The ‘Ratnaraj’ 10-Carat Ruby Could Achieve $12.5 Million At Christie’s

A rare 10.05-carat Burmese Pigeon’s Blood ruby ring will be the lead item at Christie’s Hong Kong Magnificent Jewels sale on November 29. It has a pre-sale estimate of $8.8 million to $12.5 million.

Known as the “Ratnaraj” (“King of Precious Stones” in Sanskrit), the auction house says it boasts “significant size, illuminating redness and flawless crystal structure.”

The gem comes from the House of Faidee, a century-old gem and jewelry firm known for its trophy collection of Burmese rubies and Kashmiri sapphires. Only a few appear on the market each year.

Christie’s says it is extremely rare for a ruby over 5 carats to exhibit exceptional saturation and natural red fluorescence categorized as “pigeon’s blood.”

The Magnificent Jewels auction will be held at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre. 

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5-Carat Green Diamond Sets New Auction Records

The “Aurora Green,” a 5.03-carat rectangular-cut fancy vivid green diamond smashed auction records Tuesday at Christie’s Hong Kong Magnificent Jewels sale. 

The green diamond, with VS2 clarity mounted on a gold ring surrounded by circular-cut pink diamonds, sold for $16.8 million and for more than $3.3 million per carat, both world auction records. 

The diamond was purchased by Hong Kong-based by Chow Tai Fook Jewellery Co LTD, one of the largest jewelry retailers in the world. 

Despite the price being at the low end of its estimate, the diamond shattered the previous records for a green diamond, which was set earlier this month for “The Ocean Dream,” a 5.5-carat fancy vivid blue-green diamond that sold for $8.6 million ($1.5 million per carat).

The Aurora Green was the top lot of the sale and one of four lots that set world auction records. The sale totaled more than $85 million with 10 lots exceeding more than $1 million. Colored diamonds, colored gems, jadeite and white diamond were among the top lots. A total of 72 percent of items were sold by lot and 73 percent by value.

The sale attracted 197 buyers from 19 countries across five continents.

The three other items that set auction records are as follows:

* Burmese oval-shaped ruby ear pendants of 10.02 and 9.09 carets by Etcetera sold for $11.6 million ($607,053 per caret), a world auction record for a pair of ruby earrings. 

* An Art Deco sapphire and diamond bracelet by Cartier sold for $7.2 million, a world auction record for a bracelet.

* A multi-gem pendant necklace by Wallace Chan sold for $967,164, a world auction record for a jewel by Wallace Chan. 

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$3.6 Million For 75-Carat Yellow Diamond Ring

Statement diamonds sold within their estimates and a few signed jewels achieved outstanding results at Christie’s New York Important Jewels auction, held Tuesday.

The top lot was a 75.56-carat cushion modified brilliant-cut Fancy Vivid yellow diamond ring sold for $3.6 million, within its $3 to $4 million estimate. 

The auction realized a total of more than $19.9 million, with active online bidding from several locations including Hong Kong, Indonesia, Monaco, the United Kingdom, and all over the United States, according to the auction house. 

Additional top prices were achieved for the following:

* An 18.8-carat marquise-cut D color diamond sold for $1.45 million, within its estimate. It was mounted on a platinum ring flanked on either side by tapered baguette-cut diamonds.

* A 12.75-carat heart-shaped D color diamond sold for $965,000, within its estimate. The diamond, mounted in white gold, is worn as a pendant attached to link neckchain. 

* A 34.12-carat cushion-cut fancy yellow diamond sold for $725,000, within its estimate. The center is mounted on a platinum and 18k gold ring flanked on each side by a bullet-shaped diamond.

Several signed jewels far exceeded their estimates in the sale. They include the following:  

* A multi-gem and diamond brooch by Donald Clafin for Tiffany & Co. sold for $137,000, nearly seven times its high estimate of $20,000.

* A multi-gem and diamond brooch by Donald Clafin for Tiffany & Co. sold for $233,000, smashing its high estimate of $15,000.

