Today’s auction of Important Jewels at Sotheby’s New York has totaled $23,738,439, led by top prices for important white diamonds from private collections as well as jewels from the collection of Alex & Elisabeth Lewyt.
The auction was a strong 82.4% sold by lot, exceeding its high pre-sale expectation of $22.2 million, and marks the highest-ever total for Sotheby’s annual September jewelry sales in New York.
Two important white diamonds led the auction, both achieving $2,105,000: a Platinum and Diamond Ring from a New York Estate, featuring a pear-shaped diamond weighing 15.10 carats, D color, VVS2 clarity, potentially Internally Flawless, type IIa ($139,403 per carat, est. $1.25/1.75 million), and a Platinum and Diamond Ring by Harry Winston from the family of George Rothman (pictured above), centered by an emerald-cut diamond weighing 19.51 carats, E color, VVS2 clarity, improvable, type IIa ($107,893 per carat, est. $1.2/1.8 million).
Jewels from the collection of Alex & Elisabeth Lewyt – featuring custom-designed and period pieces by French jewelers such as Schlumberger, Suzanne Belperron and René Boivin – totaled $2.5 million, more than twice their high estimate of $940,000.
The highlight of the group was a Platinum and Diamond Double-Clip Pendant-Brooch by Schlumberger, which sold for $485,000 above a high estimate of $300,000.
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Befitting Mr. and Mrs. Lewyt’s deep devotion to philanthropy, proceeds from the sale of their collection will benefit a charitable foundation to be established in their name. The foundation will support the causes that they both were passionate about, especially those concerned with animal welfare.
Gary Schuler, Director of Sotheby’s Jewelry department in New York, said: “Sotheby’s first jewelry sale of the fall season demonstrated that the auction market for this category remains remarkably buoyant. We were encouraged by the significant participation of private collectors throughout the sale, including many of the important diamonds on offer.
“The auction was highlighted by several exceptional white diamonds emerging from private collections, whose prices reflect the persistent demand in the market for white stones. We now look forward to our Magnificent Jewels and Jadeite sale in Hong Kong on 7 October, where we will present both the largest perfect white diamond and the largest round Fancy Vivid blue diamond ever auctioned.”
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