Diamonds took the spotlight at the most recent Bonhams jewelry sale in London, nabbing all but one of the top 10 spots, with many far exceeding their high estimates.
A step-cut, 10.50-carat, J-color, VVS2-clarity diamond ring took center stage, bringing in GBP 165,500 ($208,109) at the December 7 London Jewels sale, the auction house said Monday. That figure was well above its GBP 90,000 ($113,171) upper presale price.
Single-owner collections performed well, with a set of 11 pieces from Joyce Brittain-Jones, the long-term companion of George II of Greece, selling out following a “bidding frenzy,” Bonhams noted. Also proving popular was a group of jewels belonging to Dorothy Maud, Countess Haig, who was a maid of honor to Queen Alexandra.
Here are the rest of the top 10 items:
This necklace, set with brilliant-cut, yellow diamonds weighing a total of 8.07 carats with a surround of princess-cut pink- and yellow-tinted diamonds weighing a combined 23.40 carats, brought in GBP 138,830 ($174,573), more than doubling its $60,000 ($75,448) high estimate.
A ring with a brilliant-cut, 11.69-carat, K-color, VS2-clarity diamond fetched GBP 135,020 ($169,784), surpassing its GBP 80,000 ($100,597) upper price.
A diamond necklace bearing a round brilliant-cut, 1.84-carat, F-color, VS2-clarity center stone, accented with 67 carats of similarly cut diamonds, sold for GBP 121,050 ($152,217), within its estimate.
Bonhams sold this brilliant-cut, 10.02-carat, fancy-yellow, VS2-clarity diamond ring for GBP 102,000 ($128,262), over its GBP 70,000 ($88,023) high price tag.
This enamel pâte de verre, sapphire and diamond brooch was created by Lalique around 1900. It garnered GBP 99,460 ($125,069), within its estimated range.
A ring with a step-cut, 8.45-carat, fancy-yellow diamond, accented by four pear-shaped diamonds set between baguette and step-cut diamond shoulders, went for GBP 70,250 ($88,338), just beating its GBP 70,000 ($88,024) high presale price.
This brilliant-cut, 5-carat, G-color, VS2-clarity diamond ring achieved GBP 66,440 ($83,542) against a GBP 60,000 ($75,444) upper estimate.
Bulgari created this Trombino ring around 1960. The piece, which features a cushion-shaped, 4.60-carat, F-color, VS2-clarity diamond, brought in GBP 66,440 ($83,542), within its presale price range.
A tiara from approximately 1905, containing old brilliant-cut diamonds weighing about 9.90 carats in total, nabbed GBP 63,900 ($80,347), smashing its GBP 18,000 ($22,633) high estimate.
Main image:The 10.50 diamond ring. (Bonhams)
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