Cartier Necklace Could Fetch $60,000 At Bidsquare Online Jewelry Auction

Cartier bib necklace with moonstone, diamonds, and sapphire

Signed jewels by Van Cleef & Arpels, Cartier, Hermes, Chanel, Tiffany and David Webb are among the items that will be presented at a live online auction Tuesday hosted by Bidsquare. 

The "Spring Jewels: Fine Estate & Signed Jewelry" sale is by Fortuna Auction, a New York-based auction house, but registration and bidding can be done online through Bidsquare, a New York-based online auction site. 

A total of 397 lots will be presented with the top lot being a Cartier bib necklace with moonstone, diamonds, and sapphire (top photo). This has an estimate of $50,000 - $60,000 with an opening bid set at $45,000. 
   

But it is far from the only quality item in this diverse selection of jewels. For example, natural pearls are among the hottest items at auction in recent years and this sale features a 14.90-carat beauty that measures 14.20" x 11.13" (with SSEF certificate) set in a platinum and diamond ring (pictured above). Its estimate is $40,000 - $50,000. 

There are even some surprising items, such as timepieces, objets d'art and handbags. In fact one of the top lots is a Hermès patent black porosus crocodile Kelly bag in new condition (pictured above). This has an estimate of $22,000 - $25,000. 

A fun jewel being presented is an 18k, two-tone, diamond, enamel “Humpty Dumpty” brooch by Donlad Claflin for Tiffany & Co. with an estimate of $20,000 - $24,000. 

While the live auction date is May 17, people can place absentee bids anytime online up to the day of the live auction. 

“This is ideal for users that may not be available on the 17th but can still place their maximum bid,” said Allis Ghim, Bidsquare president and CEO. “Once they place their max bid online, the system automatically bids on their behalf up to their max bid on the day of the live sale.”

Go to the Bidsquare website to register for the live online sale or to bid in advance. 

Marilyn Cooperman Large Emerald and Kunzite Star Brooch. Estimate $20,000 - $25,000

Bidsquare is an auction website that sells merchandise from established auction houses. It was launched when six auction houses (Cowan’s Auctions, Rago, Leslie Hindman Auctioneers, Skinner, Pook & Pook and Brunk Auctions) joined forces. Bidsquare auctions range from fine art to estate jewels, to modern design and historical artifacts, all vetted by America’s foremost auction houses. The site also boasts a free, searchable database of more than a million auction records.

Jewelry News Network has been featuring items from the auction daily on its social media sites and will continue to do so until May 17. 

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19% Decline In Gold Jewelry Demand

Higher prices for gold and market-specific difficulties led to a steep decline in gold jewelry demand for the first quarter of 2016, according to the World Gold Council. 

Global gold jewelry demand fell 19 percent, year-over-year, to 481.9 tons for the period (a four-year low) led by large declines in demand in India and China, the two largest gold markets, the WGC said in its quarterly “Gold Demand Trends” report.

But the decline in demand spread worldwide as a 122 percent increase in gold investment demand led to a surge in the price of the precious metal. The WGC attributed this increase in demand to a “swirling uncertainty" created by a "mix of factors" that "undermined confidence in traditional asset classes.” This included Negative Interest Rate Policies implemented by the central banks of Japan and Europe, China’s devaluation of the yuan fueling fears over the country’s economic health, and the expected slowing pace of interest rate rises in the U.S. 

This resulting increase in the price of the precious metal slowed jewelry making activity in much of the world. There were few bright spots. 

India’s jewelry manufacturing operations “virtually ground to a halt” in March due to “a combination of surging prices and industrial action in protest at government policy,” the WGC said. The protests erupted with the India’s government announced plans to impose a 1 percent excise tax on jewelry manufacturing. Jewelry stores throughout much of the country closed for the entire month of March and into April. 

The result was that first quarter gold jewelry demand fell 41 percent to 88.4 tons in India, a seven-year low. However the WGC added that it believes business will soon return to normal as most stores re-opened in the second half of April for the Akshaya Tritiya festival in early May and the start of the wedding season. 

Meanwhile, China saw a 17 percent decline in gold jewelry demand year-over-year to 179.4 tons due to “sharply rising gold price against a background of continued economic slowdown,” the WGC said.

