De Beers’ rough diamond sales were down 18 percent year-over-year in its latest round of sales.
One Collector’s Hemmerle Trove Is Up for Auction
The largest single-owner collection of Hemmerle jewels headlines Sotheby’s London jewelry auction.
London—The ultimate holiday gift array for jewelry lovers is up for grabs this week, in the form of the largest single-owner Hemmerle collection ever offered at auction.
Hitting the block Tuesday at Sotheby’s jewelry auction in London, the collection features 12 one-of-a-kind jewels from the German jeweler, all amassed in the early 2000s by a European woman, the auction house said in a statement.
The fourth-generation-run jewelry house has garnered a cult fan base over its 120-plus years in business, with recent decades cementing its status as a boundary-pushing iconoclast, incorporating unusual jewelry-making materials like iron, antique artifacts and even acorns from New York’s Central Park into its roughly 200 piece-a-year repertoire.
In an interview with Sotheby’s, Christian Hemmerle said: “My dad never looked at materials by value. He just looked at beauty.
“He taught us to walk around with an open mind and get inspired. Obviously diamonds and rubies are more precious than tourmalines, but tourmalines can be just as beautiful.”
Even the most seemingly uncomplicated Hemmerle jewel tends to have an amazing backstory.
A multi-strand Sleeping Beauty turquoise necklace, for example, recently shown at TEFAF New York Fall, was the result of decades of collecting the gemstone from the now-closed Arizona mine.
Hemmerle was founded in 1893 in Munich by brothers Joseph and Anton Hemmerle.
No matter how innovative the materials or jewelry crafting techniques, the company hasn’t deviated from its utmost attention to quality and precision since its founding.
Most pieces are touched by only two jewelers during the entire process, one for stone setting and another for everything else, down to achieving specific colorful shades of titanium.
Hemmerle’s retail practices also have barely changed in over a century; the sole Hemmerle store has occupied the same space in Munich since 1904.
The limited availability of Hemmerle jewels, which have enjoyed renewed enthusiasm from art- and jewelry-obsessed Americans since participating in the New York edition of TEFAF, is what makes the Sotheby’s collection so significant, the auction house said.
“Hemmerle jewels are a rare sight at auction and so it is a joy to be able to offer this unique single-owner collection,” Sotheby’s London Jewellery Department Head Kristian Spofforth said in a statement.
“We often see
Highlights of the sale include a pair of pineapple-shaped earrings featuring large gray and orange-brown colored old-mine-cut diamonds and 19th-century cameos.
One is agate depicting a Moorish woman, and the other is onyx depicting Maecenas, patron to poets Horace and Virgil.
Each cameo is surrounded by a diamond halo. They’re expected to sell for $24,600 to $36,900.
Estimated to go for between $18,500 and $24,600, a necklace with blackened silver chain and tsavorite garnets features as a pendant an early 19th century jasper cameo depicting Neptune, surrounded by emeralds and tsavorites.
Additional highlights include a pair of diamond brooches shaped as laurel branches that can also be worn as hair clips ($24,600 to $36,900) and a pair of spinel and pink sapphire earrings ($12,300-$18,500).
The Latest
Sponsored by the Las Vegas Antique Jewelry & Watch Show
The Patek Philippe expert will serve as personal curator for the brand-focused company.
With Ho Brothers, you can unlock your brand's true potential and offer customers the personalized jewelry experiences they desire.
The 553-square-foot shop is aboard the Carnival Jubilee cruise ship.
NDC filed a complaint against Skydiamond for use of phrases like “diamonds made entirely from the sky.”
John Carter received the AGS’s highest honor Tuesday afternoon at Conclave in Austin, Texas.
For over 30 years, JA has advocated for the industry, fought against harmful legislation and backed measures that help jewelry businesses.
LVMH said the company performed well despite an uncertain geopolitical and economic environment.
B&D Sales and Service held a ribbon-cutting event for its new location in Cranston, Rhode Island.
It’s ultra-feminine and filled with gold, pearls, and soft pastels.
Emily Highet Morgan and Emily Bennett have joined the agency’s team.
Its updated book for mountings is also now available.
She has been with the organization since 2010, most recently serving as its chief officer of PR and industry relations.
Joyce’s Jewelry sued the bank after cybercriminals drained its accounts of nearly $1.6 million through a series of wire transfers.
He is remembered by loved ones for his loyalty, integrity, and kindness.
From lab-grown diamonds and AI to the inevitable Taylor Swift mention, here are some of Conclave’s most intriguing educational offerings.
From cybersecurity liability to trade show coverage, insurance experts share tips on how to build the right policy.
The charm is a modern rendition of the evil eye amulet that has been worn for thousands of years.
Ahead of its trade show next month, TJS awarded free registration and accommodations to one jewelry professional and three students.
By the end of this year, SRK’s diamond manufacturing complexes will achieve net zero emissions, one of an impressive array of achievements.
Members can still sell lab-grown stones, it said, but only natural gems are allowed on the show floor.
He is remembered for his charisma, passion, integrity, kindness, and wit.
The retailer also appointed two new board members, avoiding a proxy fight from a potential buyer.
The bridal collection consists of 35 engagement rings and seven wedding bands.
The crown introduced a dozen timepieces in Geneva, including a heavy metal version of its deep-sea divers’ watch.
The family-owned jeweler has a new education section on its website dedicated to the history of diamond cutting.