NEW YORK, NY.- On September 26, Bonhams New York Jewels auction was led by a rare and impressive fancy intense blue diamond ring by Van Cleef & Arpels, which achieved $2,540,075, tripling its pre-sale estimate, weighing 2.17 carats, with a price per carat of $1,170,541.

Brett O’Connor, Bonhams Senior International Jewelry Director, comments: “This sale demonstrated an appetite for signed iconic and unique jewels. In particular, rare and colored diamonds achieved notable prices in a full auction room with bidding coming from around the globe. The sale achieved nearly $6.8 million, far exceeding its presale estimate.”

TOP SIGNED JEWELS BY VAN CLEEF & ARPELS
Clients also competed for Van Cleef & Arpels jewels, which included a very fine emerald-cut Fancy Vivid Yellow diamond ring, weighing 6.09 carats, which sold for $312,575; an attractive oval-shaped Burma sapphire ring weighing approximately 21.56 carats, which sold for $306,325; and an iconic 18k gold and ruby butterfly brooch, circa 1940, which became the subject of a bidding war and eventually sold for $81,325.

• A very fine fancy vivid yellow diamond ring by Van Cleef & Arpels. Price realized: $312,575

• An 18k gold and ruby butterfly brooch, by Van Cleef & Arpels, French, circa 1940. Price realized: $81,325

• An attractive sapphire and diamond ring, Van Cleef & Arpels. Price realized: $306,325