Pre-Lot Text
An internationally-acclaimed and award-winning jeweler, Henry Dunay, began his illustrious career as an apprentice in New York City's diamond district. The son of a tugboat captain and a factory worker, Mr. Dunay began designing jewelry at the age of 21 with no previous design education. His designs are inspired by nature, gemstones and by the women who wear his pieces. The jewels he creates-textured and sculpted gold ear clips and bangles, diamond-studded pendants and brooches, are all set in his signature warm-colored 18.5k gold. His pieces are sold at Neiman Marcus and other fine boutiques around the country and in Japan.
Henry Dunay first met Mrs. Kelly over 15 years ago through Neiman Marcus. Feminine and stylish, Mrs. Kelly was the type of woman that Dunay designs his pieces for. Mr. Dunay often made suggestions for Mrs. Kelly and she trusted his trained eye. When the rare opportunity to acquire a magnificent padparadshca sapphire presented itself, Mr. Dunay excitedly called Mrs. Kelly. Later, when she saw Mr Dunay's designs, she loved it, but couldn't envision it as a ring. It wasn't until the jewel materialized mounted in gold with delicate diamonds that she was completely enchanted. Later, Mrs. Kelly asked him to make a matching pair of ear pendants, but finding comparable stones in that hue and saturation was next to impossible. Over the course of several years, Mrs. Kelly's collection grew. Today, her Henry Dunay collection is the largest in the world.
Along with the padparadscha sapphire ring, (lot 173), Mrs. Kelly's Dunay collection contains several special jewels. The bold tanzanite diamond and gold cuff bracelet (lot 135) is remarkable for the size and quality of the tanzanites. Each cut in a marquise shape; it is matched by a pair of ear clips (lot 134), a ring (lot 137) and a large pendant necklace (lot 136). Lot 90 the pendant necklace centers upon a peridot of a richly-toned yellowish green, one of Mr. Dunay and Mrs. Kelly's favorite colors. Mrs. Kelly also wore and enjoyed textured gold and diamond-set jewels by Mr. Dunay as well. The unusual scent bottle (lot 23) created when Mr. Dunay launched his signature eau de parfum with his brother, Richard. Only thirty exclusive bottles were set with diamond and gold caps, which could later be transformed into a pendant.