JAR and Belperron Shine at Sotheby's Sale
December 07, 25
(IDEX Online) - Sotheby's New York is presenting more than 30 creations by JAR and Suzanne Belperron - two designers who changed the course of jewelry history.
Their works dominate the 56-lot single owner collection - A Legacy of Elegance: Jewels from an Exceptional Collection - which will be auctioned tomorrow (8 December). It is expected to raise $8m.
Sotheby's describes it as one of the "most incredible private collections of jewelry in recent memory".
Belperron (1900-1983) was a French jewelry designer, is known for bold, sculptural forms, frequent use of carved hardstones like rock crystal and chalcedony, and was among the few women to reach the top of high jewelry design in her era.
JAR (Joel Arthur Rosenthal) is often described as one of the most important contemporary jewelry artists, famed for painterly use of colored gemstones, intricate pave work, and highly sculptural designs, many inspired by nature.
One highlight of the sale is a 1966 colored gemstone and diamond necklace, featuring pink topazes, morganites, aquamarines and diamonds by Belperron with a pre-sale estimate of $250,000 to $350,000.
The top JAR lot is a pair of 1998 ruby and diamond earclips, with a pre-sale estimate of $400,000 to $600,000.
But the highlight of the sale is neither a JAR nor a Belperron - it's an 1888 Boucheron necklace with 39.00 to 40.00 carats of rubies and 63.00 to 65.00 carats of diamonds (estimate $1m to $2m).
Pics, courtesy Sotheby's, show (left) the JAR ruby and diamond earclips, and the Belperron gemstone and diamond necklace.