A 25.80-carat diamond led the recent John Moran Auctioneers jewelry sale, going for $979,000, nearly double its high estimate.
It was one of 85 jewels from the March 29 sale of the estate of Lady Leslie Ridley-Tree, a well-known Santa Barbara philanthropist, the Monrovia, California-based auction house said recently. The pear-shaped brilliant-cut, G-color, SI2-clarity diamond in a ring, flanked by two pear-shaped diamonds totaling approximately 1.25 carats, was originally expected to bring in up to $500,000.
The white-glove estate sale featured signed and unsigned jewels adorned with sapphires, rubies, pearls, emeralds and large diamonds. Many of the pieces achieved well above their estimates.
Here are some other highlights from the sale:
Main image: The ring featuring a 25.80-carat diamond. (John Moran Auctioneers)