* A diamond and emerald “Ballet Précieux” brooch by Van Cleef & Arpels sold for $161,000, well above its high estimate of $100,000

* An Art Deco emerald, diamond and Onyx pendant, Crica 1925, sold for $245,000, smashing its high estimate of $20,000.

* A diamond and kunzite spider brooch by David Webb, designed as a circular and baguette-cut diamond flexible spider, centering upon a cushion-cut kunzite, sold for $77,500, above its $50,000 high estimate. 

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Colorless Diamonds and Celebrated Collections Lead Sotheby’s Jewelry Sales

A platinum-topped gold and diamond necklace presented to Helen Hay on the occasion of her marriage to Payne Whitney in 1902 was the top lot at Sotheby’s Magnificent Jewels sale. 

The necklace (pictured above) features four diamonds ranging from F to H color, and weighing 27.48, 15.53, 13.08 and 8.91 carats respectively, the necklace sold for nearly $3.2 million. The marriage of Hay and Whitney was a society event that made headlines across the United States. All seven jewels from the estate of Helen Hay Whitney were sold for $4.8 million. 

In addition to the Helen Hay Whitney estate, collection from Estée Lauder, Evelyn H. Lauder and Grand Duchess Vladimir of Russia were among the most sought after jewels from bidders, which included a world record price for a Cartier “Tutti Frutti” bracelet

Jewels from the collections of Estée Lauder and Mrs. Evelyn H. Lauder together achieved $3.9 million, with more than 80 percent of the pieces on offer fetching prices above their high estimates.

Thirty-two jewels from the collection of Evelyn H. Lauder—sold to benefit The Breast Cancer Research Foundation—were led by a “Tutti Frutti” bracelet by Cartier, circa 1928 (pictured above), that sold for more than $2.1 million (more than double its high estimate), marking a new world auction record for any Tutti Frutti bracelet by Cartier.

Ten pieces from the Estée Lauder collection sold to benefit the Alzheimer’s Drug Discovery Foundation were led by a pair of fancy brown-yellow diamond and diamond earclips by Van Cleef & Arpels that fetched $233,000.

A pair of platinum, emerald and diamond pendant-earclips (pictured above) that originally belonged to the legendary collection of Grand Duchess Vladimir of Russia sold for more than $1 million. After being smuggled out of Russia by an English friend of the Duchess following the abdication of the Tsar in 1917, the emeralds descended to the Duchess’s daughter and granddaughter, and were acquired at auction at Sotheby’s Geneva in 1987 for Princess Gloria von Thurn und Taxis, the auction house said. 

From the collection of Marlene Dietrich—the legendary actress, singer and cabaret star—a 14k tri-color gold and lapis lazuli bracelet, Cartier circa 1940, sold for $179,000, nearly six times above its high estimate. The bracelet was a gift from longtime friend Erich Maria Remarque, author of “All Quiet on the Western Front.”

Two platinum and diamond rings were among the top four lots of the auction, showing that despite the trend toward colored diamonds, statement colorless diamonds can still bring in world-class prices. 

The first featured a 25.44-carat emerald-cut diamond of D color, VVS1 clarity and potentially Internally Flawless. It sold for $2.96 million, or $116,548 per carat (pictured above).

The second featured a 47.48- carat, round brilliant-cut diamond of K color, VVS1 clarity that sold for $1.8 million. 

Other highlights of the auction were:

* A platinum and diamond ring centered by a 3.02 emerald-cut fancy grayish blue diamond with VVS2 clarity, circa 1930, sold for $1.4 million, or $478,476 per carat, well above its high estimate.

* A platinum, fancy intense purplish pink diamond and diamond ring, 3.07 carats, SI2 clarity, sold for $1.2 million ($392,508 per carat).

* Platinum and diamond earclips by Harry Winston, 10.20 carats, G color, VVS2 clarity and 9.53 carats, G color,VS1 clarity, sold for $1.08 million ($54,992 per carat).

* Egyptian-revival platinum, diamond and colored stone bracelet, LaCloche Frères, Paris, sold for $1.5 million. 

