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The Ponahalo Diamonds And 20th Century Jewels Highlight Christie’s New York October Sale
THE PONAHALO DIAMONDS AND 20TH CENTURY JEWELS HIGHLIGHT CHRISTIE’S NEW YORK OCTOBER SALE
Jewels: The New York Sale
Superb 20th Century Jewels from an American Collection
15 October 2008
New York - Christie’s October 15 Jewels: The New York Sale will dazzle and delight with an array of
diamonds, colored diamonds and gems, and a collection of signed jewels, Superb 20th Century Jewels from an American Collection. Leading the auction are two magnificent diamonds weighing
approximately 102.11 and 70.87 carats, cut from a rough diamond of 316.15 carats and bestowed
with the special name, The Ponahalo. The two sales comprise of 273 lots and expect to realize in
excess of $35 million.
The Ponahalo Diamonds
In 2005, a rough diamond of 316.15 carats was discovered, the largest ever to emerge from the De
Beers Venetia mine. Following the tradition of naming very special diamonds, the name Ponahalo
was given by Jonathan Oppenheimer, Head of the Chairman’s Office De Beers Group. In Sotho,
the tribal language spoken by the Venda tribe in the area of South Africa where the gem was mined,
Ponahalo translates as “vision.”
The Steinmetz Diamond Group, one of the leading diamond manufacturing and trading groups in the world, entrusted with the honor of cutting the 316.15 carat stone, expertly produced four polished diamonds, leaving one in its rough form. It took eighteen months to shape the two largest diamonds, weighing 102.11 and 70.87 carats, into rectangular-cut gems (estimate: on request).
A portion of the proceeds from the sale of the Ponahalo Diamonds will be donated to the Diamond Empowerment Fund, co-founded by Russell Simmons. The Diamond Empowerment Fund is a non-profit, international organization dedicated to empowerment in Africa through funding education programs in African countries where diamonds are a natural resource.
Important Diamonds & Colored Gemstones
Other important diamonds in the main sale include a sensational rectangular cut diamond necklace of 40.21carats, D color, internally flawless clarity; a cut cornered rectangular-cut diamond ring of 16 carats, D color, with potential to be flawless (estimate: $1 - 1.5 million); and a diamond bee ring designed by Jean Schlumberger, of 8.23 carats, D color (illustrated right, estimate: $800,000-1.2 million).
Colored diamonds rings in the sale are highlighted by a cut-cornered modified rectangular-cut fancy
intense blue diamond, weighing approximately 7.02 carats, and set with a pavé-set pink diamond two-tiered surround (estimate: $3.5 - 5 million) and a pear-shape d fancy intense purplish pink diamond, weighing approximately 5.60 carats, flanked on either side by a pear-shaped diamond (estimate: $2.6 - 3 million).
Examples of jewelry containing exquisite gems are led by a sapphire, emerald and pearl necklace set
with a cushion-cut sapphire of 68.16 carats, and a square-cut emerald, weighing approximately 8.37 carats (estimate: $1-1.5 million), and an Art Deco Padapradscha sapphire and diamond clip brooch designed as a geometric plaque, and set with a modified pear-shaped Padparadscha sapphire of 29.87 carats (estimate: $180,000-250,000).
Jewelry from the Collection of Giselle Bündchen includes a diamond ring by Sabbadini set with a cut-cornered modified square-cut yellow diamond weighing approximately 3.35 carats, flanked on either side by a trillion-cut diamond (estimate: $15,000-20,000), and a circular-cut diamond pendant weighing approximately 6.01 carats (estimate: $120,000-150,000).
Superb 20th Century Jewels from an American Collection
This collection consists of 110 lots and features an extensive assortment of signed jewels by all the leading makers of the 20th century. A retro diamond and gold necklace by René Boivin has an exquisite fringe of collet-set diamond five-strand “pampilles” tassles on a flexible woven gold band, made for the Princess Irene of Greece (estimate: $200,000-300,000). Delivered in 1951, this uniquely designed piece was perhaps specially ordered by the Princess yet still typical of Boivin’s style.
From Jean Schlumberger, considered one of the most creative and influential jewelry designers of
the 20th century, who became noted for his naturalistic and whimsical designs for Tiffany & Co. is a
diamond, sapphire and emerald ‘dolphin’ brooch, one of a few models ever made (estimate: $75,000-100,000). A brooch of the same model was worn by Elizabeth Taylor at the opening of the film The Night of the Iguana, a gift from Richard Burton, although Taylor favored the description ‘iguana’ to ‘dolphin.’ Also designed by Schlumberger for Tiffany & Co. is a highly detailed suite of gold and diamond ‘tulip’ jewelry with diamond insect and bow motifs and articulated clusters of textured gold tulips (estimate: $150,000-250,000).
Two wonderful examples by Cartier are offered; an Art Deco pearl and diamond tassel pendant (estimate: $40,000-60,000) and an Art Deco star ruby, enamel and gold necklace, of neo-Egyptian design (estimate: $60,000-80,000). Paul Flato is represented in the sale with a diamond, sapphire and emerald brooch set with a detachable sugarloaf sapphire (estimate: $60,000-80,000).
Van Cleef & Arpels are well represented in this collection with a set of emerald, diamond and cultured pearl jewelry, comprising a necklace and a pair of ear pendants, made circa 1955, which showcases the intricate design of diamond foliate links with gold wirework trim with cultured pearls suspending a graduated fringe of detachable emerald bead drops (estimate: $120,000-180,000). Other examples by Van Cleef & Arpels include an elegant retro diamond bow brooch designed as a sculpted openwork circularcut diamond bow, 1942 (estimate: $40,000-60,000) and a stylish aquamarine and diamond bracelet, 1955 (estimate: $40,000-60,000).
Auction:
Jewels: The New York Sale 15 October 10:30am & 3:45pm
Superb 20th Century Jewels from an American Collection 15 October 2pm
Viewing:
Christie’s Rockefeller Galleries 10-14 October
About Christie’s
Christie’s is the world’s leading art business with global art sales in 2007 that totalled £3.1 billion/$6.3 billion. This marks the highest total in company and in art auction history. For the first half of 2008, art sales totalled £1.8 billion / $3.5 billion. Christie’s is a name and place that speaks of extraordinary art, unparalleled service and expertise, as well as international glamour. Founded in 1766 by James Christie, Christie’s conducted the greatest auctions of the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries, and today remains a popular showcase for the unique and the beautiful. Christie’s offers over 600 sales annually in over 80 categories, including all areas of fine and decorative arts, jewellery, photographs, collectibles, wine, and more. Prices range from $200 to over $80 million. Christie’s has 85 offices in 43 countries and 14 salerooms around the world including in London, New York, Los Angeles, Paris, Geneva, Milan, Amsterdam, Tel Aviv, Dubai, Hong Kong and Zurich. Most recently, Christie’s has led the market with expanded initiatives in emerging and new markets such as Russia, China, India and the United Arab Emirates, with successful sales and exhibitions in Beijing, Mumbai and Dubai.
*Estimates do not include buyer’s premium
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