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Cartier Bracelet Soars Past Estimate at Sotheby’s
Nov 14, 2019 5:23 AM
By Rapaport News
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RAPAPORT... A sapphire and diamond bracelet fetched more than double
its high estimate at Sotheby’s Geneva auction, selling to a female Asian collector after a bidding war.
The piece contains a 47.07-carat, royal-blue Burmese
sapphire center stone with high clarity, cut in a cabochon shape and flanked by
two pear-shaped white diamonds weighing 9.27 carats and 8.60 carats. Created by
Cartier in 1927, the bracelet fetched $6.1 million against a high estimate of
$3 million, and earned one of the highest prices at auction for an Art Deco
bracelet.
In total, the Magnificent Jewels and Noble Jewels sale on Wednesday brought in $53.9
million, with 80% of lots sold, more than half of which exceeded their
estimates.
“With its sensational ‘sugar loaf’ Burmese sapphire and
powerful geometric design, the Cartier bracelet that led tonight’s sale was a
true masterpiece, among the most important Art Deco pieces we’ve ever handled,” said David Bennett, worldwide chairman of Sotheby’s jewelry division.
The bracelet spearheaded a strong showing for Art Deco
pieces, which achieved a combined $9.6 million at the sale, against a high
estimate of $6 million, Sotheby’s noted.
A 6.03-carat, fancy-intense-purple-pink diamond pendant
estimated at $2.5 million to $3.5 million garnered $3.4 million, while a
diamond pendant weighing 78.29 carats went for $2.9 million, beating its $2.8
million high estimate.
A set of diamond jewels by Moussaieff, including a necklace,
earrings and a bracelet, brought in $2.7 million. The collection was estimated
at $2 million to $4 million.
Other notable items, many of which sold for well above their
estimates, included a sapphire and diamond necklace set with a 14.97-carat
Kashmir sapphire. The piece, dated 1890, fetched $1.4 million against its upper
estimate of $800,000, while an emerald and diamond pendant-brooch combination,
created by Cartier in 1927, garnered $1.1 million, smashing its $250,000 high
estimate.
Meanwhile, Sotheby’s sold 93% of the jewels on offer from an
Asian-American private collection, fetching a total of $12.7 million, against a
high estimate of $8.9 million, the auction house said. The sale noted strong
activity from Asian collectors, approximately half of whom were female buyers,
more than double the number of women purchasers five years ago, Sotheby’s
added.
Image: The Cartier sapphire and diamond bracelet. (Sotheby’s)
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Tags:
Cartier, David Bennett, Magnificent Jewels and Noble Jewels, Moussaieff, Rapaport News, Sotheby’s, Sotheby’s Geneva, Sotheby’s Geneva Magnificent Jewels and Noble Jewels
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