Supermodel Haddon's Diamond Earrings to be Auctioned

(IDEX Online) - A pair of diamond snowflake earrings owned by Dayle Haddon, the model, actress, author and activist for women's leadership and education, are to be auctioned later this week - with a $30,000 to $50,000 estimate.

Haddon was a trailblazing figure in fashion and beauty, among the first "supermodels" in the 1970s and 1980s, and the only one to hold major contracts with all of the big four beauty brands - L'Oreal, Max Factor, Revlon, and Estee Lauder.

She died last December, aged 76, after a suspected carbon monoxide leak at her daughter's home in Solebury Township, Pennsylvania.

The earrings, by Van Cleef & Arpels, feature an openwork platinum pendant design with rosette motifs, set throughout with round diamonds weighing approximately 5.50 to 6.00 carats total. They have been graded as F-G color and VS clarity.

They will be offered for sale at the auction Ageless Beauty: The Dayle Haddon Collection at Freeman's in New York City on 11 December.

A total of 128 couture lots and 10 fine jewelry lots will be presented, with a portion of the proceeds going to WomanOne, the education-focused nonprofit founded by Haddon.

Pic shows the diamond snowflake earrings, courtesy Freeman's, and Haddon on the front of Vogue magazine.