20ct. D-Flawless Leads Christie’s Auction

RAPAPORT… A 20.47-carat flawless diamond ring was the top seller at
Christie’s Magnificent Jewels auction in New York on Tuesday.




The old-mine, brilliant-cut, D-color, type IIa piece sold
for $2.7 million. Its pre-sale estimate was $2.5 million to $3.5 million.




Another top lot was a heart-shaped, 15.36-carat diamond pendant
necklace by Leviev, which fetched $1.6 million, exceeding its pre-sale estimate
of $1.3 million to $1.5 million. A diamond fringe necklace, featuring
pear-shaped and marquise-cut diamonds suspended from a row of oval-shaped
diamonds, went for $1.6 million against an estimate of $1.5 million to $2
million. Overall, 89% of lots sold for a total of $20 million.




Jewels from the collection of Peggy and David Rockefeller
also went under the hammer at the auction. The items fetched a combined $3.1 million, not
including online sales. The entire collection of 1,500 pieces, including artworks
such as a $115 million Picasso, sold out for $835.1 million — the
highest total for a private collection sold at auction, Christie’s said. All
proceeds will go to charities that the couple supported during their
lifetime.




The next Christie’s jewelry sale is the Important Jewels
auction, which will take place on June 13 in London.