The December 9 auction achieved more than $44.1 million in sales, with 75.8 percent sold by lot and 81.1 percent sold by value. It raised Sotheby’s worldwide jewelry sales in 2014 to $597.5 million, already surpassing the record $529.3 million the company achieved in 2013 in this category. This is without including Sotheby’s London jewelry sale held Thursday. The auction house estimates that sales for 2014 will exceed $600 million.

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16 Hearts and Arrows Diamonds Fetch $2.6 Million at Bonhams

Diamonds, jade and a collection of Marina B jewelry were among the top achievers for Bonhams Fine Jewellery and Jadeite auction in Hong Kong. 

The top lot of the November 26 sale was a collection of flawless hearts and arrows diamonds that sold for more than $2.6 million. The collection of 16 brilliant-cut diamonds classified as D color, flawless, internally flawless attracted “spirited” bidding, according to the auction house. 

Each gem is accompanied by its own report from the Gemological Institute of America. The individual weight of the 16 gems ranged from 1.16 to 4.49 carats for a total carat weight of 39.98. Each gem is accompanied by its own report from the Gemological Institute of America. 

Hearts and Arrows are described as a clearly defined set of eight hearts and eight arrows in a round diamond. “It is a sign of excellent optical symmetry, an important component of cut. As such, its appearance is a very likely a sign of superior cut, but not a guarantee.” 

Other highlights include the following:

* An emerald and diamond cluster ring featuring a cushion-shaped, 10.09-carat emerald surrounded by brilliant cut diamonds that sold for $933,588.

* A highly translucent jadeite bangle of a bright apple green color, suffused with intense green streaks that sold for $670,532. 

* A fine two-strand jadeite bead necklace comprising of 49 and 53 graduated bright emerald green jadeite beads of very good translucency with a cabochon jadeite clasp that sold for $670,532. 

* A collection of jewelry designed by Marina B fetched more than $1.2 million. The top lot was a sapphire and diamond “Amelia” necklace and earring suite by Marina B that sold for $624,111. The articulated necklace is set with 12 cushion shaped sapphires, the largest weighing 15.95 carats, within pear and brilliant-cut diamond surrounds, spaced by marquise and pear-shaped diamonds. It is accompanied by a pair of earrings. Total diamond carat weight is 92.30 and total carat weight of sapphires is 104.81, signed by Marina B. 

Graeme Thompson, director of Jewellery at Bonhams Asia said the sale “is testament to the strength of the Asian market for rare items such the flawless collection of Hearts and Arrows diamonds and the Marina B jewels.”

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Burmese Ruby and Diamond Necklace Highlights Sotheby’s Hong Kong Sale

Burmese rubies, colored diamonds and Cartier jewels led Sotheby’s Hong Kong Fine Jewels and Jadeite sale. 

The top lot was a ruby and diamond necklace with 50.57 carats of unheated “Pigeon’s Blood” Mogok Burmese rubies that sold for $805,128 (top photo). 

The necklace is set with 37 graduated oval rubies, decorated with approximately 42.70 carats of pear-shaped and brilliant-cut diamonds mounted in 18k white and yellow gold. 

Other items of note at the November 28 sale include the following: 

* A 13.88-carat fancy intense yellow diamond and white diamond ring sold for $466,667. The yellow diamond is flanked by two trapeze-shaped diamonds together weighing approximately 3 carats, mounted in platinum and 18k yellow gold.

* A Cartier “Tiger” clip-brooch sold for $451,282, more than double its high estimate of $206,352. Set with brilliant-cut yellow diamonds and diamonds together weighing approximately 9.95 carats, speckled by onyx, embellished by pear-shaped emerald-set eyes, mounted in 18k yellow gold, signed and numbered.

* A 4.79-carat unheated “Pigeon’s Blood” Mogok Burmese ruby and diamond ring by Cartier sold for $435,897. The oval ruby is flanked on each side by a half-moon shaped diamond, decorated by brilliant cut and baguette diamonds together weighing approximately 1.30 carats, mounted in platinum, signed and numbered. 

