The recently concluded sale of High Jewelry at Sotheby’s New York realised $43.4 million, exceeding its $38.7 million high estimate, with 98% of lots sold and 63% surpassing their pre-sale high estimate. Sotheby’s spring jewellery auctions continue with the Fine Jewellery sale, closing on 18 June.
Sotheby’s press release noted that 98% of all lots found buyers, with 63% of lots selling above the high estimate, and more than a third of all lots were acquired online.
Fancy Colour Diamonds
Leading the sale was an extraordinary cut-cornered rectangular modified brilliant Fancy Intense Blue diamond weighing 10.02 carats, achieving $8.7 million (est. in excess of $6 million). This 10.02 carat Fancy Intense Blue gem represents the third Intense Blue of such a size to be offered since 2008.
Paraíba Excels
Few gemstones have captivated the international collecting community in recent years quite like Paraíba tourmalines. Named for the northeastern Brazilian region where they were first discovered in the late 1980s, this rare variety is prized for its vivid green-to-blue hues which, when enriched by sufficient copper content, display a distinctive neon, almost “electric” intensity. Five outstanding examples from a private collection drew significant interest, together achieving $3.4 million (est. $770,000- $1,210,000).
Sapphires Jewellery
Exceptional De Beers Diamonds
The sale marked the conclusion of Sotheby’s auction collaboration with De Beers, following acclaimed presentations and strong results in Hong Kong and Geneva. The final offering comprised a tightly curated group of exceptional natural diamonds, reflecting a year defined by rarity, craftsmanship, and provenance.
Leading the group was a magnificent 11.33-carat old- mine brilliant-cut diamond, D-color, Type IIa, which achieved $896,000 (est. $600,000–800,000). Its Type IIa classification evokes the legendary Golconda diamonds, celebrated for their exceptional optical transparency, while its D-color and VVS2 clarity place it within a highly rarefied category of old mine brilliants where historic form meets top-tier gemological quality. The stone’s intentionally non-formulaic faceting reflects the human hand, imbuing it with a singular and captivating character.
Alongside this exceptional elongated old mine-cut diamond, two pear-shaped diamond rings, each weighing 2.01 carats, found buyers at $23,040 and $21,760 respectively. Part of the proceeds from these lots will benefit the Peace Parks Foundation, a charity co-founded by the late President Nelson Mandela, dedicated to protecting and restoring some of Africa’s most significant transboundary conservation areas, safeguarding both wildlife and local communities.
Standout Jewellery
