Supplier BulletinAug 13, 2026
Your Piece Could Be the One Editors Talk AboutSponsored by American Gem Trade Association
AuctionsDec 03, 2019
Hemmerle Auction Smashes Pre-Sale Estimates
All but one lot exceeded predictions, with some selling for more than five times their estimated ranges.
The recent Fine Jewels auction at Sotheby’s London was notable for selling the largest single-owner Hemmerle collection to be offered at auction. All but one of the jewels outdid its pre-sale estimates.
London—The Sotheby’s London Fine Jewels auction last week showed a strong demand for signed pieces from contemporary jewelry masters.
Each of the 12 one-of-a-kind jewels from the largest single-owner Hemmerle collection to be offered at auction sold, with all but one exceeding their pre-sale price ranges and some going for five times those amounts.
The most expensive jewel sold was the above necklace with a blackened silver chain, tsavorite garnet links and an early 19th century jasper cameo pendant, surrounded by emeralds and tsavorites.
It smashed its pre-sale estimates of $18,500 to $24,600, selling for $144,855.
The above pair of pineapple-shaped earrings featuring large gray and orange-brown old-mine-cut diamonds and 19th century cameos—expected to earn between $24,600 and $36,900—earned a cool $88,523.
A diamond and colored diamond pendant necklace and brooch, meanwhile, fetched $80,475, compared with its $51,504 to $77,256 pre-sale estimate, and a pair of tourmaline and green sapphire earrings upended its $9,013 to $11,588 estimate when it garnered $64,380.
The above diamond brooches, which convert to hair clips, garnered $56,333, compared with their $25,752 to $38,628 estimated price range, while the below spinel and pink sapphire earrings sold for an impressive $48,285, compared with their $12,876 to $19,314 pre-sale expectation.
The bidding wars didn’t stop there.
A pair of lava cameo and colored diamonds earrings earned $48,285—compared with their $12,876 to $19,314 estimate—and a campy sapphire and diamond Mickey Mouse brooch sold for $45,066, though it was only expected to fetch between $15,451 and $23,177.
A pair of emerald and tsavorite garnet earrings predicted to earn between $10,301 and $15,451 sold for $45,066, and a pair of tourmaline, sapphire and emerald earrings expected to sell for between $12,876 and $19,314 fetched $41,847.
A pair of colored diamond earrings were the sole Hemmerle lot to fall within their estimated price range ($25,752-$38,628), selling for $32,190.
A separate pair of lava cameo and colored diamond earrings from the pair mentioned above, meanwhile, earned $28,971, though they were predicted to sell for between $12,876 and $19,314.
Hemmerle is a fourth-generation jewelry house based in Munich, Germany. The jeweler makes a biannual stateside visit to TEFAF in New York City.
Editors' Picks
Sponsored by
More on Auctions
The Latest
FinancialsAug 13, 2026
Pandora’s ‘Talisman’ Collection Shines, Lab-Grown Diamond Sales FallIn the United States, second-quarter sales were flat amid soft consumer sentiment and lower in-store traffic.
SourcingAug 13, 2026
2,488-Carat Diamond, Largest Found in Botswana, Has a New Owner Lucara Diamond Corp., which recovered the “Motswedi” diamond from the Karowe mine, sold the stone for an undisclosed amount.
Brought to you by
Why More Jewelry Retailers Are Hosting Turnkey Estate Buying EventsRetailers are seeking new ways to attract customers, increase traffic, and create revenue – Estate buying events are a popular solution.
CollectionsAug 13, 2026
John Hardy Infuses ‘Icon,’ ‘Heishi’ Collections with ColorThe expanded collections now feature hand-cut gemstones like topaz, tanzanite, chrysoprase, chalcedony, smoky quartz, and fire opal.
Weekly QuizAug 13, 2026
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
Lab-GrownAug 13, 2026
Jean Dousset Opens Third StoreThe lab-grown diamond jewelry brand’s newest boutique is in Westfield Valley Fair in Santa Clara, California.
