Sotheby’s Paris to Auction Spanish Socialite’s Jewelry

Sotheby’s will offer an emerald and diamond necklace from the collection of Spanish socialite Yolanda Eleta de Fierro in Paris, expecting the piece to fetch up to $800,000. 

The jewel is composed of a slightly graduated row of alternating rectangular step-cut emeralds and marquise-shaped diamonds, which can also be worn as two bracelets. It will lead the jewelry segment of the Paris sale, which will spotlight emeralds, diamonds and pieces by Cartier, David Webb, Harry Winston, Bulgari, and Tiffany & Co., Sotheby’s said Monday. 

The jewelry auction forms part of the Sotheby’s Paris Una Casa, Una Vida: Yolanda Eleta de Fierro Collection event, which comprises the contents of her neoclassical Madrid residence. It will take place live on May 21, with an online sale from May 7 to 22. 

The collector began amassing jewelry in 1945 and acquired some exceptional gemstones, most notably diamonds and emeralds. Some designs in the collection reflect her Panamanian and Costa Rican origins, while others reveal her taste for beautifully crafted gold pieces and animal motifs, the auction house added. 

A Cartier diamond ring with a rectangular step-cut, 14.17-carat diamond, shouldered with bullet-shaped diamonds, is the second most expensive lot in the sale. Sotheby’s predicts it will sell for $450,000 to $750,000. 

A pair of emerald and diamond ear clips by Jacques Timey, each decorated with a pear-shaped emerald — weighing 8.43 and 7.02 carats — within a surround of marquise-shaped diamonds, and with a pouch stamped Harry Winston, carries an upper price of $700,000. 

Another top lot, an emerald and diamond ring set with an octagonal step-cut, 16.34-carat emerald with a brilliant-cut and pear-shaped diamond bombé surround and shoulders, has an estimate of $150,000 to $250,000. 

The collection comprises two pieces by David Webb. The first, a sapphire and diamond brooch, depicts a dolphin, pavé-set with brilliant-cut diamonds, yellow diamonds and round sapphires, highlighted with two pear-shaped diamonds and suspending drop-shaped sapphires. That piece could achieve up to $25,000. Also by the designer is a hammered 18-karat gold hinged cuff bracelet set with brilliant-cut diamonds, with an estimate of between $12,000 and $18,000. 

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Image: The diamond and emerald necklace. (Sotheby’s)