From a Betta fish brooch to a “dragon’s trove” of zircon eggs, here are seven pieces that’ve stuck with Associate Editor Lauren McLemore.
‘The Indian Blue’ Diamond Predicted to Sell for $6-$8M
It hits the auction block at Sotheby’s this week, alongside a bracelet featuring more than 200 Argyle pink and red diamonds.

New York—The Sotheby’s New York Magnificent Jewels sale will bring a number of important colored diamonds to the auction block next week.
Headlining the Dec. 10 sale is “The Indian Blue,” a Type IIb, 7.55-carat SI2 cushion-cut fancy deep grayish blue diamond ring with shield diamond side stones.
The GIA calls the blue diamond “a rarity of nature and product of human ingenuity … that captivates the eyes and interest of gem enthusiasts worldwide.”
The Indian Blue displays red phosphorescence, similar to the Hope Diamond, which is also from India, and the Blue Moon, mined in South Africa, which set a world auction record price-per-carat for a diamond or gemstone when it sold for $48.5 million in 2015.
The Indian Blue is expected to sell for between $6 and $8 million.
The Magnificent Jewels auction also features over 200 impressive pink and red diamonds but they’re all set in one piece of jewelry.
The above “Majestic Pink” fancy colored diamond and diamond bracelet features 204 radiant- and marquise-shaped pink and red diamonds totaling 43.34 carats, mounted in a setting by Carvin French.
Hailing from the famed Argyle mine, each diamond weighs between 0.10 and 0.47 carats and ranges in color from pink to purplish pink, purple pink, red and purplish red. The colors span fancy, fancy intense, fancy deep and fancy vivid color grades.
Located in Western Australia, the Argyle diamond mine is responsible for producing more than 90 percent of the world’s pink diamond supply and is expected to close in late 2020.
Sotheby’s said it expects the bracelet to fetch about $3 million.
A Verdura brooch commissioned in 1999 (pictured above) featuring a 14.37-carat square brilliant-cut fancy vivid yellow diamond surrounded by cabochon sapphires and colorless diamonds is also up for grabs.
A truly unique stone, Sotheby’s remarked to National Jeweler the rarity of coming across a diamond of such quality with this particular saturated yellow shade, which is likely to attract both private collectors and diamond and gemstone dealers.
It’s expected to garner between $1.6 and $2.4 million.
A diamond ring featuring a 1.38-carat cushion-cut fancy red diamond center stone, meanwhile (seen above), is valued at $1.8 to $2.8 million.
The above pair of fancy light brown-pink diamond and colorless diamond earclips, weighing 12.41 and 11.15 carats respectively, are estimated to sell for between $600,000 and $800,000 Tuesday.
Designed by Harry Winston, they’re
Also from Carter’s collection is the above 53.37-carat morganite and diamond brooch, also from Harry Winston and designed specifically for Carter, which is expected to sell for $50,000 to $70,000.
In addition to the important stones on offer are three one-of-a-kind pieces from a contemporary label making its auction debut.
David Michael Jewels is an Australian company headed by twin brothers who ensure every piece they produce is crafted by hand and without aid of a machine, beginning with watercolor renderings and ending with stones set by hand.
Their amethyst, turquoise, spinel and multi-colored sapphire earclips (seen above) are estimated to sell for between $20,000 to $30,000, and a brooch featuring portrait-cut aquamarine over an oil-painted depiction of a Koi pond, painted by the brothers, surrounded by tsavorite garnets and diamonds, is expected to sell for between $30,000 and $50,000.
Lastly, their colored diamond and diamond flower ring, with a 0.65-carat fancy pink Argyle diamond at center, is expected to go for between $125,000 and $175,000.
See all the jewels available at the Magnificent Jewels sale, as well as the Fine Jewels sale, scheduled for Dec. 9, online.
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