Tied for top lot at $6,875, this 5.25-carat diamond Art Deco 14K yellow gold/diamond ring featured mine-cut bright white diamonds and was size 7½.
Review by W.A. Demers, Photos Courtesy EstateOfMind Auctions
MIDDLETOWN, N.Y. – “It was a very nice way to start off the New Year,” said Darrell Dirr of EstateOfMind Auctions regarding his February 5 sale. “The sale exceeded $405,000 with an enormous amount of interest in amber, red coral and Faturan amber prayer beads, with the top lot of five butterscotch amber necklaces bringing $6,875, tied with a 5.25-carat diamond ring that brought the same price.” The Art Deco 14K yellow gold/diamond ring featured mine-cut bright white diamonds and was size 7½.
The sale was set up to offer online bidding through LiveAuctioneers, as well as absentee and phone bidding available through the auction house. Registered bidders numbered 11,500, according to Dirr. “It was a great sale, and the timing just before Valentine’s Day was perfect,” he said.
Dirr characterized the event as his finest jewelry and coin auction in years, assembled with prominent estates, bank safety deposit boxes and collections, the contents of which included 9-24K gold, precious gem jewelry and watches, a collection of more than 25 antique violin bows, as well as gems from India, American silver holloware, flatware and serving pieces, a collection of estate artwork from Massachusetts, Morgan high-grade silver dollars and other rare coins.
A family’s Indian 22K gold jewelry necklace brought $5,750. The natural pearl/red coral necklace and earrings were circa 1960s. Right behind it in price at $5,375 was a set of Indian 22K yellow gold and Burmese ruby necklace with chandelier earrings, also circa 1960s with approximately 15 carats of Burmese rubies and accompanied by its original Krishmiah Chetty & Sons box.
An Alphonse Matile 18K pocket watch sold for $3,750.
Another Art Deco ring, this one a 14K white gold and diamond example with a large aquamarine stone of approximately 25 or more carats, size 4½, brought $4,375.
And a 1934 $1,000 Federal Reserve Note cashed in at $4,000.
“It was perfect timing to sell watches,” said Dirr, with an Alphonse Matile 18K pocket watch at $3,750 and a Gallet chronograph wristwatch, the lone small timepiece coming from a consignor with a large clock collection, was a pleasant surprise, going for $3,250.
Prices given include the buyer’s premium as stated by the auction house. The firm’s next auction will be May 21 with more items from the same estates. “It’ll be conducted under a tent, just like the good old days,” said Dirr. For information, www.estateofmind.biz or 845-386-4403.