The high price of gold took its toll in other Asian markets. Malaysia (-23%) and Indonesia (-10%) were the weakest performers. 

Vietnam was an exception to the depressed regional market, with jewelry demand 6 percent higher year-over-year. However, the WGC warned that at least some of this growth could be attributed to investment demand. 

The US proved to be one of the few bright spots in the world as demand for gold jewelry continues to grow. In the first quarter demand increased 2 percent year-over-year to 22.6 tons, marking the ninth consecutive quarter of year-over-year gains, “impressive for a market where economic growth has remained relatively anemic,” the WGC said. 

Some retailers were re-entering the gold jewelry market after slashing or completely eradicating their gold product offerings, WGC said. In addition, double digit gains in gold jewelry imports in January and February “was a clear indication of US consumers’ continued desire for gold jewelry.” 

The lone bright spot in the Middle East was Iran where gold jewelry demand rallied by 10 percent year-over-year to 9.9 tons as the market continues to feel the benefit of the lifting of Western sanctions. However, the WGC added that this growth was tempered by the impact of 9 percent VAT. 

The remaining Middle Eastern markets uniformly saw double-digit losses in the first quarter as the region is beset with low oil prices and weak tourism revenues, in addition to the high price of gold. Egypt was the worst casualty as demand fell 18 percent to 7.7 tons.

In Turkey, gold jewelry demand declined 18 percent to 8.5 tons as the high price of gold, a struggling domestic economy and terrorist activities weighed on sentiment, the WGC said.

In Europe, gold jewelry demand was lackluster with a 1 percent increase to 12.7 tons. 

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Jewels For Mother’s Day

There’s still time to buy an exceptional jewelry gift for Mother’s Day and in the spirit of gift giving five designers have ideas on what you can purchase for this special day. 

Zorab Creations
This three-gem ring may threaten the budget of last-minute gift givers but it’s worth it. The crossing white gold and palladium mounting houses a green tourmaline, tanzanite and spessartite garnet, each surrounded by a sprinkling of white and colored diamonds. Find retailers in the U.S. by following this link.

Etienne Perret
This pendant features 14mm blue-grey Tahitian pearl rests comfortably in its circular 18k rose gold frame. It’s made by jewelry designer Etienne Perret. His jewels are available at a number of independent retailers around the country. 

Alex Soldier 
The colorful Astra collection (including the ruby and diamond rings pictured), are well-designed and crafted by the jewelry artist. You can contact the jeweler directly to learn where to purchase.

Jewels With A Message
The U.S. jewelry brand, Lagos, now provides engraving services with its Caviar line of jewels. The customer has the option to engrave a monogram, significant date or message on the inside of select Caviar pieces. The brand’s products are available at major department stores around the country but the engraving service is offered exclusively through Lagos.com.

Colorful Flower Earrings
These earrings by Rita Fusaro are made of 18k white gold with yellow or pink –pear-shaped sapphires and diamonds. They can be ordered by contacting the company directly through its website. 

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$70 Million Auction Estimate For 1,100-Carat Rough Diamond

Photo credit: Donald Bowers/Getty Images for Sotheby's

Using over-exuberant superlatives is commonplace among international auction houses but the item that Sotheby’s will be auctioning in London on June 29 may defy ordinary words.

Calling it “one of the greatest finds of the century,” the auction house is offering a 1,109-carat rough diamond in a standalone auction. Is it hyperbole? Not likely. It is the largest gem-quality rough diamond to be discovered in more than a century and the largest rough diamond in existence today, the auction house said.

Named the “Lesedi la Rona,” it is estimated to sell for more than $70 million.

Photo credit: Donald Bowers/Getty Images for Sotheby's

The gem was unearthed by Lucara Diamond Corp., a Canadian diamond mining company, in November 2015, at its Karowe mine in Botswana. Described as being about the size of a tennis ball (measuring approximately 66.4 x 55 x 42 mm), this rough diamond of “exceptional transparency and quality” is around 2.5 to more than 3 billion years old, the auction house said.

Sotheby’s said it has been more than 100 years since a diamond of this size and quality of the Lesedi La Rona has been found. Its size is exceeded only by the legendary Cullinan Diamond, mined in South Africa in 1905. The 3,016.75-carat diamond produced nine major diamonds that are part of the historic Crown Jewels of the United Kingdom, including the Great Star of Africa—considered to be the largest top-quality polished diamond in existence, weighing 530.20 carats.

