Christie’s announces Magnificent Jewels, New York, December 11

Leading the auction are two lots offered from The Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, Sold to Benefit Future Acquisitions including ‘The duPont Ruby,’ Burmese ruby, emerald, diamond, and natural pearl brooch of 11.20 carats ($3,500,000-5,500,000); and ‘The duPont Emerald,’ Belle Époque Colombian emerald and diamond ring of 9.11 carats, Tiffany & Co. ($500,000-700,000), both formerly from the collection of Mrs. Alfred I. duPont. Among other top lots is a superb fancy vivid blue diamond ring of 3.07 carats, VVS1 clarity ($3,000,000-4,000,000); a diamond ring of 24.13 carats, D color, flawless clarity ($2,000,000-3,000,000); a diamond ring of 23.55 carats, D color, potentially internally flawless, by Harry Winston ($2,000,000-3,000,000); and a Belle Époque Kashmir sapphire and diamond ring of 30.14 carats ($3,500,000-5,500,000) from a Distinguished New York Estate that has been passed down through three generations.

This season’s sale distinctively features an array of notable private collections including Property from the Rothschild Family Including the Late Baroness Edouard de Rothschild and the Late Jacqueline de Rothschild Piatigorsky, which offers a selection of 48 lots featuring exceptional Art Deco examples by Cartier including a diamond bracelet ($500,000-700,000) alongside jeweled objects and accessories. Property from the Collection of Judith-Ann Corrente presents 28 elegant and impressive signed jewels comprising important designs by Belperron, Boivin, Fouquet, René Lalique, and an Art Deco diamond sautoir by Van Cleef & Arpels ($500,000-700,000). Additionally, featured is a dedicated section titled An Impeccable Eye: Giuliano Jewels from a New York Private Collection comprised of important Renaissance revival jewels of the late 19^th century, a selection of ten lots from The Collection of Marion Oates Charles, and three lots from The Collection of Deeda Blair, sold to benefit the Deeda Blair Research Initiative Fund for Disorders of the Brain.

Rounding out the sale are contemporary jewels by leading houses such as JAR and Taffin. Specially featured are a unique pair of diamond and ruby ‘Beats Pro’ headphones by Graff ($100,000-150,000), created for performers of Super Bowl XLVI, worn by LMFAO, Madonna, and Lil’ Wayne. Set with over 1,500 diamonds weighing over 120 carats and 28 rubies comprising 3.35 carats, this one-of-a-kind collaboration piece is offered for the first time at auction.

The Jewels Online sale will take place from December 2 to 12/13 presenting over 600 jewels comprising designs by Bulgari, David Webb, Dior, Cartier, JAR, Janeisch, Verdura, among others. The full exhibition will be held at Christie’s 20 Rockefeller Center Galleries Friday, December 6 – Tuesday, December 10 with a highlights tour in Los Angeles (October 30-31), Geneva (November 8-11), and Hong Kong (November 22-25).