RAPAPORT... Sotheby’s New York spring sale of Magnificent Jewels will be held on April 23, 2009, offering an array of signed jewels and important diamonds. Highlights from this auction will be shown first in Hong Kong from April 3 through 6, and then in New York from April 18 until the morning of the auction.

The top lot is a fancy blue diamond ring set with a cut-cornered rectangular modified brilliant-cut stone weighing 8.24 carats, which is expected to bring in excess of $2.5 million, according to Sotheby's. A fancy vivid yellow diamond ring, signed Jacob & Co., is set with a 15.61-carat center stone and 2.55 carats of flanking half-moon white diamonds; it has a presale estimate of  $925,000 to $1 million. A pair of fancy vivid yellow diamond earrings featuring matched emerald-cut stones weighing 7.47 and 7.32 carats has a presale estimate of $800,000 to $1 million. Also on offer at the Sotheby's sale are a cushion-shaped diamond ring (pictured) of 15.4 carats, F color, VS1 clarity, with a presale estimate of $1 million to $1.5 million, and a diamond ring set with an emerald-cut 13.98-carat, G color, VS2 clarity diamond with a presale estimate of $450,000 to $500,000.

In addition, Sotheby's is offering a diamond ring from the estate of Marie Doty, featuring a round diamond weighing 5.29 carats, graded D color, VS1 clarity, potentally flawless. Jewels by David Webb and Buccellati, and designs by contemporary jewelers including Michele della Valle, H. Stern and Tamsen Z Bijoux, will be up for sale as well. "The Webb selection includes both bold, geometric designs and the popular animal motif jewels. A group of Buccellati jewels from a New York collector is highlighted by the chrysoprase, ruby and diamond pendant/necklace combination...and a diamond bangle-bracelet." Both are circa 1975, according to Sotheby's.

If you have a chance to visit Sotheby's during the viewing schedule, highlights from the upcoming May 12 Geneva jewelry auctions will also be on display, including the rare fancy vivid blue, internally flawless, cushion-shaped diamond weighing 7.03 carats from the historic Cullinan diamond mine in South Africa. This diamond has a presale estimate of $5.8 million to $8.5 million.




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