Another Colorless Diamond Necklace Comes Out on Top at Auction

An Andrew Clunn creation set with 28 oval-shaped diamonds fetched $4.1 million at Sotheby’s jewelry auction Wednesday.

Michelle Graff michelle.graff@nationaljeweler.com

This Andrew Clunn necklace features 28 oval-shaped diamonds weighing more than 168 carats. With a $4.1 million sale price, it was the top lot at Sotheby’s jewelry auction Wednesday.

New York—Another incredible white diamond necklace exceeded expectations at auction this week, with Sotheby’s selling an Andrew Clunn creation for $4.1 million.

The necklace is set with 28 graduated oval-shaped diamonds totaling more than 168 carats.

Its $4 million sale topped the pre-sale estimate of $2 million-$3 million and set a new record for a Clunn piece at auction.

The necklace also beat out a natural color diamond—the fancy vivid yellow “Sienna Star”—to become the sale’s top lot, mirroring the results Christie’s saw at its jewelry auction Tuesday.

The Sienna Star, a 73-carat cut-cornered, square step-cut yellow diamond, was set in a pavé diamond ring with a flexible shank designed by Glenn Spiro.

Sotheby’s estimated it would sell for about $3 million. The ring topped that estimate by a slight margin, fetching $3.4 million and setting a new record for a Spiro jewel at auction.

SEE: The Top Lots of ‘Magnificent Jewels’

An anonymous bidder paid $3.4 million for “The Sienna Star,” a cut-cornered, square step-cut 73-carat fancy vivid yellow diamond by Glenn Spiro.

A private American buyer paid $3 million for this flawless 23.59-carat diamond ring.

This cushion-cut Kashmir sapphire ring from Bulgari (25.29 carats) sold for $2.9 million to an anonymous buyer, making it the fourth highest-grossing lot in Sotheby’s jewelry auction.

A private American buyer paid $2.8 million for this diamond and emerald necklace by Harry Winston.

The Clunn necklace was the centerpiece of a six-piece private collection sold to benefit an unnamed charity.

Sotheby’s said all six lots found buyers, totaling $15.4 million and beating the pre-sale estimate of $13.6 million.

In addition to the Clunn necklace there was: a 23.59-carat D-color, internally flawless emerald-cut diamond ring, which sold for $3 million; a Harry Winston emerald and diamond necklace, which went for $2.8 million; and a 13.02-carat Burmese ruby ring by Carvin French (pictured below) that sold for $2.5 million.

Both the emerald-cut diamond ring and the Harry Winston emerald necklace topped their pre-sale estimates.

Overall, 93 percent of the lots in Sotheby’s “Magnificent Jewels” auction sold, with more than half (65 percent) topping pre-sale estimates.

Sotheby’s used a hybrid format for the sale, allowing bidding online before the live auction in New York on Wednesday. The auction house said 84 percent of the lots received advanced bids, and three-quarters of bidders participated online.

SEE: This Editor’s Picks

This Van Cleef & Arpels “Zip Antique Udaipur” necklace set with diamond and pink sapphires can transform into a bracelet. It sold for $504,000.

This Art Deco Cartier diamond necklace features collet-set old European cut diamond connected by diamond baguettes. It sold for $673,400.

Another fabulous Art Deco piece from the auction, this circa 1925 ring features two antique pear-shaped diamonds weighing 5.18 and 5.50 carats. It has the maker’s mark for Alexander Tillander, Austrian hallmarks and a signed Oestrreicher box. Estimated to sell for $60,000-$80,000, it fetched $239,400.

Two gold and ruby clip-brooches by Rene Boivin sold for $81,900.

A buyer paid $138,600 for this gold Bulgari Serpenti bracelet watch with pink enamel.

The jewelry auction was part of Sotheby’s New York Luxury Week, which continues with a mix of online and in-person auctions that include “Important Watches,” “Fine Watches” and “Fine Jewels.”

Visit the Sotheby’s website for full results of the Magnificent Jewels auction, and click through the slideshow above to see our editor’s favorites from the sale.