32.77 Carat Vivid Fancy Yellow Diamond

Christie’s New York will host a jewellery and gem auction in October, headed by a 32.77 carat vivid fancy yellow diamond estimated to sell for more than $6 million (£3.6 million).

The Vivid Yellow, as it has been named, is a rare highly saturated fancy vivid yellow diamond of 32.77 carats, as the star lot of the October 18 sale called Magnificent Jewels.The yellow hue of this large pear-shaped diamond is so intense that the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) ranks it amongst the rarest of gemstones in its class. The stone is expected to achieve in excess of US$6 million, and could sell for as much as $8 million (£4.8 million).

Rahul Kadakia, head of jewellery for Christie’s America said: “The Vivid Yellow literally blazes with color, unlike any yellow diamond I’ve ever seen.

“In the world of diamonds, a naturally coloured stone of this incredible colour and size represents a freak occurrence -- an extremely rare geological phenomenon. The appearance of this extraordinary gemstone on the market truly represents a once in a lifetime opportunity for top jewellery collectors.”

In its grading report for the stone, the GIA classifies The Vivid Yellow as fancy vivid – the highest saturation one can find in a coloured diamond. Only about one in 10 million diamonds possesses a colour pure enough to qualify as fancy vivid.

The unmounted diamond, which is about the size and shape of a guitar pick, will be the star lot of Christie’s first major jewellery sale of the autumn auction season, to take place October 18.

The stone has the potential to surpass the per-carat price of US$203,000 (£124,000) achieved for The Golden Drop, a pear-shaped yellow diamond of 18.49 carats sold in June 1990 at Christie’s London. Christie’s has arranged a global preview tour of The Vivid Yellow diamond prior to its sale at Christie’s New York in October. The diamond will be on view at Christie’s London on August 30 and 31.

Courtesy of the professional jeweler

46.51 Carat Diamond Leads Christie’s Sale

Photo courtesy of Christie's

An E color, oval-cut 46.51 ct. diamond ring will highlight Christie’s June 14 auction in New York City.
The main stone is flanked on either side by single carat D-color, pear-shaped diamonds and mounted in platinum. Sourced from the collection of a “distinguished lady,” the auction house said the ring is estimated to fetch $2.5 million to $3.5 million. The total sale is expected to bring in $8 million.
Other highlights include an important diamond ring, set with a D-color pear-shaped diamond of 10.01 cts., flanked on either side by a pear-shaped diamond of 1.02 cts. mounted in platinum. It is expected to fetch $1.1 million to $1.5 million.

Sotheby's to Auction 10.99 ct Fancy Pink Diamond

Sotheby’s Geneva will auction a 10.99-carat, VS1, emerald cut, fancy intense pink diamond ring on May 17 with a presale estimate of $9 million to $16 million.

“I do not remember the market for colored diamonds to have ever been as strong as it is today,” said David Bennett, chairman of Sotheby’s Jewellery Department for Europe and the Middle East. “This was underlined by the unprecedented results of our last November sale and undoubtedly influenced the owner’s decision to sell this beautiful pink diamond which has not appeared on the market for over 30 years.”

In November 2010, Sotheby’s Geneva sold the Graff Pink, weighing 24.78 carats, for $46.2 million, setting a world auction record for any diamond and any jewel to go under the hammer.

Sotheby’s “Magnificent Jewels” auction - realized $39.4 million

New York--Sotheby’s “Magnificent Jewels” auction here realized $39.4 million, the highest total ever realized by the auction house for a spring jewelry sale, Sotheby’s announced last week. 

Held April 14, the auction sold 84 percent by lot and 93 percent by value. The top lot was a emerald-cut diamond weighing 30.52 carats. Estimated at 3,000,000—4,000,000 USD. and Sold for 3,386,500 USD. Accompanied by GIA report no. 2115516430 stating that the diamond is D color, VVS1 clarity, with Excellent Polish and Excellent Symmetry. 

A 3-carat marquise-shaped fancy vivid blue diamond garnered the second-highest bid of the day, bringing in $3.3 million.