* Fancy intense yellow diamond and white diamond ear clips that sold for $312,821. Each ear clip has a cut-cornered rectangular modified brilliant-cut fancy intense yellow diamond weighing 6.30 and 6.15 carats respectively, suspended from a pear-shaped and brilliant-cut diamonds weighing a total of 4.45 carats, mounted in platinum and 18k yellow gold.

The 180-lot auction of signed pieces, colored gems and diamonds, modern and vintage pieces, and a charity session to aid Operation Smile China Medical Mission, which provides free surgery to underprivileged children and young adults with cleft lips or cleft palates in China, fetched more than $7.85 million, with 87.2 percent of the items sold by lot and 75.8 percent sold by value. 

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‘Blue Belle of Asia’ Sapphire Fetches World Auction Record $17.3 Million

Blue Belle of Asia

A 392.52-carat cushion shaped Ceylon sapphire sold for nearly $17.3 million at Christie’s Geneva sale of Magnificent jewels Tuesday—a world record for any sapphire sold at auction. Known as the 'Blue Belle of Asia,' the gem shattered its high estimate of $10 million. 

The gem, considered the world’s fourth largest faceted sapphire, was discovered in 1926 at Pelmadula, Ratnapura (‘The City of Gems’), in Ceylon and was sold to British motor magnate Lord Nuffield (1877-1963), according to the auction house. It was rumored that he purchased the sapphire to present it to Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother, on her Coronation Day. The gem is suspended on a diamond tassel pendant and attached to a diamond neckchain mounted in gold.

It was one of several big ticket items at the auction, which achieved more than $150.2 million, with 89 percent sold by lot and 94 percent sold by value. Christie’s said it was “the highest total for any Magnificent Jewels sale in the world.” 

Fancy colored diamond ear pendants

World renowned diamond jeweler, Laurence Graff, acquired a pair of ear pendants, featuring a 6.95-carat, pear-shaped fancy vivid blue diamond, and a 6.79-carat, pear-shaped fancy vivid pink diamond, for more than $15.8 million. Previously known as “A Bulgari Masterpiece,” the fancy colored diamonds are topped with marquise and pear-shaped diamond clusters weighing approximately 19.28 carats. The high estimate for the item was $15 million.

Empress Eugenie’s Feuilles De Groseillier Brooch

One of the more anticipated lots was the “Feuilles de Groseillier” brooch, commissioned in 1855 by Empress Eugenie of France (1826-1920) to French jeweler Alfred Bapst. It was part of the French Crown Jewels. It sold for more than $2.3 million, within its estimate of $2 to $3 million.

Christie’s said more than 600 persons from 30 countries registered for the auction.

Other notable sales included the JAR “Parrot Tulip” bangle bracelet that realized more than $3.5 million, nearly ten times its estimate and the second highest price for a creation by JAR; and an Art Deco natural pearl and diamond necklace from the private collection of the Baroness Edouard de Rothschild that sold for nearly $5.2 million.

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5.5-Carat Pink Diamond Leads Christie’s Auction Selling For $9.5 Million

A 5.50-carat oval-cut fancy vivid pink diamond with VVS1 clarity sold for more than $9.5 million (over $1.7 million per carat) Tuesday at Christie’s New York Important Jewels sale. The price was well above the precaution estimate of $7.5 million.

Two other lots earned more than $1 million: A 20.08-carat, D‐color VVS1 potentially internally flawless rectangular cut diamond ring by Taffin (pictured above) that sold for $3 million ($153,240 per carat), within its estimate, and a 5.91-carat rectangular-cut fancy light pink VS1 diamond that sold for more than $1.8 million ($310,490 per carat), about three times its high estimate of $675,000. 

The auction itself achieved more than $27.5 million with 83 percent sold by lot and 85 percent sold by value. Seven of the 10 buyers were from the jewelry trade. 

