A rare oval cut blue diamond weighing 3.81 carats was the highlight of the Bonhams Fine Jewelry sale at London on September 20, which also saw good demand for some other white diamonds and designer jewellery. The three-hour sale achieved £6,440,200, with 92% of lots sold by value.

The diamond, which has a fancy intense blue colour from a British collection, sold for £2,322,500 ($792,450 per carat).

A quality 11.00 carat marquise-cut diamond of D colour, VS1 clarity, Type IIa stone also sold for £614,500 against an estimate of £200,000-250,000.

Another single-stone diamond ring by J. Roca with a 13.77 carat brilliant-cut diamond fetched £302,500 against its estimate of £180,000-250,000.

A pair of Harry Winston diamond earclips, weighing approximately 34.00 carats of diamonds, sold for £80,500, and the second, a Harry Winston Diamond Necklace with 38.00 carats of marquise and pear-shaped diamonds, sold for £110,500.

A pair of antique diamond earrings, circa 1830, weighing 3.02 and 3.25 carats, classified as Type IIa, probably hailed from the famed Golconda mines and sold for £104,500 against a pre-sale estimate of £30,000-40,000.

An impressive Emerald and diamond cluster ring, circa 1960 with a cushion-shaped emerald, weighing 12.50 carats, of Colombian origin, sold for £69,700 against its estimate of £30,000-40,000.

A pair of late 19th century Kashmir sapphire earrings weighing 8.97 and 8.93 carats sold for £866,500 (or $62,900 per carat) against their pre-sale estimate of £400,000-600,000.

A rare piece from the 1970s by Andrew Grima, the doyen of modern jewelry design in Britain, dated 1973, featuring carved emeralds and cabochon sapphires of various sizes, mounted in 18 carat gold, interspersed with brilliant-cut diamond accents, sold for £23,750.

Jean Ghika, Head of Jewelry for Bonhams UK & Europe, says: "With participation from our global client base, these results, particularly for blue diamonds, Kashmir sapphires and top quality white diamonds demonstrate the market is buoyant for the very best items."