Meanwhile, The pear-shaped diamond weighing 20.74 carats, surmounted by an emerald-cut diamond weighing approximately .50 carat, and an old European-cut diamond weighing approximately .85 carat. that was estimated at 800,000—1,200,000 USD. had doubled its pre-sale estimate and Sold for 2,154,500 USD 

It was accompanied by GIA report no. 1122998496 stating that the diamond is D color, VS2 clarity. 

At least 10 bidders competed for a circa 1920 Cartier, Tiffany & Co. diamond jabot pin, featuring One terminal set with a pear-shaped diamond weighing 15.31 carats, the other set with a pear-shaped diamond weighing approximately 2.00 carats, framed by small round and single-cut diamonds, signed Cartier and Tiffany &Co. The larger diamond originally mounted by Tiffany &Co., circa 1900, converted into a jabot by Cartier, circa 1920. 

The pin was estimated at 600,000 - 800,000 USD and sold for 1,986,500 USD, more than double its pre-sale estimate. 

It was accompanied by GIA report no. 2125998478 stating that the 15.31 carat diamond is D color, VVS2 clarity.  

“Collectors are willing to pay a premium for diamonds with charm, and that was a hallmark of today’s sale,” Gary Schuler, director of jewelry in New York, said. “Whether they feature old-world cuts or magnificent and unique colors, the opportunity to compete for these stones is exactly why buyers come to auction.” 




Pictures courtesy of Sotheby’s 
Article courtesy of National Jeweler

Lindsay Lohan Necklace Up For Auction

The necklace that has caused Linday Lohan so much grief is making headlines again. This time for a good reason. Kind of.

Lindsay is facing a felony grand theft charge and possible prison sentence if she is found guilty of having stolent the gold and diamond decklace, worth $2,500, from Venice Beach boutique Kamofie & Company.

Now, shop owners have decided to find the necklace a new home courtesy of a charity auction. 
"We have decided to sell the diamond necklace through auction, and give the proceeds to charity. We invite the public to make suggestions as to the most appropriate charity to receive the benefit of the sale's proceeds."

But that will have to wait until this whole matter of grand theft is cleared up since the necklace is currently beinig cared for by the Los Angeles County District Attorney as evidence in the case against Lohan.

The news of the charity auction comes just days after the actress threatened to sue the store bosses for allegedly striking a $40,000  deal to release CCTV tapes which show Lohan trying the necklace on.

Gloria Swanson's RingAuctioned by Christie's

Photo courtesy of Christie's

Christie’s Paris Jewels Department will auction a rectangular-cut 5.1 ct. diamond ring that once belonged to Sunset Boulevard star Gloria Swanson May 23.

Swanson was the highest paid actress in Hollywood by the 1920s; she reportedly made and spent more than $8 million in the decade. Swanson was nominated for an Academy Award for her role in Sadie Thompson in 1928.

Swanson was known also as a big jewelry fan: Her annual jewelry budget was said to be $500,000.

Article Courtesy of JCK online

A 10.09 Carat Fancy Vivid Purple-Pink Diamond Estimated at $12 to $15 Million.

Another unusual diamond is set to capture global attention with its color, size and price. Christie's will auction a 10.09 cushion cut fancy vivid purplish-pink diamond at the April 12 Magnificent Jewels sale in New York. The auction house has estimated the diamond at $12-15 million.

In the recent past, fancy color and large diamonds broke a string of price records. Four pink diamonds have fetched more than $1 million p/c at Christie's auctions, among them a vivid pink, 5-carat cushion-cut diamond that sold for more than $2.1 million p/c at Christie's Hong Kong in December 2009. 

Photo courtesy of Christie's

“Collector demand for large colored diamonds has never been stronger, especially where pink diamonds of this size and quality are concerned,” said Rahul Kadakia, Head of Jewelry at Christie's New York.

“At Christie’s New York this past December, jewelry collectors competed for a 6.89 carat Fancy Vivid purplish-pink diamond, which ultimately sold for $6.9 million or $1 million per carat. This larger stone, with its richer, deeper hue of pink and electrifying purple tone is positioned to become one of this season’s top-selling diamonds,” Kadakia added.

The auction house did not disclose who the seller is, though it is believed to be a diamond company.

Article courtesy of Idex online news