NEW YORK, NY.- Just in time for the holidays,
Sotheby’s New York presents A Life of Luxury: an inaugural week of sales and events during which we will offer the very best in jewelry, watches, cars, wine and fashion. All exhibitions opened to the public in Sotheby's York Avenue galleries on 30 November, with a series of eight auctions beginning on 2 December offering nearly 2,000 lots:
FINEST & RAREST WINES
2 December
Sotheby’s Wine will host its final New York auction of the season, Finest & Rarest Wines, on Saturday, 2 December. A wonderful range of wines is on offer, noteworthy for the breadth of regions spanning the globe and depth of formats from half bottle to Nebuchadnezzar. The sale includes solutions for all of your holiday entertaining needs, such as magnums of Meursault, Champagne in jeroboam, imperials of Bordeaux and even bottles of historical Armagnac for cozy wintry evenings. An extraordinary collection is on offer to benefit The Fredric Roberts Foundation, giving students a voice through photography, and we are also excited to feature our largest array of Sine Qua Non wines to date.
COUTURE FASHION JEWELLERY: THE PERSONAL ARCHIVE OF SHAUN LEANE
4 December
Created by London-based designer Shaun Leane over the course of more than 20 years, this evening sale will feature 40+ bespoke pieces he produced for beacons of the fashion industry, including legendary houses Alexander McQueen and Givenchy, as well as style icons such as the Honourable Daphne Guinness, Isabella Blow, Kate Moss and Sarah Jessica Parker. From the immaculate Contra Mundum Evening Glove, a special commission for Ms. Guinness that was inspired by her fascination with armor, to the iconic Crown of Thorns, from McQueen’s Autumn/Winter 1996 ‘Dante’ collection that appeared in The Metropolitan Museum of Art ‘s and the Victoria & Albert Museum’s blockbuster retrospective in 2011 and 2015, respectively, the hauntingly-beautiful selection on offer encapsulates the exceptional dynamism and remarkable diversity of Leane’s creative vision.
MAGNIFICENT JEWELS
5 December
The Magnificent Jewels sale features a wonderful variety of vintage and contemporary pieces by renowned houses including Van Cleef & Arpels, Tiffany & Co., JAR, and Harry Winston alongside significant gemstones of superlative quality. The auction is led by an exquisite 5.69-Carat Fancy Vivid Blue Diamond Ring (estimate $12/15 million) and an extremely rare 110.92-Carat Round Diamond – the largest round diamond ever to be offered at auction (estimate $4.2/6.2 million).
This sale also features the inaugural Icons series, presenting a collection of the world’s most coveted jewelry designs from the early twentieth century to today. Highlights include a classic double-headed diamond and onyx-studded panther bracelet by Cartier, a vintage ‘Serpenti’ watch by Bulgari, and masterfully-rendered gem-crusted brooch by JAR.
IMPORTANT WATCHES
6 December
Sotheby’s Watches presents a fine selection of vintage and modern timepieces from renowned watchmakers including Patek Philippe, Rolex, Audemars Piguet, F.P. Journe, A. Lange & Söhne, Cartier and many more. Highlights include the recipient of the Aiguille d’Or at the 2006 Grand Prix de Horologie Genève – a Limited Edition Stainless Steel Minute Repeating Grande and Petite Sonnerie Wristwatch with Power Reserve by F.P. Journe (estimate $260/360,000), two highly complicated pocket watches by Audemars Piguet, and a Highly Important and Rare Yellow Gold Automatic Perpetual Calendar Wristwatch with Moon Phases and Red Dot Leap Year Indication Ref 3450 by Patek Philippe – chronologically the first example of the red dot reference 3450 to appear at auction (estimate $150/250,000). The auction also features a superb collection of chronograph and diving watches by Rolex, and a significant collection of modern complicated and special-edition wristwatches by Hublot.
RM SOTHEBY'S | ICONS
6 December
Celebrating the cutting edge of automotive design, RM Sotheby's will present an expertly curated roster of iconic automobiles from the world's most admired marques from the Classic Era through today’s most advanced hypercars. Coupled with a selection of automotive collectibles and art, the auction is led by an alloy-bodied Ferrari 250 GT LWB California Spider Competizione (estimate $14/17 million) which claimed 5th overall at the 1959 24 Hours of Le Mans and the very first Jaguar C-Type (estimate $5.5/7 million) imported to the United States and raced to victory by Phil Hill. Other highlights include a 2000 BMW Z8 (estimate $300/$400,000, without reserve), originally owned by the late visionary Apple founder, Steve Jobs, an unmistakable 1960 Volkswagen Deluxe ‘23-Window’ Microbus (estimate $150/225,000, without reserve) and a 2018 Bugatti Chiron (estimate $3.5/4 million), the very first example ordered for the U.S. market.
FINE JEWELS
7 December
Whether gifting to yourself or a loved one, our Fine Jewels sale has fashionable baubles for every price point, style and occasion. Featuring classic diamond rings, whimsical brooches and elegant dress sets by highly coveted makers such as Cartier, David Webb, Van Cleef & Arpels and Schlumberger, the sale truly has something for everyone on your list this holiday season. Notable lots include a 12.92 carat Diamond Ring mounted by Cartier (estimate $100/150,000), a Pair of Emerald and Diamond Earclips from the collection of Sir Sean and Lady Michelle Connery (estimate $50/70,000), and a Sapphire and Diamond Bracelet from Oscar Heyman & Brothers (estimate $35/55,000).
SOTHEBY’S DIAMONDS
On View 30 November – 6 December
With a collection that seamlessly weaves innovation and whimsy with beauty and luxury, Sotheby’s Diamonds follows the great Sotheby’s tradition of pairing the most discerning collectors with impeccable works of art. The Sotheby’s Diamonds collections present rare and important diamonds in dramatic settings, resulting in a true marriage of art and jewelry. The one-of-a-kind jewels are meticulously hand-crafted by European-trained artisans at one of the few remaining world-class jewelry ateliers. The collections are available for purchase at the Sotheby’s Diamonds salons in New York, London and Hong Kong.
ERIK MADIGAN HECK: OLD FUTURE
30 November – 7 December
In a brilliant tribute to photography and painting, Sotheby’s presents a curated selection of works by Erik Madigan Heck in a stunning selling exhibition. Approaching photography with the same eye as high art, Heck’s works capture the essence of painting through the lens of his camera. His work is elegant and unashamedly beautiful, exploring the intersections of fashion, painting, and classical portraiture. Working with natural light and combining in-camera effects with digital postproduction, he produces evocative and seductive images that are simultaneously timeless and futuristic. From the vibrant blues featured in “The Blue Hat” to the saturated colours of “Richmond Park”, these images are positioned to become classics of the future.
EXPERIENCE ART & CULTURE: AN ONLINE AUCTION
27 November – 8 December
This December, bid on once-in-a-lifetime experiences and private access to the world’s most iconic cultural destinations. Partnering with world renowned museums, historic cities, and regional experts, Sotheby’s and IfOnly have unlocked the opportunity to engage with and support cultural treasures this holiday season.
THE WISH LIST: JEWELRY & WATCHES ONLINE
28 November – 11 December
Following the success of our 2016 sale of luxury gifts for Him and for Her, The Wish List: Jewelry & Watches Online returns this holiday season with a stunning assortment of jewelry, watches and accessories to suit even the most discerning of tastes. Highlights of the sale include a classic gentleman’s Rolex Daytona, an exquisite "Egratigna Chipie" ring by Dior, and a Sir Winston Churchill Limited Edition Fountain Pen by Montblanc.
