Taylor auction final update

The Elizabeth Taylor jewelry auction set several significant records for this type of sales event.  Noteworthy milestones were the 24 items that sold for over $1 million, with six pieces going for more than $5 million each.

A major highlights of the sale included a 15 minute rapid bidding battle for the Burton wedding bands. These bands were given to Ms. Taylor by Richard Burton on their two marriages, first in 1964 and again in1975.  Pre-auction estimates were that the bands would bring fetch $6,000–8,000. The final price was $1,022,500. Not too shabby!!!!

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Liz Taylor's Jewelry Auction

According to a just published Rapaport News article, early sales in Christie’s Auction Gallery sale of Elizabeth Taylor’s collection of jewels far exceeded their pre auction estimates.  The first part of the auction has achieved record prices at Christie’s, and they  reported that the first portion of the four-day sale generated $115.9 million in sales.  This makes it the most valuable jewelry auction in history. All of the 80 lots offered yesterday were sold. 

So far, the top lot sold was ''La Peregrina'' (pictured), a natural pearl, diamond, ruby and cultured pearl necklace by Cartier which went for $11.8 million, a price well above the high presale estimate of $3 million.  This piece set a record for a pearl jewel sold at auction.

Marc Porter, the chairman of Christie’s America’s, stated that the auction drew in bids from all over the world. In advance of the event Christie’s exhibited the collection in Hong Kong, Moscow, London, Tokyo, Los Angeles, Dubai, Geneva and Paris.

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Christie's April 22 Auction

Christie's Auction Gallery announced they will be auction two significant pieces of antique, historical jewelry on April 22.  The pieces are  The Catherine the Great Emerald ,and The Emperor Maximilian Diamond.


The emerald was mounted as a broach for Catherine II of Russia. The stone weighs approximately 65 carats, and is accented with rose and old mine-cut diamonds. The estimated price for this little piece is $1 to $1.5 million. 

The diamond piece is a cushion-cut gem weighing approximately 39.55 carats. The stone was once owned by Emperor Maximilian of Mexico.  The early estimate of auction price is also $1 to $1.5 million.

Christie's Auction Catalog

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Colored Diamond Exhibit

New York--New York's American Museum of Natural History is extending its exhibit of a set of five vivid natural color diamonds.  The collection had been scheduled to run from September 2009 to February 2010 it had been decided that the diamonds will remain on display until further notice. 

The Gemological Institute of America (GIA) has graded each diamond in the collection as "vivid," meaning they all have the highest levels of color saturation possible for colored diamonds.  The collection consists of: a 1.01-carat, vivid orange-yellow diamond; a 1.02-carat, vivid blue-green diamond; a 2.17-carat, vivid purplish-pink diamond; a 2.13-carat, vivid blue diamond; and a 2.34-carat, vivid orange diamond.

Graded by GIA as a fancy red, the 1.71-carat, heart-shaped stone is the largest natural red diamond in the world and has an estimated value of $10 million.
It's well worth the cost of admission to view these stones.

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American Idol Show Showcases Yellow Gold Jewelry

Viewers of this week's American Idol may have noticed that gold jewelry was being widely worn by all the remaining female contestants.  Showcased were yellow gold earrings, bracelets and necklaces.  The use of yellow gold is noteworthy as it is another indicator that white gold is beginning to decline in popularity.

American Idol stylist Soyon An worked with Studio PR and the World Gold Council to wardrobe the contestants in gold jewelry. "It really showed that these young stars can wear gold jewelry and that it is fashionable at any age," Studio PR's Shaye Strager told National Jeweler Magazine.

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Tucson Gem Show 2010

The annual Tucson gem and mineral series of shows are now their final stages, with all of the major shows ending on Feburary 7th. We have spent the past several days walking the exhibition halls and talking with vendors. Overall the general opinion is that business is somewhat better than last year, although still not as as robust as in the lofty sales of several years back.

Tanzanite seems to have dropped in price and was readily available in nicer qualities. Mozambique ruby was being shown by many vendors, and, at least for the near future, it appear it will likely fill the void left by ban on importing ruby from Berma. A few bright, deep red rubies from the early Madagascar production were still being shown, but the fine material from that region seems to be nearing its end.

There were several new sapphire dealers making the trip to Tucson from Sri Lanka to exhibit than in past years, and finer Ceylon material was available at prices similar to last year. It seems as if the U.s. dollar may be strengthening against the Thai and Sri Lankan currencies, ans if so, the cost increases we have experieinced due to unfavorable currency exchange rates will disipate.

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Wittelsbach-Graff Diamond

Between January, 28 and August of 2010, for the first time in over 50-years, the rare grayish-blue Wittelsbach-Graff Diamond will be made available for public viewing. This 31.06-carat, naturally colored Diamond will be shown in Washington, DC, at the Smithsonian's Museum of Natural History. It's wort the trip to see this spectacular gem.

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