Magnificent Jewels

Christie’s sale of Magnificent Jewels on Tuesday, April 17 realized US$ 70,726,650 (£44,557,790 /€53,752,254) with strong sell-through rates of 95% by lot and 97% by value.

The top lot of the sale was The Clark Pink, a cushion-cut fancy vivid purplish-pink diamond ring of 9.0 carats by Dreicer & Co., circa 1910 from the Estate of Huguette M. Clark, which sold for US$15,762,500, setting a new auction record for the most valuable pink diamond sold in the United States. The successful bidder was Brett Stettner of Stettner Investment Diamonds.

Rahul Kadakia, Head of Jewelry, Christie’s Americas, commented: "The collection of jewels from the Estate of Huguette M. Clark sparkled in the saleroom with the $15.7 million Clark Pink becoming the most valuable pink diamond ever sold at auction in America. The entire collection, which has fascinated collectors and press worldwide, achieved a total of $20.8 million against a presale estimate of $9 million. This is the second most valuable private collection sold in the United States in the last decade, just behind the legendary jewels of Elizabeth Taylor. We now look forward to Jewels For Hope: The Collection of Mrs. Lily Safra Sold to Benefit 20 Charitable Institutions, to be offered in Geneva on May 14."

The Estate of Huguette M. Clark

Christie’s is honored to announce it has been entrusted with the sale of an exceptional collection of jewelry from the Estate of Huguette M. Clark, one of the last great heiresses of America’s Gilded Age. Ms. Clark’s jewelry collection, which is believed to have been stored in a bank vault since the 1940s, includes signed Art Deco jewels by Cartier, Dreicer & Co., and Tiffany & Co., including an extremely rare 9-carat pink diamond ring and a superb 20-carat D-color diamond ring. The complete collection of 17 jewels is expected to fetch $9 - 12 million at auction on April 17 at Christie’s New York.

Rahul Kadakia, Head of Jewelry for Christie’s Americas commented: “In the world of fine jewelry, this is truly a fairytale collection,” said “Opening the vault to find this treasure trove of period jewels from the best French houses of the early 1900s has certainly been one of the most extraordinary moments of my 15-year career here at Christie’s. The iconic Art Deco design and exceptional craftsmanship of these meticulously preserved jewels are emblematic of the great Gilded Age in American history. We are proud to present this collection from one of the nation’s most storied families as the major highlight of our flagship jewelry auction this spring.”