Auctions

‘The Indian Blue’ Diamond Goes for $6.6M at Auction

AuctionsDec 11, 2019

‘The Indian Blue’ Diamond Goes for $6.6M at Auction

But a bracelet set with more than 200 pink and red diamonds failed to find a buyer at Sotheby’s jewelry auction Tuesday.

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“The Indian Blue,” a Type IIb, 7.55-carat, SI2 cushion-cut fancy deep grayish-blue diamond ring with shield-cut side stones sold for $6.6 million at Sotheby’s jewelry auction Tuesday in New York.

New York—Results were mixed at the Sotheby’s Magnificent Jewels auction held Tuesday in New York.

Some large diamonds sold for what was expected while others soared past pre-sale estimates.

Important pieces expected to be top lots failed to sell, and pieces from a contemporary label making its jewelry auction debut went for more than anticipated.

Headlining the sale was “The Indian Blue,” a Type IIb, 7.55-carat, SI2 cushion-cut fancy deep grayish- blue diamond ring with shield-cut side stones.

Sotheby’s estimated the diamond would sell for between $6 and $8 million; it ended up going for $6.6 million Tuesday.




Following the Indian Blue was a 20.16-carat cushion-cut fancy deep brownish-pinkish-orange diamond ring (seen above), which soared above its pre-sale estimate high of $1.8 million, selling for $2.8 million.




The Verdura brooch pictured above, meanwhile, fell within its pre-sale estimate of $1.6 and $2.4 million when it garnered $2.1 million.

Commissioned in 1999, it features a 14.37-carat square brilliant-cut fancy vivid yellow diamond surrounded by cabochon sapphires and colorless diamonds.




The above pair of fancy light brown-pink diamond and colorless diamond Harry Winston earclips from the collection of legendary Fort Worth, Texas philanthropist Nenetta Burton Carter garnered $1.6 million, selling for more than twice their highest pre-sale estimate.




Meanwhile, two top lots didn’t sell at the jewelry auction.

The above “Majestic Pink,” a fancy colored diamond and diamond bracelet features 204 radiant- and marquise-shaped pink and red diamonds totaling 43.34 carats in a setting by Carvin French, was estimated to sell for at least $3 million but found no takers.

A diamond ring featuring a 1.38-carat cushion-cut fancy red diamond center stone was valued at $1.8 to $2.8 million but also failed to sell.




David Michael Jewels, an Australian company headed by twin brothers who produce every piece by hand, made its auction debut Tuesday at Sotheby’s.

Their amethyst, turquoise, spinel and multi-colored sapphire earclips (seen above) were expected to sell for between $20,000 to $30,000 but ended up garnering $37,500 at the jewelry auction.

A brooch featuring portrait-cut aquamarine over an oil-painted depiction of a Koi pond and surrounded by tsavorite garnets and diamonds from the brand also went for more than its pre-sale estimate when it sold for $60,000.

The Magnificent Jewels auction was 82 percent sold by volume and totaled $37.9 million. For a full list of results, visit Sothebys.com.
Brecken Branstratoris the senior editor, gemstones at National Jeweler, covering sourcing, pricing and other developments in the colored stone sector.

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