NEW YORK, NY.- Bidders pursued big, brilliant stones — including a pair of Diamond, Platinum Rings weighing a total 7.89 carats — to push Heritage Auctions' spring Fine Jewelry Auction to more than $3.48+ million. The April 19 auction held in New York saw large rubies, sapphires, and yellow diamonds cross the block at double and even triple pre-auction estimates.

"The market wants color and large stones," said Jill Burgum, Senior Director of Fine Jewelry at Heritage Auctions. "We were delighted to offer both across a broad spectrum of color and clarity, in one of the largest auctions we've ever held."

Top lot honors were claimed by the pair of spectacular Diamond, Platinum Rings, which sold for $150,000. A Gentleman's Diamond, Gold Ring features a round brilliant-cut diamond weighing 11.02 carats sold for $93,750 against a $60,000 estimate.

A fine selection of colored stones saw an Art Deco Burma Ruby, Diamond, Platinum Ring, with an oval-shaped ruby weighing 5.39 carats and enhanced by baguette-cut diamonds, bring $52,500. A stunning Burma Sapphire, Diamond, Platinum Ring weighing an impressive 14.62 carats, also sold for $52,500. One of the auction's most anticipated lots, a show-stopping Colombian Emerald, Diamond, Mother-of-Pearl, Gold Necklace, accented by an emerald-cut emerald weighing approximately 29.20 carats, sold for $40,000.

A 6.11 carat Diamond, Gold Pendant, from a Fort Worth, Texas, estate, sold for more than double expectations for $42,500, and a Fancy Light Yellow Diamond, Diamond, Gold Ring garnered much attention before selling to the phone for $40,000, also more than double it's $15,000 pre-auction estimate.

Additional highlights include, but are not limited to:

· A distinctive, Diamond, Gold Ring featuring a cut-cornered rectangular modified brilliant-cut diamond weighing 4.03 carats, enhanced by radiant-cut diamonds weighing a total of approximately 1.70 carats: Realized: $37,500.

· A pear-shaped, Unmounted Diamond, weighing 4.64 carats: Realized: $30,000.

· A Diamond, Platinum Lace Bracelet from Tiffany & Co., weighing a total of approximately 10.50 carats: Realized: $26,000.

· An unusual and stunning Moonstone, Diamond, White Gold Necklace of moonstone cabochons weighing a total of approximately 54.80 carats, enhanced by full-cut diamonds weighing a total of approximately 3.25: Realized: $25,000.