Early Twentieth Century platinum and diamond ring, with large round diamond, approximately 8.24 carats, flanked by baguette diamonds of approximately .12 carat each; it brought $145,000.
:On June 8, Samuel T. Freeman & Co. held its sale of fine and antique jewelry and watches. Department specialist and Chairman Beau Freeman was optimistic when speculating about the possible outcome, but was overwhelmed with the final end results, which he said were "certainly the best Freeman's had ever seen" in the jewelry department. The biannual sale began at 2 pm with a full audience and a total of 21 phone bidders; all 244 lots were sold in less than three hours to the tune of $1,185,000.
The sale included jewelry from as far away Palm Beach, Fla., to as close as Philadelphia's Main Line. Freeman's clients have come to know the jewelry sales for their eclectic estate jewelry and one-of-a-kind pieces from the smallest Victorian flower pin to large diamond solitaires.
The exhibition offered a wide range of the material to view and bid on, from Victorian gold-filled memorial jewelry and ladies' accessories, through very fine diamond and platinum pieces collected from the Mariam Cannon Hayes estate from Concord, N.C., and beyond. The Hayes jewelry proved to be the star lots of the day, with all eight pieces selling over estimate, including an impressive 30-carat diamond and platinum bracelet and a lady's Tiffany dress wristwatch made by C.M. Meylan.
A 14K yellow gold solitaire diamond ring from the 1920s realized $94,600. Featuring a large old European-cut diamond weighing approximately 5.6 carats, it came from a North Carolina estate.
Once the catalog went out in early May, it was clear that the pieces drawing the most interest were a 14K yellow gold solitaire diamond ring from the 1920s, old European-cut diamond of 5.6 carats, that sold for $94,600, well above the $15/20,000 estimate; a diamond and platinum bracelet estimated at $60/80,000 that ended up at $157,000; and a platinum and diamond ring, early Twentieth Century, with large round diamond, approximately 8.24 carats, flanked by baguette diamonds of approximately .12 carat each, that realized $145,000. All three lots sold to private phone bidders.
Additionally, the large group of gentlemen in the room bidding on the Rolex, Sohne and F.P. Journe gentlemen's wristwatches lost the contests out to either phone bidders or the Internet, for prices well over their estimates of $20/30,000 each.
All prices given include the 25 percent buyer's premium.
Freeman's Auction is at 1808 Chestnut Street. For information,
www.freemansauction.com
or 215-563-9275.
