‘Kelly Sapphire’ And 16-Ct. Diamond Necklace Each May Fetch $2 Million

Art Deco necklace with 16.24-carat D-color, internally flawless, VS2, pear-shaped diamond

The jewels of business woman and philanthropist, Margaret Adderley Kelly, will lead Christie’s final jewelry auction of the spring season in New York on Tuesday. The 28 lots in the private collection include a Cartier Kashmir sapphire ring and an Art Deco diamond pendant necklace along with large diamond and gold suites, a variety of pearls and several ruby and sapphire pieces.

Ms. Kelly along with her husband, the late William R. Kelly, and their son, Mr. Terence E. Adderley, shaped the national employment agency and recruitment firm, Kelly Services, Inc., into a Fortune 500 company that now employs more than 550,000 people globally. 

One of the top lots is called “The Kelly Sapphire,” (pictured above) a Cartier signed ring centered with a 21.71-carat Kashmir sapphire with no traces of heat enhancement. The stone is flanked by two trapeze-shaped diamonds. Its estimate is $1.5 million - $2 million. 

The other item of note in the Kelly collection is an Art Deco necklace that features a 16.24-carat D-color, internally flawless, VS2, pear-shaped diamond pendant (top photo). Its estimate is $1.6 million to $2 million.

The diverse offering of more than 200 lots at Christie’s New York Important Jewels sale on Tuesday includes a group of colored and colorless diamonds, rare gemstones, and signed designer jewels.

Other auction highlights include:

* An 80.73-carat cushion-cut, K-color diamond with an estimate of $3 million - $5 million

* A 9.97-carat, cushion-cut, Kashmir sapphire with an estimate of $950,000 - $1.25 million

* A 28-carat cushion-cut Intense Fancy Yellow, VS2 diamond with an estimate of $700,000 - $900,000

* A 25.82-carat cushion-cut, K-color, VS2 diamond with an estimate of $600,000 - $700,000

* A 15.54-carat cut-cornered step-cut diamond by Cartier with an estimate of $330,000 - $450,000

* An Art-Deco diamond bracelet by Cartier with an estimate of $380,000 - $450,000

* A necklace with a 5.06-carat, pear-shaped D-color diamond and a 1.68-carat, pear-shaped fancy purplish-pink diamond, with an estimate of $280,000 - $350,000

* A 14.5-carat cut-corned fancy yellow diamond by Graff with an estimate of $250,000 - $350,000

* A 7.27 oval cut Colombian emerald with an estimate of $260,000 – $300,000

The 206-Carat ‘Imperial Emerald’ Unveiled at Baselworld

Photo credit: Anthony DeMarco

Luxury jewelry firm, Bayco Jewels, unveiled a 206-carat natural Colombian emerald named the “Imperial Emerald” in its showroom Thursday during the opening day of Baselworld 2013.

Owners of the company, Moris and Giacomo Hadjibay, said it is “one of the most precious gemstones to ever exist.” The brothers say that it was purchased from a private collector who owned it for 40 years. They refuse to reveal the price of the gem.

“We paid with our hearts,” a visibly emotional Moris said. In addition, its provenance is unknown. 

Giacomo Hadjibay with the Imperial Emerald. Photo credit Anthony DeMarco

The brothers say the purchase is a tribute to their father, Amir, an Iranian native who moved to Italy in 1957 and founded Bayco not long afterward. The company specializes in one-of-a-kind jewelry pieces made with exceptional gemstones. Amir, knew the previous owner of the gem and told the owner long ago that he would buy it whenever he was ready to sell.

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‘Pigeon’s Blood’ Ruby Necklace Leads Diverse Christie’s Hong Kong Jewelry Sale

CHRISTIE'S IMAGES LTD. 2011

It’s a rare jewelry auction these days where diamonds are not the most prestigious items for sale. This auction will break the trend as leading the sale of Christie’s Hong Kong Magnificent Jewels Autumn sale is a Burmese no heat “pigeon’s blood” ruby and diamond necklace (pictured above) with matching earrings (below) by James W. Currens. The necklace has an auction estimate of $3.5 to $5.5 million; and the earrings have estimate of $2.5 million to $3.5 million.

CHRISTIE'S IMAGES LTD. 2011

Designed as twenty-six graduated oval-shaped rubies weighing between 5.38 and 1.27 carats, each ruby comprising the necklace named, “Red Scarlet” is accented by a cluster of marquise and pear-shaped diamonds, mounted in platinum and 18k yellow gold. The matching pair of earrings are titled the “Red Butterflies” for their shape, and each feature a pair of Burmese rubies over 7 carats. The rubies all come from the Mogok Stone Tract in Upper Burma, which is considered to be the source for the finest quality “pigeon’s blood” rubies, the term used to describe the brightest and most valuable red color for rubies.

More than 300 items will be on sale for the November 27 auction at the Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Centre. The pre-sale estimate is valued at approximately $70 million. An assortment of diamonds, emeralds and sapphires from the world’s legendary mines, natural seawater pearls, and, being Hong Kong, jadeite jewelry will be among the items featured. Highlights include: 

Emerald, pearl and diamond earrings in platinum, featuring Colombian pear-shaped emeralds weighing 23.34 carats and 23.18 carats. Its estimate is $3.5 million to $4.8 million. CHRISTIE'S IMAGES LTD. 2011

Diamond and pearl earrings, featuring a pair of 6-carat pear-shaped diamonds from the legendary Golconda mine in India. Its estimate is $1.2 million to $1.9 million.  CHRISTIE'S IMAGES LTD. 2011

A natural pearl and diamond necklace with an estimate of $1.2 million to $1.5 million. CHRISTIE'S IMAGES LTD. 2011

A lavender jadeite bead necklace, consisting of 63 slightly graduated jadeite beads measuring from 8.8 to 11.3 mm, and a jadeite cabochon and diamond clasp mounted in 18k white gold. Its estimate is $1 million to $1.5 million. CHRISTIE'S IMAGES LTD. 2011

A 36.58-carat fancy brown diamond ring with an estimate of $1 million to $1.5 million. CHRISTIE'S IMAGES LTD. 2011

An 8.59-carat fancy pink cut-cornered rectangular-cut diamond and sapphire ring, by Paris-based American jeweler, JAR. Its estimate is $3 million to $4.5 million. CHRISTIE'S IMAGES LTD. 2011

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