SourcingAug 12, 2026
Eshed-Gemstar on the Painstaking Process of Cutting ‘The Legacy Emerald’The gemstone supplier and manufacturer acquired the remarkable 104-gram Zambian emerald at Gemfields’ auction in May.
Brought to you by
Wedding Band Trends 2026: Personalization Takes Center StageColored gemstones, artisan finishes, mixed metals, and meaningful details are shaping demand in bridal jewelry.
CrimeAug 12, 2026
Elderly NYC Woman Targeted in Jewelry Swap SchemeTwo suspects offered to trade the woman a “winning” lottery ticket for her jewelry.
SourcingAug 12, 2026
Another Diamond Mine Poised to CloseFinsch has been in business rescue since May, and owner Petra Diamonds said it sees no viable path forward for the mine.
CrimeAug 12, 2026
Jewelry Store Employee Gets 20 Years to Life in Choking Death of BossMichel Patrick DeSalles was sentenced after pleading guilty to the 2017 murder of Omid Gholian, who owned a jewelry store in Manhattan.
MajorsAug 12, 2026
Frederick Goldman Names New SVP of SalesLongtime industry executive Beth Miller has taken on the role.
MajorsAug 11, 2026
Signet Jewelers Selects Mattel Exec to Lead Zales, BanterJamie Cygielman will take on the role on Aug. 24.
IndependentsAug 11, 2026
Polly’s Fine Jewelry Co-Owner Richard Moore Dies at 69Moore, Polly’s husband, is remembered as a family man with an easygoing spirit and a love for sports and the outdoors.
ColumnistsAug 11, 2026
Creative Connecting: How to Sell Colored Gemstones to Gen ZDuvall O’Steen and Jen Cullen Williams share the best ways to display, present, and explain colored gemstones to younger customers.
Events & AwardsAug 11, 2026
NAJA Announces Lineup For 2026 Fall Virtual ConferenceThe mid-year conference for jewelry and watch appraisers will take place Sept. 5-6 on Zoom.
TechnologyAug 10, 2026
Colorado Jeweler Launches Customization Tool He Built HimselfHonest Hands Ring Co. Founder Benjamin Bosworth shared his thoughts on jewelry technology and why AI can never replace the human element.
MajorsAug 10, 2026
QVC Exits Chapter 11 Bankruptcy, Names New Interim CEOQVC Group President and CEO David Rawlinson is temporarily being replaced by a familiar face, former QVC CEO Mike George.
CollectionsAug 10, 2026
State Property Puts a Ripple in the ‘The Voyager’ CollectionThe brand also added two one-of-a-kind brown diamond pieces to the “Sanssouci” series of its “Gardens” collection.
MajorsAug 10, 2026
And IJO’s 2026 Vendor of the Year Is … Ostbye took home top vendor honors at the Independent Jewelers Organization’s show, held last month in Kentucky.
Supplier BulletinAug 07, 2026
Why More Jewelry Retailers Are Hosting Turnkey Estate Buying EventsSponsored by Stratus Estate Buyers
MajorsAug 07, 2026
Retail Veteran Pam Cloud Appointed President of Blue NileCloud, who will officially join Blue Nile on Monday, spent 26 years at Tiffany & Co. and founded jewelry brand Roseate.
MajorsAug 07, 2026
Pandora Appoints Paulo Garcia as New CFO Garcia will take over from the company’s current CFO, Anders Boyer, who is retiring at the end of November.
MajorsAug 07, 2026
Etsy to Lay Off 12% of WorkforceEtsy CEO Kruti Patel Goyal explained why the company is letting go more than 200 employees as its performance improves.
TrendsAug 07, 2026
Look Ahead with Syna’s Binoculars PendantThe “Star Gazer” pendant, our Piece of the Week, is Syna’s tribute to curiosity and the discovery of something new.
CrimeAug 06, 2026
Lalique Museum to Remain Closed Following $5M HeistMuseum officials are looking to the public to help cover the “exceptional” costs involved in recovering from the July 5 smash-and-grab.
MajorsAug 06, 2026
Claire’s Revamps Piercing Services for Second Time in Three Years The overhaul includes enhanced employee safety training and trendy earring styles, including lab-grown diamond studs.
