Emerald Jewels Take Spotlight at Bonhams Auction

An unmounted emerald and an emerald and diamond necklace each achieved $83,050 at a recent Bonhams auction, beating their upper estimates.

The unmounted oval-shaped, 2.95-carat Colombian emerald made over 10 times its high estimate at the March 5 Fine Jewelry auction in California, Bonhams said last week. Meanwhile, the necklace, which sported a heart-shaped, 6.10-carat Colombian emerald, set throughout with marquise-shaped, round brilliant and baguette-cut diamonds , nearly quadrupled its upper price.

Other notable items included a Bulgari bracelet comprising Ceylon sapphires and diamonds, which more than tripled its high estimate to achieve $64,000, and a diamond bracelet featuring 29 square emerald-cut diamonds totaling 29.21 carats. That item sold for $61,440. In all, the auction garnered $3.1 million, with 85% of the 318 lots sold.

Meanwhile, the auction house’s Fine Jewellery Paris sale on March 19 will lead with a diamond necklace that’s expected to fetch up to EUR 80,000 ($92,937). The necklace is designed as articulating links featuring old brilliant-cut diamonds. The Paris auction will showcase 182 lots, including a pair of Graff earrings sporting fancy-yellow diamonds with an upper estimate of EUR 60,000 ($69,703) and a Van Cleef & Arpels brooch designed as a bow that could make up to EUR 40,000 ($46,468).  A ring featuring a 25.56-carat Sri Lankan sapphire in a diamond surround will also go on the auction block, with an estimate of EUR 35,000 ($40,672).

Image: The emerald and diamond necklace and unmounted emerald. (Bonhams)