CollectionsJun 13, 2025
Piece of the Week: Robinson Pelham’s Pear EarringsTake a bite out of the 14-karat yellow gold “Fruits of Love Pear” earrings featuring peridots, diamond stems, and tsavorite leaves.
AuctionsApr 18, 2019
Blue Diamond Ring Commands $2.3M at Sotheby’s
It led the auction house’s spring Magnificent Jewels and Fine Jewels sales in New York.
This blue diamond ring led Sotheby’s Magnificent Jewels sale in New York City this week.
New York—Blue diamonds continued to prove their popularity at Sotheby’s Wednesday during the auction house’s Magnificent Jewels sale.
A ring with a fancy intense blue diamond center stone weighing 3.24 carats and of VVS1 clarity sold for just under its $2.5-$3 million estimate, garnering $2.3 million at the jewelry auction.
Signed jewelry also topped the sale, with a much-Instagrammed 40-inch Bulgari “Serpenti” necklace that provides a plethora of styling options—it can be worn as a long Y-necklace, a multi-strand necklace, or even a belt—and features 260 carats of white diamonds commanding $920,000.
Sotheby’s Luxury Division Sales Director Frank Everett said in a press release: “Bulgari has been reinventing the ‘Serpenti’ jewels for decades, first with the gold tubogas watches that wrap and climb the wrist, later with colored enamel ‘scales,’ and now in fully-pavéd diamond contemporary pieces.
“It strikes me that no matter how often the Serpenti appears on the red carpet, the most famous and beautiful women in the world are happy to be seen in these pieces again and again. That’s the very definition of timeless and iconic.”
A diamond, coral, emerald and seed pearl pendeloque brooch from Tiffany & Co., seen at right, more than doubled its highest pre-sale estimate, $350,000, to garner $824,000 in the jewelry auction.
Dating from the Art Deco era, the design was inspired by an Indian sarpech, or turban pin, meant to dangle like a tassel over the eyebrow.
Another Tiffany & Co. creation—this one with a fascinating historical provenance—smashed its $200,000-$300,000 pre-sale estimate following what Sotheby’s called “intense competition” from five online bidders. It sold for $500,000.
The exceptionally rare enamel and diamond sautoir and pair of earrings were designed by American jeweler Paulding Farnham, who, at the turn of the 20th century, was Tiffany’s director of jewelry and pre-eminent designer, according to Sotheby’s.
The sautoir and earrings were first exhibited at the 1904 World’s Fair in St. Louis, Missouri, which celebrated the 1803 anniversary of the Louisiana Purchase.
View this post on InstagramA post shared by Frank Everett (@frankbeverett) on Apr 17, 2019 at 4:36am PDT
Gary Schuler, chairman of Sotheby’s Jewelry Division, Americas, said, “The timeless appeal of exceptionally rare signed jewelry was reasserted today in New York, with masterworks by Bulgari, Tiffany & Co., and Cartier—created over the course of a century—capturing the attention of international collectors.
“It was a thrill to bring the hammer down on these objects, which have been the subject of so much interest and attention over
the last months, and to see that attention translate into such strong bidding competition.”
Other sale highlights included the above 30.4-carat, H color, VS2 clarity round brilliant diamond ring from Betteridge, which sold for $1.16 million, and a pair of Harry Winston emerald and diamond pendant ear clips that feature two pear-shaped emeralds weighing more than 10 carats each. It sold for $764,000.
Sotheby’s Magnificent Jewels sale generated a total of $17.7 million and its concurrent Fine Jewels sale garnered $3.9 million for a total of $21.6 million.
The Fine Jewels sale was led by the below emerald and diamond brooch that toppled its $30,000-$50,000 estimate, selling for $250,000.
View this post on InstagramA post shared by Frank Everett (@frankbeverett) on Apr 15, 2019 at 5:14am PDT
Kendall Reed, Sotheby’s head of Fine Jewels and global head of Online Jewels, said: “We are incredibly pleased with the results of this afternoon’s sale, which neared our high estimate and had a strong 82 percent of lots sold.
“Similar to what we saw (at Magnificent Jewels), this result was driven by strong competition for signed pieces by celebrated makers like Cartier, Van Cleef & Arpels and Tiffany & Co., in addition to colored stones and diamonds. We continue to see enthusiastic bidding for fashionable, wearable jewelry offered at a variety of price points.”More on Auctions
The Latest
Events & AwardsJun 13, 2025
AGA to Host ‘Diamonds From Mine to Market’ Education ConferenceThe one-day virtual event will feature speakers from De Beers, GIA, and Gemworld International.
EditorsJun 12, 2025
15 Questions With Jewelry Photographer Ella SophieThe California-based creative talks jewelry photography in the modern era and tackles FAQs about working with a pro for the first time.
