Editor’s Note
A stunning emerald ring shattered expectations at a recent London auction, selling for nearly six times its high estimate. This remarkable result underscores the enduring strength of the market for exceptional gemstones and historic jewelry.
A ring featuring a 10.37-carat emerald led the recent Bonhams jewelry auction in London, selling for nearly six times its upper estimate.
The ring, which has 1.45 carats of marquise and brilliant-cut diamonds surrounding the step-cut Colombian emerald, fetched GBP 597,300 ($776,490) at the December 11 “London Jewels” sale, the auction house said last week. The piece’s expected top price was GBP 100,000 ($130,000).
The sale showcased antique jewels with noble provenance from the 1800s — such as a tiara and a diamond bracelet — as well as lots from the first half of the 20th century. It also included jewels from well-known brands such as Bulgari, Cartier, Boucheron, and Tiffany & Co.
Here are the rest of the top five lots:
This Cartier necklace from circa 1935 features old brilliant-cut diamonds in palmette motifs, with additional baguette- and step-cut diamonds as well as oval and cushion-cut rubies graduating in size toward the center. The Burmese rubies weigh around 11 carats in total, and the diamonds approximately 22 carats.
This transformable piece from circa 1880 or later — which can serve as a tiara, a coronet, or a series of eight star brooches — belonged to Lady Anne Glenconner, a former royal lady-in-waiting to the UK’s Princess Margaret. It comprises eight stars, graduating in size toward the center, with old brilliant-, old single-, rose- and cushion-cut diamonds. The center diamond of the largest star weighs 3.50 carats; the remaining diamonds total some 75 carats.
This diamond rivière necklace, which can turn into a pair of bracelets, dates to the 19th century and contains old cushion-shaped, pear and brilliant-cut diamonds that increase in size toward the center. The largest cushion weighs 3.32 carats.
This ring centers a radiant-cut, 12.38-carat, fancy-yellow, VS2-clarity diamond between two heart-shaped, fancy-light-yellow diamonds weighing 1.12 and 1.52 carats respectively.
Main image: The top-selling emerald and diamond ring. (Bonhams)
