Photo courtesy Christie’s
Several pieces have exceeded expectations as Christie’s approaches the end of its jewellery auction season.
At the ‘Magnificent Jewels’ sale, held in New York December 5, a new auction record was set for a piece by Suzanne Belperron. The designer’s diamond ‘Tube’ bracelet drew US$852,500. Also at this sale, an aquamarine and diamond tiara-necklace achieved more than eight times its low estimate, selling for US$828,500.
The sale was led by an 8.08-carat fancy vivid blue diamond ring by Bulgari, which fetched a price of US$18.3 million. Emeralds and Kashmir sapphires also performed well at the sale. In total, US$69.2 million was generated.
At ‘An Evening of Exceptional Watches’ on December 6, also in New York, a total result of US$10.4 million was achieved. The top lot, an 18-karat gold automatic triple calendar watch by Rolex, set a new record for a yellow gold watch of its reference number with a silvered dial. Nicknamed the ‘Dark Star’ for the patina on its case, the watch fetched US$1.5 million.
A Tornek-Rayville automatic stainless steel anti-magnetic diver’s watch also set a new record for its reference number, selling for US$156,250.
Meanwhile, a historic timepiece once owned by former U.S. president Franklin D. Roosevelt more than doubled its low estimate. The 1954 Audemars Frères 18-karat gold pocket watch fetched US$348,500.
These results allow Christie’s to finish 2018 on a good note, rounding off a year of new records. The jewellery auction season also saw the record-breaking sales of the Winston Pink Legacy (setting a new price-per-carat record for a pink diamond) and the ‘Peacock’ necklace (setting an auction record for a Kashmir sapphire necklace).
“The excitement and prices achieved in our [Magnificent Jewels] sale tonight, including the exceptional price achieved for the sensational fancy vivid blue diamond ring by Bulgari and the world auction record realized for Suzanne Belperron, mark a perfect ending to our successful year of global jewellery auctions,” said Daphne Lingon, head of jewellery for Christie’s Americas.
