Christie's New York to auction collection from Estate of late Huguette M. Clark

Christie's New York is going to sell a revered collection of jewellery, that which belongs to the Estate of late Huguette M. Clark, one of the last great heiresses of America's Gilded Age. The auction is slated for April 17, 2012, in Manhattan. The entire collection offers 17 jewels and is expected to churn revenues worth between US$9 -US$12 million.

Amongst the 17 jewel pieces, which is believed to have been stored in a bank vault since the 1940s, includes signed Art Deco jewels by Cartier, Dreicer & Co., and Tiffany & Co., including an extremely rare 9-carat pink diamond ring and a 20-carat D-color diamond ring.

In the world of fine jewelry, this is truly a fairytale collection,” said Rahul Kadakia, Head of Jewelry for Christie’s Americas. “Opening the vault to find this treasure trove of period jewels from the best French houses of the early 1900s has certainly been one of the most extraordinary moments of my 15-year career here at Christie’s. The iconic Art Deco design and exceptional craftsmanship of these meticulously preserved jewels are emblematic of the great Gilded Age in American history. We are proud to present this collection from one of the nation’s most storied families as the major highlight of our flagship jewelry auction this spring.”

The star of the collection is a cushion-cut fancy vivid purplish pink diamond of 9.00 carats, mounted in a Belle Époque setting by the French jeweler Dreicer & Co. (estimate: $6 – 8 million). It bears a date – circa 1910. Huguette Clark’s collection also features an exceptional colorless diamond ring of 19.86 carats, by Cartier (estimate: $2 –3 million). Certified by the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) as D color – the best color grade possible in a white diamond – and with potentially internally flawless clarity, this superb stone was discovered in its original Cartier box from the 1920s. Among the other pieces include an array of signed jewels by the finest makers of the Art Deco era, including a diamond bracelet by Cartier circa 1925, a diamond and multi-gem charm bracelet by Cartier, also circa 1925, and a ruby, sapphire, emerald and gold bracelet possibly designed by Louis Comfort Tiffany, of Tiffany & Co. circa 1915.