Christie’s Important Jewels Sale Tops $22 Million

A Late 19th Century Burmese Sapphire and Diamond Brooch

(IDEX Online News) – A late 19th century Kashmir sapphire and diamond brooch topped yesterday’s Important Jewels sale at Christie’s London auction house. The brooch, which contains a 14.66-carat sapphire, realized a price of $2.197 million (pre-sale estimate $400,000-$500,000).

Overall, the sale, which included signed jewels by Cartier, Graff, Jahan and “mystery-set” jewels by Van Cleef & Arpels, realized in excess of $22 million.

Other top sellers included a 41.54 carat late 19^th century Burmese sapphire and diamond pendant, which fetched $1.625 million (pre-sale estimate $200,000-$300,000) and a 1.54-carat fancy deep blue and 1.78-carat fancy intense pink diamond ring that far exceeded its pre-sale estimate of $300,000-$500,000 with a sale price of $1.18 million.

“The London sale of ‘Important Jewels’ showed that quality, rarity and provenance continue to be the key factors sought by collectors worldwide,” said Keith Penton, head of Christie’s London Jewellery Department.

The auction was 75 percent sold by lot and 89 percent by value.