Other highlights of the sales included the following:

* A long chain diamond necklace by Leviev (pictured above) with 108 collet-set diamonds, weighing approximately 1.16 to 1.00 carats with the reverse of each enhanced with pavé-set diamonds. It’s joined by a circular-cut diamond and cabochon emerald openwork clasp, mounted in platinum. It sold for $965,000.

* A pair of pear-shaped D-color internally flawless diamond ear pendants (pictured above) of 5.46 and 5.00 carats that sold for $905,000.

* A Van Cleef & Arpels diamond and sapphire “zip” necklace (pictured above) fetched $389,000, above its $350,000 high estimate. The circular-cut piece is designed to look like a zipper, with a caliber-cut sapphire sliding ribbon, mounted in 18k white gold. 

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Necklace With Two Golconda Diamonds Could Fetch $10 Million

The Eye of Golconda

“The Eye of Golconda,” A necklace featuring two statement Golconda diamonds will be the top lot at Christie’s Hong Kong Magnificent Jewels auction on May 27.

The diamond pendant and emerald necklace has a 40.05-carat pear-shaped diamond and a 6.76-carat cushion-shaped diamond, both graded by the Gemological Institute of America as D color with internally flawless clarity. The former, the necklace’s pendant centerpiece, is the largest Golconda diamond ever available for auction in Asia. The necklace has a pre-auction estimate of $8.5 - $10 million.

Both diamonds are graded as Type IIa, which are a trait of diamonds from mines in the historic Golconda area of India. Type IIa diamonds represent less than 2 percent of the world’s production of gem-quality diamonds and are considered the purest form of diamonds and show exceptional optical transparency.

Golconda diamonds are often described as “Diamonds of First Water,” according to the auction house, because they are characterized by “an almost indefinable water-clear appearance that attest to their diaphanous quality and a degree of transparency rarely seen in stones from other localities.” Some of the most famous diamonds in the world are believed to have come from mines in the Golconda region including the Koh-i-noor, Darya-e Nur, the Nur-Ul-Ain, and The Hope Diamond.

The auction will have more than 300 lots with a combined estimate of more than $100 million. It includes several rare colored diamonds, colorless diamonds, rare Jadeite jewels, Burmese rubies and sapphires, and Colombian emeralds. Exclusive vintage jewelry pieces from Bulgari, Harry Winston and Van Cleef & Arpels complete the sale.

Other highlights of the auction include:

* A 9.38-carat pear-shaped fancy intense pink diamond on a ring with an estimate of $5.8 - $8.3 million.

* Two unmounted 26.08 and 26.20 carats D color flawless, Type IIa brilliant-cut diamonds. Each diamond has an estimate of $4 - $6.5 million. They have been awarded "Excellent" for polish, symmetry and cut grade, meaning that they exhibit perfectly aligned facets with an accuracy of up to 1/200th of an inch, while each of the facets is worked to the greatest possible smoothness.

* It wouldn’t be a Hong Kong jewelry auction without statement jadeite pieces. The top lot in this category is a jadeite bangle with an estimate of $3.8 - $6.5 million. Christie’s says it has the “perfect balance of the ideal color, texture and translucency” displaying a “vivid emerald green color with a saturation and tone that are neither too dark nor too light.”

* A Burmese “pigeon’s blood red” ruby and diamond jewelry suite by James W. Currens for Faidee has an estimate of $4 - $6.25 million.

The auction will be held at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre with public viewings beginning May 22.

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28-Carat Kashmir Sapphire Sets World Auction Record

A 28.18-carat square emerald-cut Kashmir sapphire sold for nearly $5.1 million. It achieved $180,731 per carat, setting a world auction record of a price per carat for a sapphire.

“With its exceptional quality and deep color, I knew as soon as I saw it that the stone had the potential to reach historic heights,” Gary Schuler, head of Sotheby’s Jewelry Department in New York, said in a statement.

The untreated gem on a ring is framed by 32 tapered baguette diamonds with a mounting by Oscar Heyman & Brothers. It is described by the American Gemological Laboratories as “a gem of singular importance.” The proceeds of the sale will go toward charity, according to the auction house.

