Christie’s rounds off a record-breaking year

by carly_midgley | December 10, 2018 4:05 pm

This art deco aquamarine and diamond tiara-necklace by Cartier achieved more than eight times its low estimate at Christie’s ‘Magnificent Jewels’ sale on December 6. Photo courtesy Christie’s[1]
This art deco aquamarine and diamond tiara-necklace by Cartier achieved more than eight times its low estimate at Christie’s ‘Magnificent Jewels’ sale on December 6.
Photo courtesy Christie’s

Several pieces have exceeded expectations as Christie’s[2] approaches the end of its jewellery auction season.

At the ‘Magnificent Jewels[3]’ sale, held in New York December 5, a new auction record was set for a piece by Suzanne Belperron[4]. 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[5], 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[6]’ 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[7], 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[8] (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.

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Endnotes:
  1. [Image]: https://www.jewellerybusiness.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/An-Art-Deco-Aquamarine-and-Diamond-Tiara-Necklace-by-Cartier-2.jpg
  2. Christie’s: https://www.christies.com/
  3. Magnificent Jewels: https://www.christies.com/magnificent-jewels-27769.aspx?saletitle=
  4. Suzanne Belperron: https://www.belperron.com/
  5. Bulgari: https://www.bulgari.com/en-us/
  6. An Evening of Exceptional Watches: https://www.christies.com/an-evening-of-exceptional-27141.aspx?saletitle=
  7. Rolex: https://www.rolex.com/
  8. Winston Pink Legacy: https://www.jewellerybusiness.com/news/pink-legacy-diamond-breaks-world-record-for-per-carat-price/

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