-sale estimate.
The auction house predicted Cartier’s Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs bracelet—a limited-edition charm bracelet in 14-karat gold and enamel created to coincide with the release of Disney’s first animated film—would fetch between $15,000 and $20,000; not bad for an item that would have originally sold in 1937 for $100.
But the buzzed-about bracelet from the estate of Jean Tailer shattered the auction house’s prediction, selling to an undisclosed buyer for $118,750.
The most expensive piece sold at the Magnificent Jewels auction was a twin-stone fancy vivid blue diamond ring (pictured above) with diamonds weighing 3.06 and 2.61 carats, respectively, which sold for $6.7 million, right within its $6-$8 million pre-sale estimate.
The above 6.11-carat oval-shaped fancy pink diamond ring predicted to sell for between $1.2 and $1.5 million garnered about $1.4 million, while a couple of notable yellow diamonds exceeded expectations: a fancy intense yellow diamond ring weighing 37.65 carats and estimated to earn between $600,000 and $800,000 sold for more than $1 million, and a fancy intense yellow diamond pendant weighing 35.06 carats just exceeded its $500,000 to $700,000 pre-sale estimate, selling for $705,000.
This marquise diamond ring sold for nearly half a million dollars.
As for white diamond sale highlights, a 16.33-carat rectangular-cut, D-color, VVS1 clarity, potentially internally flawless Type IIa diamond ring predicted to sell for between $1.2 and $2.2 million earned about $1.6 million.
A 16.69-carat marquise-cut D-color, VVS2 clarity, potentially internally flawless diamond ring sold for nearly $1.5 million; a 21.06-carat rectangular-cut, G-color, VS2 clarity diamond ring sold for nearly $1.1 million; and a 17.08-carat square-cut, D-color, VVS2 clarity, Type IIa diamond ring sold for $915,000.
Signed pieces were a major draw to the auction and performed well.
Signed pieces, like this Van Cleef and Arpels necklace, did well at the Magnificent Jewels sale.
Christie’s predicted the above Van Cleef & Arpels ruby and diamond “zip” necklace from the collection of Jean Tailer, which also provided the Cartier Snow White bracelet, would fetch between $150,000 and $250,000, but the piece toppled that amount when it sold for $483,000.
Though a Harry Winston Burma 9.73-carat ruby and diamond ring expected to earn $250,000-$350,000 failed to meet its reserve, other pieces from the collection of
Florence and Herbert Irving commanded high prices.
A Bulgari 16.88-carat Madagascar sapphire and diamond ring from the estate of Florence and Herbert Irving. It sold for $375,000, well above its pre-sale estimate.
One was a Bulgari 16.88-carat Madagascar sapphire and diamond ring that went for $375,000, though it was predicted to sell for between $70,000 and $100,000. A Bulgari sapphire and diamond necklace, meanwhile, fell within its $100,000 to $150,000 range, earning $125,000.
Christie’s Magnificent Jewels sale garnered a total of $30.3 million, including buyer’s premium.
Ashley Davisis the senior editor, fashion at National Jeweler, covering all things related to design, style and trends.
