Nearly all the jewels at the recent Christie’s sale in New York managed to find buyers, including a blue-diamond ring that fetched $8.8 million.
The cushion brilliant-cut, 5.72-carat, fancy-intense-blue, VVS1-clarity diamond ring, which has the potential to be internally flawless, beat its $8 million high estimate at the New York Magnificent Jewels auction, Christie’s said Wednesday. The ring’s achieved price was the second-highest for a jewel at any auction globally this year, the company noted.
The piece was one of several that soared past their top estimates at the December 10 event, which brought in a total of $49.2 million and saw 97% of lots sell.
Also on offer was the collection of interior designer and philanthropist Mica Ertegun. All 16 pieces were snapped up, exceeding expectations with a total of $2.6 million, the auction house said. The top seller from the group was a Cartier brooch that saw fierce bidding and finally went for more than nine times its high estimate.
The New York auction “was a testament to the vibrant market for jewelry of the highest caliber with singular provenance,” said Rahul Kadakia, Christie’s international head of jewelry, adding that the house was “particularly pleased” with the blue-diamond ring’s result.
Regarding Ertegun’s pieces, he continued, having them on offer was “a tribute to her brilliant eye, and we are thrilled by the exceptional outcome.”
Here are the rest of the top 10 lots from the sale:
Main image: The 5.72-carat blue diamond ring. (Christie’s)
