Editor’s Note
This article highlights the recent Phillips New York auction, which showcased an exceptional array of jewelry from international brands and private collections. The event featured rare antique pieces, contemporary designs, and unique gemstones, drawing global interest from collectors and enthusiasts alike.
The jewelry auction recently held at Phillips New York brought together rare pieces from different eras, renowned international brands, and celebrity collections. The offerings included antique jewelry, contemporary gold designs, and rare gemstone creations, attracting collectors and jewelry enthusiasts from around the world.
said Dianne Batista, Head of Jewelry, Senior Vice President, and Senior Specialist at Phillips New York. Highlights of the auction included a Boucheron antique diamond bow brooch, a Schlumberger for Tiffany & Co. sapphire and diamond “Fleur de Mer” brooch once owned by the late actress Elizabeth Taylor, and a Cartier Art Deco-style diamond brooch. These pieces, with their precious value and stories, can be integrated into modern wardrobes through various wearing styles, making them particularly suitable as festive gifts.
In addition to precious collections from prestigious brands, the auction featured several highly attractive colored gemstone and diamond masterpieces. The most eye-catching was a Burmese ruby and diamond ring, featuring a 5.27-carat unheated, pure, and vivid ruby surrounded by Old Mine Cut diamonds. Another notable piece was a light pink diamond ring, centered with a 15.12-carat marquise-cut light-colored diamond.
The sapphire offerings also included extremely rare works, such as a ring set with a 5.40-carat Kashmir sapphire and diamonds. The center stone exhibited a velvety soft blue hue, was certified as unheated, and represented top-tier quality. Furthermore, the auction included two notable emerald pieces: a pair of stylistically distinct earrings, one set with a 6.44-carat pear-shaped Colombian emerald and the other with a 7.45-carat pear-shaped diamond. Another standout was a bracelet set with nine step-cut emeralds totaling 36.69 carats.
The popularity of the American TV series “The Gilded Age” has renewed interest in antique jewelry showcasing the Belle Époque artistic style. Jewelry designs from this period were often dominated by platinum garland and lace motifs, and the New York auction featured several masterpieces exemplifying this style.
A Boucheron antique diamond bow brooch created around 1908 interprets the elegance of the Belle Époque. Two other Cartier Art Deco-style diamond brooches, created in the 1920s and 1930s respectively, serve as commemorative pieces for the centenary of the 1925 Exposition Internationale des Arts Décoratifs et Industriels Modernes in Paris.
With gold prices continuously rising this year, gold has historically symbolized power and confidence in jewelry design, transcending time. Phillips specifically presented a series of precious lots primarily crafted in gold. One example is a Van Cleef & Arpels iconic bracelet with a sculptural design that is bold yet comfortable to wear. Additionally, Tiffany & Co.’s Paloma Picasso hammered link chain necklace and Elsa Peretti’s Bone Cuff are timeless masterpieces with unique personalities and high recognizability.
Text: Maisie Lau Images: Courtesy of Phillips