Brought to you by
Jewelers of America is Headed to Las Vegas for JCK 2025The countdown is on for the JCK Las Vegas Show and JA is pulling out all the stops.
Events & AwardsJun 12, 2025
Gabriel Love Foundation Introduces Scholarship Honoring Elias GabrielThe foundation has also expanded its “Stronger Together” initiative with Jewelers for Children.
Weekly QuizJun 12, 2025
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
EditorsJun 11, 2025
Q&A: Al Cook on Differentiating Natural Diamonds, Traceability, and TariffsThe De Beers Group CEO discusses the company’s new “beacon” program, the likelihood diamonds will be exempt from tariffs, and “Origin.”
MajorsJun 11, 2025
Pandora Bets on Las Vegas for First North American FlagshipThe Danish jewelry giant hosted its grand opening last weekend, complete with a Pandora pink roulette wheel.
Brought to you by
The True Power Behind the Counter: Why Sales Associates Are the Heart of the Jewelry BusinessWhen investing in your jewelry business, it's important not to overlook the most crucial element of success: the sales associates.
GradingJun 11, 2025
Tiffany Stevens Exits IGI, Lab Appoints New Board LeaderIndustry veteran Anoop Mehta is the new chairman and independent director of the IGI board.
Events & AwardsJun 11, 2025
Kering Announces Winners of Sustainability-Focused AwardThe winners of the inaugural “Kering Generation Award x Jewelry” are student Lee Min Seo and China-based startup Ianyan.
SourcingJun 10, 2025
De Beers Turns to Brown, Yellow Diamonds for New ‘Beacon’“Ombré Desert Diamonds” will emphasize cream-, champagne-, and brown-colored diamonds, shades that set natural stones apart from lab grown.
AuctionsJun 10, 2025
Noonans to Auction 16th-Century Signet RingIt's one of the “Gresham grasshopper” rings English financier Sir Thomas Gresham was known to gift to acquaintances or business associates.
CollectionsJun 10, 2025
Tabayer Names Mary Chiam as CEOThe brand also debuted its new “Zorae” collection featuring a talisman of protection and harmony inspired by a sheaf of wheat.
MajorsJun 10, 2025
Lauren Johansen Joins Loudr As Loudr’s new account manager, Johansen will partner with clients to craft and execute marketing strategies.
Events & AwardsJun 09, 2025
And the Winners of the 2025 Couture Design Awards Are … Designers were recognized in 12 categories, from platinum to pearls, before the evening ended with a new, retail-focused award.
AuctionsJun 09, 2025
Nancy Astor’s Cartier Tiara Sells for $1.2MThe rare turquoise and diamond jewel was the top lot at Bonhams’ June jewelry sale.
IndependentsJun 09, 2025
Here Are the 2025 Retailer Hall of Fame InducteesThis year’s honorees include a Midwest retailer and two multi-store independents, one in New York and the other in New England.
Events & AwardsJun 09, 2025
CASE Awards Now Accepting Entries For 2025The deadline to submit is June 16.
MajorsJun 09, 2025
RDI Diamonds Partners With LavalierThe diamond wholesaler is working with the insurance provider to seamlessly offer personal jewelry insurance to RDI retailers’ clients.
CollectionsJun 06, 2025
Piece of the Week: Harwell Godfrey’s ‘Granny Squares Eleanor’ Necklace As an homage to iconic crochet blankets, the necklace features the nostalgic motif through a kaleidoscope of cabochon-cut stones.
Events & AwardsJun 05, 2025
The 12 Fresh Faces in Couture’s Design AtelierDiscover the dozen up-and-coming brands exhibiting in the Design Atelier for the first time.
SourcingJun 05, 2025
A Rare Suite of Rubies Has Arrived in Las VegasThe “Royal Ruby” Collection is a quintet of untreated rubies curated by collector Jack Abraham.
Events & AwardsJun 05, 2025
Daymond John to Give Keynote at JCK Las VegasThe entrepreneur and “Shark Tank” star will share his top tips for success.
MajorsJun 05, 2025
Platinum Guild International Updates Leadership TeamTwo existing executives have been given new roles.
Events & AwardsJun 05, 2025
Zillion Announces 'Women in STEM' Scholarship RecipientMeredith Tiderington, an electrical engineering student, was selected for the award.
Lab-GrownJun 04, 2025
GIA Reverting to More General Terminology for Lab-Grown DiamondsIt will quit assigning the stones specific color and clarity grades in favor of applying “new descriptive terminology.”
Events & AwardsJun 04, 2025
As JCK Talks Returns, Don’t Miss These 12 SessionsFrom design trends to sustainability, here’s a roundup of can’t-miss education sessions at JCK Las Vegas.
