DALLAS, TX.- Much like springtime itself, when color finally makes its triumphant return to nature, Heritage’s May 5 Spring Fine Jewelry Signature® Auction is bursting with vibrant hues. From yellow diamonds and deep blue sapphires to Colombian emeralds and Burma rubies, the 506-lot auction teems with colorful jewels.

Leading the auction is a stunning fancy intense yellow diamond set in an 18k gold ring. The 14.14-carat pear-shaped stone is flanked by approximately 2.10 carats of trillion-cut diamonds that further enhance the ring’s brilliance. Only 1 in 10,000 diamonds has a fancy color, making this stone one of the rarest on Earth. Joining the star lot is another fancy intense yellow diamond ring, this one featuring an 11.67-carat stone as its sparkling centerpiece.

The auction also includes a wonderful selection of colorless diamonds, including a Tiffany & Co. platinum ring starring an 8.10-carat emerald-cut diamond accented with tapered baguette-cut diamonds weighing a total of approximately 0.82 carat. “This stunning three-stone ring is an absolute showstopper,” says Jill Burgum, Heritage’s Executive Director of Fine Jewelry. “It’s the ultimate statement ring.”

Also making a statement are three striking platinum rings, one featuring a 7.50-carat marquise-shaped diamond of exceptional brilliance, one starring a 10.16-carat oval-shaped diamond and another showcasing a cut-corned square-shaped diamond weighing approximately 4.08 carats.

In addition to exceptional diamonds, the auction features a bevy of colored gemstones. Among the highlights is another beauty from Tiffany & Co., this one a gorgeous platinum ring featuring an 18.99-carat cushion-shaped royal blue sapphire. The ring’s gallery is decorated with lovely openwork and millegrain detail. Also featuring a dazzling sapphire is this Charlton platinum ring with a cushion-shaped Ceylon sapphire weighing 13.22 carats.

Other colorful standouts include a 5.04-carat cushion-shaped Burma ruby set in an 18k white gold ring, along with a trio of spectacular emeralds. From Cartier comes an 18k gold ring with a 3.65-carat pear-shaped Colombian emerald flanked by marquise-shaped diamonds weighing a total of approximately 2.30 carats. There’s also a mesmerizing white gold pendant-necklace showcasing a 23.97-carat oval-shaped Colombian emerald and an 8.42-carat Colombian emerald ring with a diamond-adorned bee perched at each shoulder.

The diamond bees aren’t the only nature-inspired creations in the auction. Apropos for spring, the May 5 event also features a menagerie of jewels featuring animals, insects and flowers. Pansies and rose petals make an appearance in the auction’s JAR earrings. Crafted from aluminum and 18k gold, each pair is a wearable work of art created by a renowned jeweler known for drawing inspiration from the natural world. Other floral highlights include a whimsical flower brooch adorned with rose-cut diamonds and rubies and a group of circa-1960s Cartier desk ornaments by Jane Hutcheson, an American artist known for the luxurious flower baskets she created for Gorham and Cartier in the mid-to-late 20th century. Here, her baskets are filled with strawberries and daffodils.

The auction also features several pieces that honor the animal world, including a limited-edition Rabbit Waiter brooch by Scott West for Raymond Yard. Adorned in a pavé-set diamond ensemble with a striking jacket of full-cut Argyle pink diamonds and calibré-cut rubies, the Champagne-toting rabbit figure exemplifies the brand’s playful sophistication. Other animal-themed highlights are a David Webb leopard brooch, a Retzignac bird brooch and two brooches by Aldo Cipullo for Cartier, including a penguin and fish. There’s also a beautiful dragonfly brooch by Jean Stark and a lovely butterfly brooch showcasing a jaw-dropping collection of Burma rubies.

“It’s hard not to fall in love with this sale’s wide array of critters, especially the Rabbit Waiter,” Burgum says. “It’s a true testament to Raymond Yard’s legacy of luxurious and imaginative jewelry.”

Watches make a fine showing in the auction as well, with a broad spectrum of styles ranging from chic 1970s designs to ultra-modern oversized styles. Standouts include a Van Cleef & Arpels black onyx and 18k gold Alhambra watch, Bvlgari’s iconic Serpenti watch, and eye-catching timepieces by Piaget, Schlegel & Plana and Patek Philippe.

Other auction highlights include a selection of hardware-inspired pieces by David Webb, Cartier and Tiffany & Co. From David Webb’s Nail collection comes an industrial-style ring crafted in 18k gold and accented with brilliant full-cut diamonds. Likewise, Cartier’s 18k rose gold Juste un Clou ring reimagines a simple nail into a striking piece of fine jewelry. There’s also a beautiful diamond-and-white gold bracelet from Tiffany & Co.’s popular HardWear collection and a finely crafted articulating bracelet in lovely rose gold, also by Tiffany & Co.