Christie's Sold Magnificent Jewels

NEW YORK CITY

:The October 19 Christie's sale of Magnificent Jewels featured diamonds - all colors and shapes - at its gallery, 20 Rockefeller Plaza. With 347 lots sold from the 401 offered totaling $35,652,800, and 86.53 percent sold by lot, several special gems were the subject of some intense bidding.

The Rose of Dubai, a 25.02-carat fancy pink diamond, was the top lot. It realized $240,000 per carat with more than four potential buyers fiercely competing to acquire the gem; it hammered home at $6,008,000. All prices given reflect a buyer's premium.

There was a world record price of $262,400 achieved for an opal and precious gem necklace by Louis Comfort Tiffany, and a black enamel miniature model of a piano manufactured by Cartier and Steinway also surpassed its presale estimate of $40,000 to realize $318,400.

A pear-shaped diamond D, flawless diamond of 33.11 carats sold for $2,480,000, or $74,900 per carat, purchased by the international diamond specialist Laurence Graff, who also purchased a pear-shaped diamond fringe necklace by Harry Winston for $486,400. Another Harry Winston design, an oval cut fancy vivid blue, IF diamond ring of 4.24 carats, went to an anonymous bidder.

For more information, www.christies.com.