70ct. Yellow Sells Big at Christie’s

RAPAPORT… Colored-diamond jewels took the top four spots at the recent Christie’s sale in New York, which garnered a total of $55 million.

A cut-cornered rectangular mixed-cut, 70.19-carat, fancy-vivid-yellow diamond pendant necklace scored the highest price, bringing in $2.9 million, just below its high estimate at the December 8 Magnificent Jewels sale, Christie’s said Thursday.

A cut-cornered rectangular mixed-cut, 5.38-carat, fancy-vivid-orangey-pink, VS2-clarity diamond ring sold for $2.7 million, or $500,000 per carat, within its estimate. Another ring, set with an emerald-cut, 8.74-carat, fancy-dark-grey-blue, internally flawless diamond flanked by triangular-shaped diamonds fetched $2.6 million, smashing its $1.5 million upper valuation. Meanwhile, a pear modified brilliant-cut, 7-carat, fancy-blue diamond ring also beat its high estimate, going for $2.2 million.

Other notable items included an oval-shaped, 17.73-carat Kashmir sapphire ring, which garnered $2.1 million, nearly triple its $800,000 upper valuation. A rectangular-cut, 16.90-carat, D-color, internally flawless diamond ring brought in $80,000 per carat. The piece sold for a total of $1.4 million, just above its lower estimate.

A group of items from a Chicago collector also performed well, Christie’s noted. Highlights from that set included a cushion-shaped, 20.55-carat Burmese ruby ring by Graff. That jewel brought in $1.3 million, while an Art Deco emerald, sapphire and diamond brooch that once belonged to the wife of legendary American composer Cole Porter fetched $381,250, above its estimate. A Cartier Art Deco multi-gem Egyptian revival brooch from the same collection achieved more than three times its high estimate. The piece went for $268,750, far exceeding its $80,000 high valuation.

In total, Christie’s sold 94% of items on offer, with participants hailing from 30 different countries.

Image: The 70.19-carat, fancy-vivid-yellow diamond pendant necklace. (Christie’s)