The sapphire was one of three colored gems that took top honors in Sotheby’s spring auction of Magnificent Jewels held Tuesday in New York.

The top lot of the auction went to a 15.23-carat fancy intense orangy pink diamond on ring that sold for $6.1 million (pictured above). The cushion-cut diamond with VS2 clarity “displays a soft, feminine color reminiscent of pink diamonds in historic and royal collections,” according to the auction house.

In addition, a 36.53-carat emerald-cut Colombian emerald, known as the “El Dorado,” fetched more than $2.1 million (pictured above). Mounted on a ring it is flanked by two triangle-shaped diamonds weighing approximately 6 carats.

Jewelry from the estate of American entertainer Eydie Gorme sold for $2.2 million. Almost all of the jewels in the collection were given to Gorme by her longtime husband and partner, award-winning singer Steve Lawrence. Top lots of this collection included a 15.44-carat platinum and diamond ring that sold for $677,000. The center diamond is flanked by two pear-shaped diamonds weighing approximately 3 carats. And a 17.40-carat platinum and diamond ring by Harry Winston that sold for $569,000 (pictured above). The center diamond was flanked by two diamond baguettes. Both sold for well above their high estimate.

Sotheby’s auction of 445 lots fetched more than $44.3 million, with 81.8 percent sold by lot and 87 percent sold by value.

“Our results reflect the global participation of bidders throughout the day, with significant interest from private collectors, as well as the steady, strong market for diamonds and gemstones of outstanding quality,” Schuler said.

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Pair Of Natural Pearls Belonging to Empress Eugenie Fetches Auction Record $3.3 Million

A pair of rare natural pearls believed to have been owned by the last empress of France sold for a world record auction price of more than $3.3 million. The Doyle New York auction house, which sold the pearls Monday, said they were purchased by a telephone bidder who requested anonymity.

The price surpassed the prior world record for a pair of natural pearls set in May 2013 by Sotheby’s Geneva belonging to actress Gina Lollobrigida for $2.4 million. That pair broke the earlier record of $1.99 million set by Christie’s New York at the sale of the collection of Elizabeth Taylor in December 2011.

The drop-shaped pearls were accompanied by a hand-written note that refers to them as having belonged to Empress Eugenie of France, the wife of Napoleon III (the last emperor of France), the auction house said. In 1887, following the fall of the monarchy, an historic auction of the French Crown Jewels took place in the Louvre, lasting 12 days.

Doyle New York has a detailed description of the pearls provenance, owned by the family of two prominent industrialists of America’s Gilded Age.

They were first purchased by George Crocker (1856-1909), the son of Charles Crocker, who founded the Central Pacific Railroad in California. They were later owned by the descendants of Henry Huttleston Rogers (1840-1909) of Massachusetts, an American industrialist who made a fortune as a partner with John D. Rockefeller in Standard Oil and a founder of the Virginia Railroad.

The pearls measured nearly an inch in height and a half-inch wide, and were warm gray in color, according to the auction house. They were mounted with antique silver and diamond caps, which were set onto a circa 1920 platinum and diamond pendant. 

The pearls were accompanied by a report from the Swiss Gemmological Institute SSEF describing them as natural saltwater pearls with no indications of artificial color modification. The Institute added a statement describing them as “very rare and exceptional, and thus this pair of pearls can be considered a very exceptional treasure of nature.”

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Riki and Jerome Shaw Jewelry Collection Raises $8.6 Million For Animal Welfare

6-carat fancy intense pink diamond ring by Harry Winston from Riki and Jerome Shaw collection sold for more than $5.7 million.

Jewelry from the collection of Riki and Jerome Shaw raised more than $8.6 million with all proceeds going toward cage-free animal shelters as part of the couple’s ongoing fight against animal cruelty. It was part of Christie’s New York Magnificent Jewels Sale.

