Yesterday's auction of Important Jewels at Sotheby’s New York totaled $23,738,439, led by top prices for important white diamonds from private collections as well as jewels from the collection of Alex & Elisabeth Lewyt. The auction was a strong 82.4% sold by lot, exceeding its high pre-sale expectation of $22.2 million, and marks the highest-ever total for Sotheby’s annual September jewelry sales in New York.
Two important white diamonds led the auction, both achieving $2,105,000: a Platinum and Diamond Ring from a New York Estate, featuring a pear-shaped diamond weighing 15.10 carats, D color, VVS2 clarity, potentially Internally Flawless, type IIa ($139,403 per carat, est. $1.25/1.75 million), and a Platinum and Diamond Ring by Harry Winston from the family of George Rothman, centered by an emerald-cut diamond weighing 19.51 carats, E color, VVS2 clarity, improvable, type IIa ($107,893 per carat, est. $1.2/1.8 million).
Jewels from the collection of Alex & Elisabeth Lewyt – featuring custom-designed and period pieces by French jewelers such as Schlumberger, Suzanne Belperron and René Boivin – totaled $2.5 million, more than twice their high estimate of $940,000. The highlight of the group was a Platinum and Diamond Double-Clip Pendant-Brooch by Schlumberger, which sold for $485,000 above a high estimate of $300,000. Befitting Mr. and Mrs. Lewyt’s deep devotion to philanthropy, proceeds from the sale of their collection will benefit a charitable foundation to be established in their name. The foundation will support the causes that they both were passionate about, especially those concerned with animal welfare.
Gary Schuler, Director of Sotheby’s Jewelry department in New York, said: “Sotheby’s first jewelry sale of the fall season demonstrated that the auction market for this category remains remarkably buoyant. We were encouraged by the significant participation of private collectors throughout the sale, including many of the important diamonds on offer. The auction was highlighted by several exceptional white diamonds emerging from private collections, whose prices reflect the persistent demand in the market for white stones. We now look forward to our Magnificent Jewels and Jadeite sale in Hong Kong on 7 October, where we will present both the largest perfect white diamond and the largest round Fancy Vivid blue diamond ever auctioned.”
SALES RESULTS - TOP TEN ITEMS:
Sale N09016 - Important Jewels - 24 SEP 13 - New York
Grand Total: $23,738,439
Sold by Lot: 82.4% Lots Offered: 506
Sold by Value: 90.3% Lots Sold/Unsold: 417 / 89
Item #519 $2,105,000 (CHF 1,917,436 / HK$16,320,360) $1,250,000 - 1,750,000
Anonymous Platinum and Pear-Shaped Diamond Ring, 15.10 carats, D color, VVS2, potentially internally flawless, type IIA
$139,403 per carat
Item #242 $2,105,000 (CHF 1,917,436 / HK$16,320,360) $1,200,000 - 1,800,000
Anonymous Platinum and Emerald-Cut Diamond Ring, Harry Winston, 19.51 carats, E color, VVS2, improvable, type IIA
$107,893 per carat
Item #440 $1,085,000 (CHF 988,322 / HK$8,412,157) $800,000 - 1,200,000
Asian Private Collector Platinum and Cut-Cornered Rectangular Step-Cut Diamond Ring, 9.77 carats, D color, Internally Flawless, type IIA
$111,054 per carat
Item #479 $575,000 (CHF 523,765 / HK$4,458,056) $450,000 - 650,000
American Private Collector - Platinum, Fancy Intense Blue Diamond and Diamond Ring,
1.08 carats, VVS2
$532,407 per carat
Item #415 $545,000 (CHF 496,438 / HK$4,225,461) $300,000 - 500,000
Private Collector - Platinum and Pear-Shaped Diamond Ring, 9.65 carats, E color, VS1, type IIA
$56,477 per caratItem #509 $485,000 (CHF 441,785 / HK$3,760,273) $200,000 - 300,000
American Private Collector - Platinum and Diamond Double-Clip Pendant-Brooch, Schlumberger, 5.28 carats and 5.22 carats, both E color, VS1
$46,190 per carat
Item #510 $413,000 (CHF 376,200 / HK$3,202,047) $35,000 - 45,000
American Trade - Platinum and Pear-Shaped Diamond Ring, 6.87 carats, E color, I1
$60,116 per carat
Item #493 $401,000 (CHF 365,269 / HK$3,109,009) $320,000 - 420,000 International Trade
18 Karat Gold, Pear-Shaped Fancy Dark Brown Diamond and Diamond Ring, 40.50 carats, VVS2$9,901 per carat
Item #422 $365,000 (CHF 332,477 / HK$2,829,896) $75,000 - 100,000
American Trade - Palladium, Burmese Sapphire and Diamond Brooch, Raymond Yard, 35.54 carats
$10,270 per carat
Item #490 $335,000 (CHF 305,150 / HK$2,597,302) $300,000 - 400,000
Private Collector - Gold, Silver and Diamond Rivière
.jpg)