Photo credit: Donald Bowers/Getty Images for Sotheby's

According to Sotheby’s, the Gemological Institute of America said the Lesedi La Rona’s “top color and transparency has the ‘limpid’ appearance commonly associated with type IIa diamonds,” which accounts for fewer than 2 percent of all gem-quality diamonds. They are considered “the most chemically pure and often show extraordinary optical transparency,” according to the GIA.

Sotheby’s adds that, according to independent reports, it has the potential to yield the largest top-quality diamond that has ever been cut and polished with an additional “high probability” that the resulting polished diamonds will be “D” color—the highest color classification for white diamonds.

Photo credit: Donald Bowers/Getty Images for Sotheby's

“The Lesedi la Rona is simply outstanding and its discovery is the find of a lifetime,” said David Bennett, worldwide chairman of Sotheby’s Jewellery Division. “Every aspect of this auction is unprecedented. Not only is the rough superlative in size and quality, but no rough even remotely of this scale has ever been offered before at public auction.”

“We are very excited to be partnering with Sotheby’s on this landmark auction,” added William Lamb, president and CEO of Lucara Diamond Corp., “The forthcoming sale presents a unique opportunity to present this extraordinary diamond to a worldwide audience.”

Photo credit: Donald Bowers/Getty Images for Sotheby's

The Lesedi la Rona will be on view at Sotheby’s New York on May 7 and at Sotheby’s London from June 18 - 28.

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Montblanc Unveils Peggy Guggenheim Pen While Celebrating 25 Years Of Arts Patronage

Montblanc Patron of Art Peggy Guggenheim 888 limited edition writing instrument

Each year Montblanc creates “Patron of Art” limited edition writing instruments to honor an historical figure noted for his or her patronage to the arts. This year the honoree is Peggy Guggenheim, the late American heiress who spent her last 30 years in Venice displaying her modern art collection in her residence, which is now home to the Peggy Guggenheim Collection. 

Guggenheim is credited with advancing the careers of several important modern artists including the American painters Jackson Pollock and William Congdon, the Austrian surrealist Wolfgang Paalen, the sound poet Ada Verdun Howell and the German painter Max Ernst, whom she married in December 1941. 

Montblanc Patron of Art Peggy Guggenheim 4810 writing instrument

In addition, the German luxury brand presents the Montblanc de la Culture Arts Patronage Awards to individuals in 16 countries (including its newest countries Greece, Brazil and Colombia) who are currently supporting arts and cultural programs and making them more accessible to larger audiences. 

This year’s award winner in Italy is Giorgio Marconi, founder of the historic Studio Marconi in Milan, who established the Marconi Foundation for Contemporary and Modern Art in 2004, a non-profit institution for the promotion and diffusion of contemporary art and culture through exhibitions, publications, cultural events and meetings. It publicizes and promotes contemporary art and enhances important archives and art collections of the 20th century. In conjunction with Expo 2015, Giorgio Marconi celebrated fifty years of activity with a group exhibition and with a tribute to Lucio Fontana at the recently renewed and extended Marconi Foundation’s premises.

The Montblanc de la Culture Arts Patronage awards cocktail reception on the roof of Peggy Guggenheim Collection overlooking the Grand Canal of Venice. Photo by Anthony DeMarco

Both Guggenheim and Marconi were honored at a cocktail reception April 26 on the rooftop of the Peggy Guggenheim Collection, overlooking The Grand Canal of Venice, followed by tour of a new museum exhibition, “Imagine: New Imagery in Italian Art, 1960–1969” and finally a dinner for 130 guests in a candlelit room inside the historic Palazzo Polignac. Guests included socialite Chloe Delevingne, model Amber Le Bon, designer Jasmine Guinness, actress Camilla Rutherford with Dominic Barker, and actor Jack Guinness.

Guests receiving a tour of the exhibition, “Imagine: New Imagery in Italian Art, 1960–1969,” inside the Peggy Guggenheim Collection. Photo by Anthony DeMarco

In addition to being the home of Guggenheim, Venice also served as Montblanc’s 25th anniversary celebration for this award. Since 1992, when the award was first handed out (in the neighboring Italian city of Florence), Montblanc has presented more than 240 awards along with more than four million euros in prize money, which is donated to a cultural project of the winner’s choice. 

