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A ring with a 10.37-carat emerald led the recent Bonhams jewelry auction in London, where it sold for almost six times its upper estimate.
The ring — which has 1.45 carats of marquise and brilliant-cut diamonds surrounding the step-cut Colombian emerald — went for GBP 597,300 ($776,490) at the December 11 London Jewels sale, the auction house said last week. The piece’s expected top price was GBP 100,000 ($130,000).
The sale showcased antique jewels with noble provenance from the 1800s — such as a tiara and a diamond bracelet — as well as lots from the first half of the 20th century. It also included jewels from well-known brands such as Bulgari, Cartier, Boucheron, and Tiffany & Co.
Here are the rest of the top five lots:
Presale estimate: $53,000 to $79,000
This Cartier necklace from circa 1935 features old brilliant-cut diamonds in palmette motifs, with additional baguette- and step-cut diamonds as well as oval and cushion-cut rubies graduating in size toward the center. The Burmese rubies weigh around 11 carats in total, and the diamonds approximately 22 carats.
Presale estimate: $66,000 to $110,000
This transformable piece from circa 1880 or later — which can serve as a tiara, a coronet, or a series of eight star brooches — belonged to Lady Anne Glenconner, a former royal lady-in-waiting to the UK’s Princess Margaret. It comprises eight stars, graduating in size toward the center, with old brilliant-, old single-, rose- and cushion-cut diamonds. The center diamond of the largest star weighs 3.50 carats; the remaining diamonds total some 75 carats.
Presale estimate: $92,000 to $130,000
This diamond rivière necklace, which can turn into a pair of bracelets, dates to the 19th century and contains old cushion-shaped, pear and brilliant-cut diamonds that increase in size toward the center. The largest cushion weighs 3.32 carats.
Presale estimate: $99,000 to $130,000
This ring centers a radiant-cut, 12.38-carat, fancy-yellow, VS2-clarity diamond between two heart-shaped, fancy-light-yellow diamonds weighing 1.12 and 1.52 carats respectively.
Main image: The top-selling emerald and diamond ring. (Bonhams)
