: 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.
A pear-shaped D, flawless diamond of 33.11 carats, brought
$2,480,000, or about $74,9000 per carat.
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.
