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Top Jewels Beat Expectations at Bonhams

December 5, 2023  |  Leah Meirovich
Bonhams 11.87-carat Burmese sapphire

More than half of the top 10 items Bonhams offered at a recent jewelry sale surpassed their high estimates, led by an 11.87-carat Burmese sapphire.

The cushion-cut stone, which was sold as a loose gem, brought in $660,900 at the December 4 New York Jewels sale, Bonhams reported Tuesday. That total was more than three times the original $220,000 upper presale estimate.

Colored diamonds ruled the sale, comprising seven of the 10 top spots. The auction house also offered pieces by top designers, including Cartier, Leonard Rosenthal, Van Cleef & Arpels, and Raymond Yard.

Here are the rest of the top-selling items:

This bracelet, created around 1930 by Chanel for Verdura, contains aquamarine, emerald, amethyst, sapphire and ruby in the shape of a Maltese Cross. It brought in $432,300, beating its $225,000 upper price.
A ring featuring an oval-shaped, 1.22-carat, fancy-intense-blue diamond — flanked on one side by a 0.35-carat, fancy-blue diamond and on the other by a 0.53-carat, fancy-intense-blue diamond — achieved $381,500, within estimates.
Bonhams sold this cushion-cut, 3.91-carat Kashmir sapphire for $343,400, well above its $220,000 upper price tag.
A necklace bearing a 17.04-carat, fancy-intense-yellow, internally flawless diamond surrounded by pear, heart and marquise-cut diamonds weighing approximately 62.75 carats fetched $318,000, just under its high presale price.
This cushion-cut, 2.03-carat, fancy-pink, VS1-clarity diamond ring went for $305,300, smashing its $220,000 upper estimate.
A cushion-cut, 3.01-carat, fancy-light-blue, VS1-clarity diamond ring garnered $279,900 at the New York sale, within its presale estimate range.
A cut-cornered square modified brilliant-cut, 1.37-carat, fancy-intense-purplish-pink, VS2-clarity loose diamond, from the Argyle mine, realized $279,900, exceeding its $180,000 high estimate.
This ring, with a cushion-cut, 1.30-carat, fancy-brownish-red diamond center stone, flanked by oval-shaped diamonds, sold for $254,500, within its presale range.
A ring by Tacori with an emerald-cut, 6.59-carat, F-color, VVS2-clarity center stone, accented by round brilliant-cut white and yellow-tint diamonds, fetched $203,700, outstripping its $180,000 upper price.

Main image: The 11.87-carat Burmese sapphire. (Bonhams)

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