Chaumet Diamond Necklace Fetches $372K at Bonhams
A rare Chaumet diamond necklace was the top lot at the recent London Jewels sale at Bonhams, more than doubling its high estimate.
The necklace, featuring seven drops of various diamond shapes, fetched GBP 305,200 ($371,575) at the September 21 auction, Bonhams said on Monday. Chaumet first designed the jewel in 1896 for a tiara worn by Archduchess Maria Dorothea of Austria for her wedding to Philippe, duke of Orleans. The jeweler made several versions of the popular design afterward, including this piece, which is dated to around 1900.
This was one of several signed jewels and period pieces with important diamonds and colored gems that attracted buyers at the auction house’s New Bond Street location.
Here are some other highlights from the sale:
An Art Deco sapphire and diamond platinum ring, circa 1920, featuring fancy-cut sugarloaf cabochon, 7.12-carat Kashmir sapphire, sold for GBP 248,050 ($306,878), more than its GBP 90,000 ($111,345) upper presale price.
A ring by British jeweler Garrard, centered with a step-cut, 5.65-carat Colombian emerald flanked by approximately 4.50 carats of baguette- and caliber-cut diamonds, fetched GBP 203,600 ($251,886), smashing estimates.
A platinum necklace, circa 1950, with step-cut aquamarines placed between pierced bombé links, pavé-set with old-brilliant-cut diamonds (approximately 13.60 total carats) achieved GBP 203,600 ($251,886).
A late-19th-century diamond necklace featuring 16 clusters of collet-set old-brilliant-cut diamonds surrounded by old-brilliant-cut diamonds (approximately 50 carats total) brought in GBP 127,400 ($157,614), more than double its presale estimate.
An Asprey & Garrard platinum collar necklace, 2000, with pear, oval and marquise diamonds, finished by a marquise-cut diamond clasp, with approximately 59.52 total carat weight, realized GBP 89,300 ($110,479), beating its high estimate.
A ring by British jeweler Boodles bearing a 3.90-carat, fancy-vivid-yellow diamond within an openwork scalloped design topped with brilliant-cut diamonds fetched GBP 79,775 ($98,695).
A ring centered with a step-cut Colombian emerald set between tapered baguette-cut diamonds went for GBP 70,250 ($86,911), more than three times its presale high estimate.
Another notable sale was a pair of Van Cleef & Arpels diamond “Disques” platinum earclips, circa 1935. Each earring is topped with spiraling pavé-set diamonds. It achieved £51,200 ($62,375), well above its high estimate.
Main image: The Chaumet diamond necklace. (Bonhams)