Dinner inside the Palazzo Polignac. Photo by Anthony DeMarco

Montblanc created three writing instruments to honor Guggenheim. The Limited Edition 888 that features a geometric art deco-inspired pattern on the cap and barrel, accented with red lacquer. The engravings of lion heads on the red gold cap ring are inspired by the exterior of the “Palazzo Venier dei Leoni,” the historic name of Guggenheim’s home and museum. The cap ring is embellished with 10 garnets—the eyes of the lions—and the end of the barrel is reminiscent of the red and white striped mooring pillars found on the Venice waterways. The Montblanc snow-cap emblem, in white marble, crowns the cap. The paws engraved on the gold nib of the fountain pen recall the affection she had for her 14 Lhasa Apso dogs.

The two Montblanc Patron of Art Peggy Guggenheim writing instruments on display at the cocktail event. Photo by Anthony DeMarco

The Montblanc Patron of Art Peggy Guggenheim Limited Edition 4810 series (comprising 4,810 pieces) features the geometric art deco design on a black lacquered and platinum-coated cap and barrel, contrasting with the red and platinum-coated stripes on the end of the barrel. The platinum-coated cap ring is elegantly embossed with lion heads, while the Montblanc emblem that crowns the fountain pen is made of the traditional black and white resin.

A third limited version of the pen comprises 81 pieces, representing the age at which Guggenheim died, is crafted in gold with a “skeletonized” façade.

A wax of the Montblanc Patron of Art Peggy Guggenheim writing instrument on display at the event. Photo by Anthony DeMarco

“We are very excited to host the first of the 16 international award ceremonies here in Venice, being a city of particular significance for the arts, culture and architecture with a flourishing artistic community since many centuries,” Jérôme Lambert, Montblanc CEO, said on the rooftop of the Guggenheim. “Furthermore, Venice became the home of Peggy Guggenheim, one of the great patrons of the 20th Century, a pioneering woman who understood the cultural importance of nurturing creative talent just like the outstanding patrons we will be honoring around the world this year.”

From left: New co-chairs of the Montblanc Foundation, Sam Bardaouil and Till Fellrath, and Montblanc CEO, Jérôme Lambert. Photo by Daniele Venturelli

Lambert also used the stage to announce new directions for the awards program and to announce new co-chairmen for the Montblanc Cultural Foundation, which oversees the awards program and other cultural and arts initiatives funded by the company. 

“It is a good thing when you are a German company that you have a common sense of what is consistency,” Lambert said. “After 25 years we understood it is necessary to give the award a new dimension a new energy.”

Giorgio Marconi (left) receives the Montblanc de la Culture Arts Patronage Award for Italy from Till Fellrath and Sam Bardaouil. Photo by Daniele Venturelli

In a private interview Lambert said that for the Patronage Awards, it means creating ways to make the winners more visible and providing more resources to attach Montblanc products to the awards program. The same holds true for the foundation’s other projects, including its “Cutting Edge Art Collection” and “Young Directors Award.”

“We want the foundation to be more present as a source of inspiration, particularly when it comes to writing instruments,” he said. 

The new foundation co-chairs are Sam Bardaouil and Till Fellrath, co-founders of Art Reoriented, a multidisciplinary curatorial platform based in Munich and New York. They both spoke at the event.

“The art of patronage award is actually quite visionary,” Fellrath said. “It was started at a time when it was not (fashionable) to talk about what is a patron and how can we support them and what is the role of such patrons.”

Bardaouil added, “A true patron is someone who really takes risks and allows an artist to flourish and allows an arts community to develop a discourse with a platform and with all the things that is required to be really thriving and healthy. That is what we think the arts patronage award stands for and we are happy to be a part of it and see it move forward to the future.”

A calligrapher demonstrating the art of writing. Photo by Anthony DeMarco

Marconi received a Patron of Art Peggy Guggenheim limited edition fountain pen encased in a trophy and 15,000 euros ($17,160) to be donated to a cultural project of his choice.

