Jewellery

A recognized auctioneer at Christie’s salerooms in Geneva, Hong Kong, London and New York, Mr. Kadakia joined Christie’s—the international leader in the jewelry auction market—in 1996 when he was instrumental in establishing the first ever Important Indian Jewels auction, which included a Mughal inscribed spinel bead necklace sold for $1.4 million. He then moved to Geneva in 1997 and organized the Magnificent Jewels auctions there for the next seven years. In 2004, he was named head of the Jewelry Department for Christie’s Americas and annual auction sales have soared above $100 million in New York nearly every year since his appointment, and private sales generating many millions more.

He has been at the podium for a number of record breaking sales including the Ellen Barkin Collection, which showcased the most important collection of jewels by JAR ever to appear at auction in 2006; and the historic Baroda Pearls which realized a world auction record of $7.1 million in 2007 and changed the market for natural pearls. In 2009 he auctioned the Annenberg Diamond, a 32.01 carat rectangular-cut gem for $7.7 million, which set a record price per carat for any colorless diamond at auction at the time.

In 2011, he became a media sensation as co-auctioneer of the famed jewelry from the Collection of Elizabeth Taylor, which totaled $137.2 million over two days, outperforming its pre-sale estimate by four times. More records were achieved under his gavel in 2013 including the sale of the famed Princie Diamond which at $39.3m was the most valuable Golconda diamond ever sold at auction and the Orange diamond which achieved a world record $35.5m.

He was appointed International Head of Jewelry in April 2014 and on May 18, 2016 Christie’s Geneva sold the Oppenheimer Blue Diamond for $57.5m, a world auction record for any blue diamond.

Most recently in 2019, Mr. Kadakia orchestrated the unprecedented Maharajas & Mughal Magnificence global exhibition and sale. The marathon 12-hour auction achieved $109.3 million, the highest total for any auction of Indian Jewels and Mughal Jeweled Objects.

Claibourne Poindexter is an Vice President, Specialist in the New York jewelry department, having joined Christie's in 2015. Originally hailing from Greensboro, NC, Mr. Poindexter graduated from North Carolina State University with a B.S. in Brand Management and Marketing. Before joining Christie's, Claibourne was the head of product development for a prominent New York City based jewelry designer, as well as previously cataloguing in the jewelry department of a well-known North Carolina auction house. In his role at Christie’s, Claibourne has been actively involved in the consignment and sale of many important jewels and collections over the years including Property from the Blair Family Collection, Property from the Estate of Elizabeth Stafford, Important Jewels from the Estate of Mrs. Henry Ford II, and Property of the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, Sold to Benefit Future Acquisitions. Today, Mr. Poindexter currently works for Christie's in various aspects of business including playing a key role in obtaining consignments, maintaining important long term client relationships and providing valuations for jewelry in the America’s.

Jacqueline DiSante is Head of Sale for the Jewelry department, and oversees catalogue production and sale processes for all live and online auctions based out of New York. Additionally, Mrs. DiSante is involved in other various aspects of the business including consignments and sales, private sales, client development and valuations for jewelry in the U.S. She first joined Christie’s in 2010 as part of Client Services and in 2012 was welcomed by the Jewelry department as exhibition coordinator and assistant to two senior specialists. In 2015, she began cataloguing and has since contributed to landmark auctions including Maharajahs and Mughal Magnificence, the Private Collection of President and Mrs. Ronald Reagan, the Collection of Peggy and David Rockefeller and the Magnificent Jewels of Anne Eisenhower. Mrs. DiSante graduated from Fordham University with a bachelor’s degree in Art History and earned a Graduate Gemology (G.G.) certificate from the Gemological Institute of America. She has successfully completed training in the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice facilitated by a certified AQB instructor from the Appraisers Association of America. Since completing the USPAP training, Mrs. DiSante has attended the 7-hour USPAP update course every two years as recommended by the AAA.

Alexander Eblen is a Senior Vice President, Senior Specialist in the New York jewelry department. Joining Christie’s in 2024, his role includes a focus on consignments, private sales, client development and providing jewelry valuations throughout the Americas. Mr. Eblen has spent over two decades in the gem and jewelry industry with a keen focus on the colored gemstone market. He began his career working for the American Gem Trade Association’s laboratory in New York specializing in colored stone origin and treatment determination. After several years in wholesale gem sales, retail and appraising, Mr. Eblen joined the auction scene in 2009. He spent eight years as the head of Jewelry and Timepieces at a noted Midwest-based auction house, growing revenue by over five times during his tenure. More recently, he was a senior specialist at a prominent New York auction house for six years and brought many important estate collections and jewels to market. Mr. Eblen graduated from the University of Illinois with a BA in Communications and Economics, and is a Graduate Gemologist of the Gemological Institute of America.

Kelsey Kalaw is an Associate Specialist in the New York Jewelry department and cataloguer for the Magnificent Jewels and Online Jewels auctions. She began cataloguing in 2021 and has since been involved in other various aspects of the business including jewelry valuations, obtaining consignments as well as client development. Prior to joining Christie’s, Ms. Kalaw was a Georgia-based head gemologist for an online auction company whilst being a diamond consultant for an e-commerce site. She is an alumna of John Jay College of Criminal Justice and holds a Graduate Gemology (G.G.) certification from the Gemological Institute of America. Ms. Kalaw is bilingual in English and Spanish.

Lauren Friedlander is a Junior Specialist in the New York Jewelry department and a cataloguer for the Magnificent Jewels and Online Jewels auctions. Ms. Friedlander graduated from the University of Georgia with a B.F.A. in Jewelry and Metalwork. After graduation, she continued her education at the Gemological Institute of America, where she earned her Graduate Gemologist (G.G) diploma. Before joining Christie’s, Ms. Friedlander worked as a jewelry consultant for several years.

Amanda Miller is a Junior Specialist in the New York Jewelry department and a cataloguer for the Magnificent Jewels and Jewels Online auctions. Ms. Miller graduated from Tulane University with a B.A. in History and Art History. She continued her education in London, earning her M.A. in Art Business from the Sotheby’s Institute of Art and her Graduate Gemologist (G.G.) diploma from the Gemological Institute of America.

Jimin Kim is a Junior Specialist in the New York Jewelry department and cataloguer for the Magnificent Jewels and Online Jewels auctions. Ms. Kim first joined Christie’s as an intern in the Asian Art department in college. Upon graduation, she returned to Christie’s as a Sale Coordinator in the Watches department and was later appointed to Senior Sale Coordinator. Expanding her passion for luxury to fine jewelry, she transitioned to her current role in the Jewelry department. Ms. Kim graduated from the University of Chicago with a B.A. in Art History with Honors and earned a Graduate Gemologist (G.G.) certificate from the Gemological Institute of America. She is bilingual in Korean and English.