The private collection was led by a 6-carat fancy intense pink diamond ring by Harry Winston, which sold for more than $5.7 million. It was one of two items from the collection that were among the top 10 lots sold during the auction held Wednesday at Christie’s Rockefeller Center headquarters. The other piece was a 6.25-carat Burmese ruby and diamond ring that sold for more than $1.3 million. 

The top lot of the evening was a pair of circular-cut, D-color, internally flawless diamonds of 22.60 and 22.31 carats (pictured above) that sold for more than $8.5 million; followed by a 40.43-carat oval-cut D-color potentially flawless diamond of 40.43 carats (pictured below) that sold for more than $7.6 million. 

Another private collection, this one belonging to Kathleen and Martin Field, sold for more than $6 million with two items among the top ten lots sold: They were a 20.10-carat rectangular-cut, D-color, VVS1 diamond by Harry Winston that sold for more than $2.4 million; and a 42.88-carat rectangular-cut Colombian emerald and diamond brooch by Harry Winston that sold for more than $1.3 million.

A 2.49- carat, old mine cut fancy yellowish green diamond ring by JAR (pictured above) shattered its pre-auction estimate of $500,000 to sell for more than $1.8 million.

One high-ticket item that did not sell was a 50-carat briolette-cut D-color, flawless diamond that had an estimate of $5.5 - $7.5 million. 

The overall auction at took in more than $60.5 million, with 82 percent sold by lot and 80 percent sold by value. 

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A Big Pink and a Big Blue Diamond Fetched Big Bucks At Christie’s

Two fancy colored diamonds were the top sellers at Christie’s New York Magnificent Jewels sale Tuesday. Meanwhile, the diamond engagement ring that Kris Humphries gave to Kim Kardashian at the same sale made lots of noise but ended up only having the 12th highest sale price at $749,000.

The top lots among the 389 offered were:

* An 8.77-carat rectangular-cut fancy intense pink VVS1 diamond that sold for more than $6.3 million, or $721,200 per carat (top photo). The buyer was Moussaieff Jewellers, a luxury retail jeweler with stores in London and Geneva.

* A 3.81-carat rectangular-cut fancy vivid blue VS1 diamond that sold for nearly $4 million, or more than $1 million per carat (pictured above). The buyer requested anonymity.

The other top lots are as follows:

* A 25.30-carat rectangular-cut D color VVS1 diamond that sold for more than $3.1 million.

* An 18.28-carat cushion-cut D color VVS2 diamond that sold for more than $2 million.

* A 15.88-carat cushion-cut Kashmir sapphire that sold for more than $1.8 million.

* A 10.75-carat rectangular-cut D color internally flawless diamond that sold for nearly $1.4 million.

* A 17-carat rectangular-cut F color VS1 diamond ring that sold for more than $1.2 million. The ring was part of Diana Dollar Knowles Collection. Knowles, who died March 4 at the age of 95, was a noted San Francisco philanthropist and patron of the arts.

The auction at Christie’s Rockefeller Center headquarters took in more than $46.6 million with 75 percent of the items sold by lot and 85 percent sold by value.

However, the sale also notable for a number of big-ticket items that failed to sell. Among them:

* An 18k pink gold and platinum ring set with a 2.47-carat heart-shaped fancy purple-pink diamond and flanked on either side by a modified heart- shaped fancy intense blue diamond, weighing approximately 1.22 and 1.16 carats. Its high estimate was $1.55 million.

* A 37.20-carat modified pear-shaped fancy deep brown-yellow diamond mounted in 18k rose gold with a high estimate of $800,000.

* An 11.70-carat circular-cut diamond, with the shoulders set with baguette-cut diamonds, mounted in platinum that had a high estimate of $800,000.

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Kim Kardashian’s 20-Carat Engagement Ring Fetches $749,000 At Auction

Kris Humphries reportedly said he just wanted to move on so he can’t be too disappointed for the price his 20.5-carat diamond engagement ring to Kim Kardashian achieved at auction Tuesday.

The NBA basketball player, who paid a reported $2 million for the diamond and platinum ring for the reality TV star in 2011, saw the ring sell for $749,000 during Christie’s Magnificent Jewels auction. While the ring did not sell for its original price it did easily exceed the high auction estimate of $500,000.

