Blue Diamond Leads Sotheby’s to $30M New York Auction

The blue diamond that led the auction at Sotheby's image

Sotheby’s garnered $30.1 million from its most recent jewelry sale in New York as many of the pieces sold for well above their high estimates.

The top lot of the December 9 High Jewelry sale was a pear-shaped, 3.48-carat, fancy-intense-blue, internally flawless unmounted diamond that pulled in $2.6 million, within its estimated range, Sotheby’s said Wednesday.

The sale was one of two inaugural jewelry auctions at the house’s new location in New York’s Breuer building; the day before saw the standalone sale of 56 pieces by well-known designers, which Sotheby’s curated specifically for the debut and which brought in $14 million.

In total, 94% of the lots in the latest auction found buyers, including a David Webb necklace-and-brooch combo that sold for $508,000 — nearly 17 times its $30,000 high estimate.

“Our first jewelry sales at the Breuer have set a thrilling new benchmark for Sotheby’s,” said Quig Bruning, head of jewelry for Sotheby’s in the Americas and in Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA). “The response confirms that demand is as deep and robust as ever. It has been an exceptionally strong year for the jewelry market, and we look forward to carrying this momentum into 2026.”

Here are the rest of the top 10 lots from the sale:

Harry Winston created this ring featuring an emerald-cut, 22.85-carat, D-color, VVS1-clarity diamond at Sotheby's image
Harry Winston created this ring featuring an emerald-cut, 22.85-carat, D-color, VVS1-clarity diamond. It exceeded its $1.5 million high estimate to fetch $2 million.
This Van Cleef & Arpels ring centers a cushion-cut, 26.55-carat Ceylon sapphire between two pear-shaped diamonds at Sotheby's image
Selling for $1.6 million, well above its expected $900,000, was this Van Cleef & Arpels ring, which centers a cushion-cut, 26.55-carat Ceylon sapphire between two pear-shaped diamonds.
This necklace consists of 59 graduated round to near-round pearls, with a marquise-shaped, 3.78-carat, fancy-blue, VS1 diamond on the clasp at Sotheby's image
This necklace consists of 59 graduated round to near-round pearls, with a marquise-shaped, 3.78-carat, fancy-blue, VS1 diamond on the clasp. It crested its $1.2 million upper price at $1.3 million.
Raymond Yard is the maker of this ring, it bears an octagonal step-cut, 5.43-carat, Colombian emerald as the center stone, with triangle diamond side stones at Sotheby's image
Raymond Yard is the maker of this ring, which raked in $939,800 — nearly four times its high estimate. It bears an octagonal step-cut, 5.43-carat, Colombian emerald as the center stone, with triangle diamond side stones.
This ring with a cut-cornered rectangular modified brilliant-cut, 3.27-carat, fancy-vivid-orangy-pink, VVS1 diamond at Sotheby's image
This ring with a cut-cornered rectangular modified brilliant-cut, 3.27-carat, fancy-vivid-orangy-pink, VVS1 diamond fell within estimates at $920,750.
Two necklaces, each with a line of graduating old mine-cut diamonds at Sotheby's image
Two necklaces, each with a line of graduating old mine-cut diamonds, sold for $825,500 together, beating the lot’s $550,000 expected high price.
This ring featuring an emerald-cut, 18.18-carat, fancy-intense-yellow diamond between baguette and trapezoid-shaped diamonds at Sotheby's image
Featuring an emerald-cut, 18.18-carat, fancy-intense-yellow diamond between baguette and trapezoid-shaped diamonds, this ring more than doubled its $300,000 top estimate to achieve $698,500.
From the collection of philanthropist Geri Brawerman, this ring has a pear-shaped, 19.74-carat, H, SI1 diamond and pear-shaped diamond side stones at Sotheby's image
From the collection of philanthropist Geri Brawerman, this ring has a pear-shaped, 19.74-carat, H, SI1 diamond and pear-shaped diamond side stones. It went for $571,500, smashing its $350,000 high estimate.
This ring by designer Valentin Magro, features a cushion-cut, 6.98-carat Kashmir sapphire between two baguette diamonds at Sotheby's image
Falling within presale expectations was this ring by designer Valentin Magro, featuring a cushion-cut, 6.98-carat Kashmir sapphire between two baguette diamonds. It garnered $533,400.

Main image: The blue diamond that led the auction. (Sotheby’s)

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