Sotheby’s Magnificent Jewels Auction Realizes $48.827 Million

The cluster tops of the earrings are set with 10 pear shaped diamonds, altogether weighing approximately 14 carats. These support 2 large pear shaped diamond pendants – one a D/VVS2, 19.02 carats diamond and the other a D/VS1, 20.75 carats diamond - mounted in platinum.

Also sold, for $3.625 million, was a Cartier Paris single-strand natural pearl and diamond necklace from the collection of Queen Mary who gifted it to her son, the Duke of Windsor.

Composed of 28 natural pearls, it is completed by an oval clasp set with 2 emerald cut diamonds weighing approximately 2 carats and 2 fancy shaped 1 carat diamonds, bordered by 20 small round diamonds with a total approximate weight of 0.70 carats.

Another Harry Winston item sold was a pear shaped D/VVS2 32.16 carat diamond ring, flanked by two tapered baguette diamonds and mounted in platinum, which sold for $3.289 million.

Jewels for the Jungle, a private collection of jewelry, was also auctioned by Sotheby’s yesterday for €802,747 ($1.181 million). The sale was conducted to benefit the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF).

An item that fetched one of the highest prices was an emerald and diamond demi-parure, with two emerald and diamond rings, all of which sold for €18,250 ($26,849). The lot comprised of a bracelet set with marquise shaped emeralds and similarly cut diamonds.

The ring has a step cut emerald, surrounded by brilliant cut and marquise shaped diamonds, and a cluster ring set with circular cut emeralds and square diamonds was also included. Additional diamond details were not provided.