Listed simply as an “Impressive Diamond Ring,” the ring designed by Lorraine Schwartz is set with a 16.21-carat rectangular-cut diamond with I color, VS1 clarity. The diamond is flanked on either side with a trapeze-cut diamond, each weighing approximately 1.80 carats. 

The celebrity couple separated after 72 days of marriage in 2011. The divorce became final in 2012.

Although reports started circulating as to the owner of the ring, the provenance wasn’t confirmed until an unidentified person representing Humphries told E! News that it was indeed being sold by him. 

“He has long-since moved on and is very much looking forward to a successful auction at Christie's on Tuesday, and of course to returning to the court this upcoming NBA season as a Boston Celtic,” the representative said in a statement to the entertainment news network.

Rahul Kadakia, head of Jewelry for Christie’s Americas and Switzerland, who led the auction, announced that a portion of proceeds will benefit a charity. 

Bidding began at $200,000 and quickly rose to $480,000. After a pause it went to $520,000. It then slowly climbed to reach a final bid of $620,000. Commission and fees bought the price of the ring to $749,000.

It was the last item of the morning session of the auction. It is scheduled to resume at 2:30 p.m.

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19.51-Carat Harry Winston Diamond Ring May Fetch $1.8 Million

A Harry Winston platinum ring centered with an emerald-cut 19.51-carat diamond will be one of the top items being offered at Sotheby’s New York Important Jewels auction on September 24.

The ring, flanked by two triangle-shaped diamonds weighing 2.92 carats, has a pre-auction estimate of $1.2 - $1.8 million. It is from the family of George Rothman, the successful real estate developer and philanthropist who created the Rothman Foundation. It is the top lot among a collection of jewelry the family has put on sale that include pieces by Bulgari, David Webb and Van Cleef & Arpels.

The Harry Winston ring is one of three such rings that have high estimates of more than $1 million at the upcoming sale. The others are:

* A pear-shaped diamond weighing 15.10 carats, flanked by two smaller pear-shaped diamonds weighing approximately 2 carats will also appear in the sale with an estimate of $1.25 million - $1.75 million. The ownership is identified by the auction house as being from a New York estate.

* A 9.77-carat, cut-cornered rectangular step-cut diamond accented by small round diamonds weighing approximately 0.70 carat, and mounted on platinum. The ring, which is identified as the property of a lady from Texas, has an estimate of $800,000 to $1.2 million. 

Fancy colored diamonds have made their mark in recent years on the auction market and Sotheby’s leader in this category for the upcoming auction is a 1.08-carat pear-shaped fancy vivid blue diamond (pictured above), on a platinum mounting accented by round near colorless diamonds. This item has an estimate of $450,000 - $650,000.

The upcoming auction will also feature several pieces from the collection of Alex & Elisabeth Lewyt, featuring custom-designed and period pieces by French jewelers such as Schlumberger, Suzanne Belperron and René Boivin. Items of note from the Lewyt collection include:

* A platinum, palladium and diamond triple-band cuff-bracelet by Belperron (pictured above). It was worn by Elisabeth Lewyt on her wedding day. The bracelet has three tapered rows set with 75 old mine-cut diamonds weighing approximately 16.95 carats. It has an estimate of $40,000 to $60,000. 

* An 18k yellow gold reclining Labrador retriever brooch by René Boivin (pictured above). The torso, ears, paws and tail of the dog are set with numerous round and single-cut diamonds of near colorless, brown and yellow hues weighing approximately 28.95 carats. The collar is set with 19 buff-topped rubies. The eyes are made of two cabochon citrines and the nose and pads on the back paws are accented by a blackened gold. Its estimate is $70,000 - $90,000.

* A platinum and diamond double-clip pendant-brooch by Schlumberger, set with marquise-shaped diamonds weighing 5.22 and 5.28 carats, both E color, VS1 clarity; estimate $200,00 - $300,000.

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