Rare and exceptional diamonds, gemstones and jewellery masterpieces, including a spectacular diamond neckpiece worn by Nicole Kidman in the recent movie Moulin Rouge, go up for auction next week.
Created for and named after the character played by Kidman, "Satine" is described by Christie's as "the most valuable piece of jewellery ever designed and created especially to feature in a motion picture". The magnificent jewels' sale takes place in New York next Monday and Tuesday, October 22nd and 23rd.
Created by Sydney-based, Austrian jewellery designer Stefano Canturi, it uses real diamonds rather than the customary Hollywood fake or loaned jewels. The more than 1,300 vari-cut diamonds, hand-chosen in Antwerp by Canturi, total 134 carats. Featuring a 2.5-carat cabochon-cut blue Sri Lankan sapphire clasp at its rear, the neckpiece is estimated at $700,000 (€773,000) to $1 million.
An even more valuable piece in the auction is a massive 74.89-carat, pear-shaped diamond pendant necklace, estimated at $4.2 million to $4.8 million. The fourth largest of its type ever auctioned, it forms the centrepiece of a platinum necklace. The Gemological Institute of America certified the diamond last August as having internal flawless clarity.
Meanwhile, a magnificent 38.10-carat, single-stone, rectangular-cut diamond ring is estimated at $750,000 to $1 million and an oval-cut 21.21-carat diamond ring is estimated at $900,000 to $1.1 million.
An elegant diamond 'Hindu' bracelet by Rene Boivin is expected to go for $10,000 to $15,000, while a rare diamond, sapphire and ruby "patriotic" wristwatch, circa 1918, with the US "Stars and Stripes" motif has a price tag of $30,000 to $40,000. The stars comprise single-cut diamonds, with the stripes made from French-cut sapphires and rubies.
An art deco, gem-set "Train Bleu" vanity case by Van Cleef & Arpels, the cover depicting an emerald Bentley with diamond details racing a sapphire train, each speeding down single-cut diamond tracks or road, marks a 1931 race.
Inscribed "Babe Barnato racing the blue train in his Bentley, March 1931", it celebrates "Babe" Woolf Barnato's race in one of his Bentleys against the Train Bleu from Cannes to Paris. Barnato won by four hours. The vanity case, with French assay marks and maker's marks, is estimated at $55,000 to $65,000.
Another Van Cleef & Arpels gem-set vanity case with enamelled colours, highlighted by exotic flowers and diamonds, carries the same estimate, while an attractive early 1940s diamond Cupid brooch by Van Cleef & Arpels is expected to fetch $40,000 to $60,000. Designed as a sculpted, pavΘ-set diamond, dancing Cupid with outstretched arms holding a baguette- cut diamond arrow in one hand and a diamond bow in the other, it boasts a rose-cut diamond head and is mounted in platinum and 14 carat white gold.
A remarkable single-stone, fancy pink, diamond ring, weighing 8.78 carats coming from the collection of the late Nelson and Eloise Davis in Toronto, Canada, is estimated at $600,000 to $800,000.
Meanwhile, an exceptional emerald and diamond ring of 8.02 carats is estimated at $150,000 to $200,000, while the estimate for a Burmese, rare, rectangular-cut ruby of 15.01 carat is available only on request.
From circa 1800, an exquisite pair of Georgian, diamond ear pendants mounted in silver and gold, each drop-shaped pendant centering on an independent pear-shaped diamond within a diamond frame, is expected to fetch $80,000 to $100,000.
A splendid suite of antique turquoise and diamond jewellery comprising a necklace designed as a series of five turquoise pendants, each within a graduated diamond frame, and a pair of ear pendants en suite mounted in silver and gold, from circa 1830, is estimated at $180,000 to $220,000.
jmarms@irish-times.ie
