Skinner Fine Jewelry Auction Brings $4.7 Million

Skinner Fine Jewelry Auction Brings $4.7 Million, $1.3 Million

Over Pre-Auction Estimate

A classic example of Art Deco jewelry leads the way with an outstanding result

Skinner, Inc. today announced the results of its latest Fine Jewelry auction, which was held in Boston on December 6th. The highly successful sale grossed $4.7 million including buyer’s premium, surpassing the pre-auction estimate high by more than a million dollars. Colored stones, Art Deco pieces, diamonds, and natural pearls were especially strong performers.

Colored Stones & Art Deco Jewelry

A rare star Burma ruby and diamond ring (lot 751) smashed the auction presale estimate ($15,000 to $20,000). Featuring an oval cabochon star ruby weighing 28.00 cts., the stone was extraordinary in size and color, and brought an outstanding $242,500. A Kashmir sapphire ring (lot 763) featuring a cushion-cut sapphire weighing 8.40 cts. sold for an impressive $369,000, and an oval-cut, unmounted, yellow sapphire (lot 225A) brought $159,975.

A fine French Art Deco carved emerald, ruby and diamond pendant brooch (lot 750) by Chaumet (originally from the Lillian S. Timken collection) sold for $385,500, and, a fine Art Deco platinum and diamond figural bracelet (lot 764), originally retailed by Thomas Kirkpatrick, sold for $171,825.

Diamonds & Natural Pearls

While colored stones and Art Deco pieces were very popular, diamonds also made an excellent showing, proving the timeless appeal of the diamond solitaire and the strength of the market for high-clarity. A round brilliant diamond weighing 4.98 cts. (lot 747) with melee accents sold for $385,500. Other diamond solitaires included a round, brilliant-cut diamond (lot 648) weighing 3.00 cts. that sold for $84,135, and, a solitaire set with a full-cut diamond (lot 642) weighing 5.16 cts., which brought $74,655.

Several lots featuring natural pearls also sold well. A necklace composed of eighty-seven natural pearls ranging from 4.10 to 7.90 mm and accompanied by a GIA report from 1956 (lot 665) sold for $46,215. A pair of natural pearl and diamond ear pendants (lot 737), also with a GIA report, sold for $26,070.

Artist-Signed and Vintage Jewelry

Well known for bringing important artist-signed and vintage jewelry to auction, Skinner continues to satisfy the demand for unusual and signed works. A pair of antique 18kt gold and reverse-painted crystal fishbowl ear pendants from the 1870s (lot 509) brought $17,775, and an Edwardian diamond sunburst pendant/brooch from Tiffany & Co. (lot 762) brought $74,062.

An 18kt gold and enamel caddis worm pendant/brooch by John Paul Miller (lot 424) demonstrates beautifully the goldsmith’s mastery of enamel and granulation and brought $11,258. A brooch (lot 484) from the 1870s depicting Alcatraz Island from the days before it was a prison sold for $7,703.

According to Victoria Bratberg, director of Fine Jewelry at Skinner, “This auction was uniformly strong across all the categories: colored stones, diamonds, natural pearls, artist-signed jewelry, Art Deco, and antique works.” Bratberg continued, “The sale generated interest from around the world, and demonstrates our ability to consign extraordinary jewelry that brings top prices at auction.”

About Skinner
Skinner, Inc. is one of the world’s leading auction houses for antiques and fine art. With expertise in over 20 specialty collecting areas, Skinner draws the interest of buyers from all over the world and its auctions regularly achieve world record prices. Skinner provides a broad range of auction and appraisal services, and it is widely regarded as one of the most trusted names in the auction business.  Skinner’s appraisal experts regularly appear on the PBS-TV series, Antiques Roadshow, and its specialty departments include American Furniture & Decorative Arts, American & European Works of Art, European Furniture & Decorative Arts, 20^th Century Design, Fine Ceramics, Fine Jewelry, Couture, Fine Musical Instruments, Asian Works of Art, Fine Wines, Rare Books & Manuscripts, Oriental Rugs & Carpets, American Indian & Ethnographic Art, Fine Judaica, Antique Motor Vehicles, Toys, Dolls & Collectibles, Discovery and Science, Technology & Clocks. Skinner galleries are located in Boston and Marlborough, Mass. For more information on upcoming auctions and events, visit Skinner’s web site www.skinnerinc.com.