NEW YORK, NY.- Phillips announced highlights from the New York Jewels auction on Monday, 9 December. Comprised of 228 lots, the sale will feature a strong selection of fancy and colorless diamonds, rare gemstones, and signed pieces by leading jewelry makers. Phillips will also host a dedicated online-only sale in tandem with the live auction, which will be open for bidding from 26 November - 11 December.
Susan Abeles, Phillips’ Head of Jewels Americas, said, “Following the solid results of our New York auction in June, we are delighted to have assembled a sale of such strong material this season, led by the stunning Tiffany & Co. fancy intense blue diamond ring. It has also been a privilege to work with One Drop this season in offering a lot donated by jewelry designer Sevan Biçakçi, the proceeds of which will help benefit their truly remarkable work.”
Leading the auction is a Tiffany & Co. fancy intense blue diamond ring. At 3.02 carats and VS2 clarity, this exceptional stone was masterfully cut to maximize its inherent beauty. Tiffany prides itself on delivering the finest gemstones that meet their most rigorous guidelines to produce the ideal cut. They have imbued this blue diamond with optimum brilliance, fire and scintillation, and have determined that the stone’s natural beauty can best be captured in their signature mounting.
A wonderful selection of colorless diamonds will also be on offer, including a Harry Winston emerald-cut 11.34 carat diamond ring, a cut-cornered rectangular modified brilliant diamond ring of 13.05 carats, and a Spaulding & Co. Art Deco diamond and platinum ring, circa 1925. Weighing 7.69 carats, this marquise diamond stands apart not only for its substantial size, sensuous shape and premier color, but also for its type IIa designation, as type IIa represent only one percent of all natural diamonds. In addition to the Spaulding & Co. ring, the Harry Winston diamond ring has also been designated as a type IIa.
Colored stones also figure prominently in the auction, including an important fancy diamond, colored diamond and gold necklace which boasts a 3.01 carat pear modified brilliant-cut fancy blue-gray diamond as its centerpiece. A stunning zircon and platinum necklace will also be offered. This brilliant and well-matched electric blue zircon riviera necklace is comprised of 37 stones, totaling over 160 carats. As plentiful as zircon is, its availability in large crystals is uncommon, making the center stone of 18.94 carats, with its high clarity and alluring shade of blue a rare and lovely example of the mineral.
Impressive selections of named pieces will also be available, including works by Bulgari and Graff. Among the Bulgari highlights is the feminine and colorful ‘Divia’s Dream’ necklace. The ‘fan’ motifs draw inspiration from Rome’s mosaic Caracalla Baths, constructed in 217 AD. Through this design, Bulgari has subliminally captured a part of ancient Rome and the important role these baths provided. The theme and the imagery that it inspires are very much a part of the Bulgari marque. Significant pieces by Graff include earrings featuring round brilliant-cut, pear-, and marquise-shaped diamonds, totaling 22.10 carats, as well as a pair of ruby diamond, and gold earrings, in which the round rubies total 28.68 carats.
Phillips will offer nearly 100 lots from a distinguished private collection. This exceptional group of works, including names such as Belperron, Verdura, Schepps, Webb, Van Cleef & Arpsels, and, Bulgari, was thoughtfully assembled by a dedicated collector and features a group of pieces that span a century – from 1920 to the present day. The collection includes a ruby, diamond, and platinum brooch and earrings by the Aletto Brothers, as well as a diamond and gold double clip ‘tulip’ brooch by René Boivin, circa 1950.
An unusual and rare antique brooch, circa 1890, is a star lot of the sale. This fancy light diamond, emerald, diamond and silver-topped gold brooch, which was store in a safe deposit box for years, was originally given to a highly respected surgeon in lieu of payment. It has since been passed down by the doctor to his children. The jewel is comprised of a briolette fancy light orangy pink diamond of 7.13 carats as a briolette and a a lozenge step-cut emerald centerpiece. Based on the construction of the piece, the cutting and mounting style of the emerald and diamonds, and the type of metal and their fittings, the brooch can be dated to the early 20th century, from European manufacture. The fittings and the pin stem on the reverse suggest that it might have been a turban ornament, or a removable section from a diadem, or even a section from a stomacher.
As previously announced, Phillips is honored to be working with One Drop this season in offering a ring generously donated by jewelry designer Sevan Bıçakçı. The ring’s gemstone carving depicts the intricate architecture of Istanbul, which plays a significant role in his artistic identity. Inversely carved within a rock quartz cabochon is an engraved intaglio of domes under a rainy Istanbul sky. A crown of 36 green diamonds surrounds the cabochon. Conceived to represent raindrops, the lower part of the ring is embellished with 20 tear-shaped rock crystal cabochons scattered amongst 312 single-cut diamonds set in 24K gold and sterling silver. In addition to the ring, the winning bidder of this lot will receive a unique drawing of the masterpiece, a private meeting with the artist for a tour of his workshop located near Istanbul’s Grand Bazaar, a visit of the architectural landmarks that have inspired his work, as well as an exclusive invitation to Bıçakçı’s private yacht for a Bosphorus cruise tour. All net proceeds from this lot will be allocated to One Drop’s important mission.
