Bonhams announce a strong result for its quarterly Salon Jewelry & Watches auction on September 24 in Los Angeles, simulcast to San Francisco. The sale featured an impressive selection of classically inspired vintage and retro brooches, bracelets, necklaces and accessories from the early 20th century to the 1980s.
Leading the September auction was a patriotic ruby, sapphire and diamond brooch in the shape of a waving American flag by Oscar Heyman & Brothers (est. $6,000-8,000, sold for $31,250). The piece prominently features a maker’s mark, number and numerous fancy-cut sapphires, calibré-cut rubies, round brilliant, baguette and pear-shaped diamonds.
Michael Larsen, Jewelry Specialist at Bonhams, said of the auction: “The September auction featured noticeably strong results for precious colored gemstones as well as fine jade, which also performed very well. Signed and period pieces were crowd favorites, achieving results well above their high estimates. Buyers also displayed patriotic fervor when the top lot, an American flag brooch and the auction catalog’s back cover, realized nearly four times its pre-sale estimate. It was an impressive showing on the West Coast as we head into the Los Angeles preview for sales of Fine Jewelry, a single owner collection entitled ‘Tony Duquette: Jewels of Enchantment’ and ‘Eight Exceptional Jewels from a Private Collection’ to be offered in Hong Kong. We hope to see you then.”
Period highlights included a timeless emerald, ruby and diamond pendant/brooch (est. $3,000-5,000, sold for $23,750). The piece boasted a central oval-shaped emerald cabochon weighing approximately 30 carats surrounded by a classic arrangement of diamonds, rubies and emeralds.
Additional jewelry of note included a playful emerald, diamond, white sapphire and enamel tassel pendant/necklace (est. $4,000-6,000, sold for $16,250); an eighteen karat gold tubogas necklace by Cartier, circa 1940 (est. $2,500-3,000, sold for $10,625); an impressive oval-shaped jadeite jade cabochon and diamond ring (est. $7,000-9,000, sold for $ 10,625) and a carved hardstone, gem-set and diamond bracelet by Santagostino from the “Caribbean reef” collection (est. $3,000-5,000, sold for $10,000).
West Coast previews for Fine Jewelry, “Tony Duquette: Jewels of Enchantment” and “Eight Exceptional Jewels from a Private Collection” will be held on September 28-30 in Los Angeles and October 4-6 in San Francisco.
Fine Jewelry auction: October 15, New York
“Tony Duquette: Jewels of Enchantment” auction: October 15, New York
“Eight Exceptional Jewels from a Private Collection” auction: November 26, Hong Kong
The illustrated auction catalogs for these sales are available online for review and purchase at www.bonhams.com
