Christie’s Partially Resuming In-Person Jewelry Auctions in New York

You can visit this 116-carat diamond estimated to sell for $5 million to $7 million at Christie’s Rockefeller Center location, but you can’t bid on it in person.

Ashley Davis Ashley.Davis@nationaljeweler.com

This pear-shaped diamond is expected to fetch between $5 million and $7 million at Christie’s New York’s Magnificent Jewels Sale next week.

New York—Like most of the world, Christie’s went virtual this spring due to the global pandemic, breaking a record for most expensive jewel to be sold at an online auction in the process.

Now, following its in-person Hong Kong Magnificent Jewels sale, Christie’s New York is dipping its toe back into live jewelry auctions next week, with some significant caveats.

Christie’s is foregoing in-person bidding at its July 29 Magnificent Jewels sale but still allowing for absentee and telephone bids.

Real-time bidding is also available online through Christie’s Live. All manners of bidding require at least 24-hour advance registration.

Interested parties may peruse lots in person prior to the sale, however, by making an appointment during July 25-28 viewing hours.

There they can spy the lot leading the Magnificent Jewels sale—a diamond necklace, pictured at top of article and above, featuring a 115.83-carat, F color, VVS1 pear-shaped diamond, valued at $5 million to $7 million.

Other white diamonds of particular import are the above ring with a 25.22-carat, VVS2, D color, pear-shaped diamond valued at $1.5 million to $2.5 million, and the below ring with 15.20-carat heart modified brilliant-cut diamond.

Colored diamonds are also expected to garner some buzz. A ring with 7.16-carat, internally flawless, fancy intense blue diamond (seen below) is expected to go for between $3.5 million and $5 million, while a ring with 33.65-carat, VS2 fancy intense yellow diamond is estimated to fetch between $525,000 and $625,000.

Leading the colored gemstone lots are a ring with 42.45-carat Burmese sapphire ($350,000-$550,000), a 35.77-carat Colombian emerald ring ($300,000-$500,000), and the below Art Deco sapphire and diamond sautoir by Bulgari ($650,000-$850,000).

A number of private collections will be on offer featuring signed pieces from the likes of Belperron, Bulgari, Cartier, David Webb, Harry Winston, Jean Schlumberger for Tiffany & Co., Van Cleef & Arpels and Verdura.

The Estate of Pauline Ireland features over 50 lots, most notably a Verdura beryl, yellow sapphire and cultured pearl brooch estimated to sell for $10,000 to $15,000 and a Cartier Art Deco ruby and diamond jabot brooch expected to fetch $15,000-$20,000.

The Collection of James and Marilyn Alsdorf most notably offers a single-stone pear-shaped diamond ($100,000-$150,000), while The Collection of Gloria Manney features Van Cleef & Arpels black opal, colored diamond and diamond fish brooch ($50,000 to $70,000).

A 16.79-carat Colombian emerald ring is the most expensive lot offered from The

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Property of a Texas Collector, with a $200,000 to $300,000 estimate. Four lots from JAR, meanwhile, including a pair of diamond and colored diamond “Trellis” earrings (seen above), expected to sell for between $150,000 and $200,000, come from The Property of a Lady.

Christie’s Hong Kong, Alrosa, Diamonds Do Good and designer Anna Hu recently worked together to raise more than $300,000 in an auction benefitting families impacted by the pandemic, and the New York sale will feature an important piece from the designer.

From a private collection, the one-of-a-kind “Sky Tower” necklace” combines Chinese cultural influences with a nod to Western architecture.

The necklace (rendering pictured below) features a detachable brooch set with jadeite plaque and resembles French architect Jean Nouvel’s 53 West 53 building in New York City.