He joins a long diverse list of honorees presented with the award that includes Prince Charles, British maestro Sir Simon Rattle, Italian architect Renzo Piano, American recording artist Quincy Jones and Japanese artist Yoko Ono. 

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Industry Experts Return to JNA Awards, Entry Deadline Extended To May 8

From left: Albert Cheng, advisor to the World Gold Council, Far East, James Courage, former chief executive of Platinum Guild International, Lin Qiang, president and managing director of the Shanghai Diamond Exchange, Nirupa Bhatt, managing director of Gemological Institute of America, India and the Middle East; and Yasukazu Suwa, chairman of Suwa & Son, Inc in Japan

Five respected names in the international jewelry industry will return as judges for the fifth annual JNA Awards.

Organized by JNA, the flagship jewelry publication of UBM Asia, the awards recognizes and celebrates excellence and achievement in the jewelry and gemstone industry, with a focus on the advancement of the trade in Asia. 

The JNA Awards 2016 is now accepting entries and interested parties can access the entry forms on the JNA Awards official website. Due to the high level of interest among first-time entrants, the organizer has extended the deadline to May 8, at 11:59 p.m., Hong Kong time. The judging process will commence immediately after the deadline until mid-June.

An independent panel of distinguished industry leaders and veterans from different countries representing key sectors of the industry is carefully selected to ensure that the judging process is fair, transparent and intellectually rigorous.

The judges for the fifth edition of the JNA Awards are: Albert Cheng, advisor to the World Gold Council, Far East, James Courage, former chief executive of Platinum Guild International, Lin Qiang, president and managing director of the Shanghai Diamond Exchange, Nirupa Bhatt, managing director of the Gemological Institute of America in India and the Middle East, and Yasukazu Suwa, chairman of Suwa & Son, Inc in Japan.

Three of the experts have committed to their judging role since the inauguration of the Awards in 2012.

The judging panel is chaired by Letitia Chow, founder of JNA and director of Business Development – Jewellery Group at UBM Asia Ltd. 

“The JNA Awards is celebrating a five-year milestone this year, and it is my greatest pleasure to invite back this group of distinguished experts to our judging panel,” Chow said. “This year stands to be more challenging than before since we are anticipating a record number of entries, requiring even more attention and expertise from our judges.”

The JNA Awards 2016 has Rio Tinto Diamonds and Chow Tai Fook as its Headline Partners, with Diarough Group, Israel Diamond Institute Group of Companies, Shanghai Diamond Exchange (SDE), and Guangdong Land Holdings Limited serving as Honoured Partners.

The shortlisted entrants will be announced on June 23 at a press conference held on the first day of the June Hong Kong Jewellery & Gem Fair, and will be feted on September 14 at the JNA Awards Ceremony and Gala Dinner during the September Hong Kong Jewellery & Gem Fair. 

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4,000 Buyers Attend Jewellery & Gem Fair – Europe 2016

The third edition of Jewellery & Gem Fair – Europe brought 4,000 buyers from 77 countries and regions to Freiburg, Germany, according to UBM Asia, which owns and operates the four-day trade fair that ended March 22. 

“The sluggish world economy makes a significant impact on jewelry industry, thus buyers are prudent about choosing which fairs to visit,” said Wolfram Diener, senior VP, UBM Asia. “According to some exhibitors, the quality of buyers at JGF Europe is good; visitors came to the Fair determined to place some orders.” 

The Top 10 sources of visitors were: Germany, Switzerland, France, Italy, Belgium, Netherlands, the United Kingdom, Austria, Brazil and India. About 86 percent of visitors were from Europe, primarily Germany, which accounted for almost half. The rest of the visitors came from other parts of the world.

The Packaging, Tools & Equipment pavilion was popular among the visitors, according to UBM Asia. Compared to last year, this pavilion was 80 percent bigger in terms of exhibition space. 

“We received numerous positive feedbacks about the Packaging, Tools & Equipment pavilion. We are now working on a plan to enhance this pavilion even more in order to answer market demand,” Diener said.

JGF Europe attracted around 280 exhibitors from 27 countries and regions in 15,000 sqm of exhibition space. Five group pavilions (Germany, Hong Kong, Italy, Mauritius and Thailand) showcased their market specialties. 

Dates for the 2017 trade fair have been set for March 25 – 28. 

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