17ct. Diamond May Fetch Up to $1.6M at Auction

RAPAPORT... French auction house Artcurial will offer a 17.5-carat diamond at its upcoming Monaco Luxury week, where it expects the stone will realize up to EUR 1.5 million ($1.6 million).The emerald-cut, D-color mounted diamond will lead a series of three sales, that will take place on July 18, 19 and 20, Artcurial said Tuesday. A ring bearing a 12.39-carat, fancy-intense-yellow diamond flanked by two triangular white diamonds weighing 1.36 and 1.35 carats will also go under the hammer. That piece is estimated at EUR 300,000 to EUR 350,000 ($313,714 to $366,000).Other notable items include a bracelet by French jeweler Guillemin & Soulaine set with diamonds and two Colombian emeralds weighing 7.20 and 8.50 carats, which carries a presale high price tag of EUR 250,000 ($261,001). A necklace created in France in 1970 will also be up for sale. The jewel, which features 15 natural oval Ceylon sapphires and brilliant-, pear-, marquise- and baguette-cut diamonds set in platinum and white gold, is estimated at up to EUR 120,000 ($125,300).A number of Art Nouveau and Art Deco jewels will feature. A pendant-brooch created in 1898 by designer Georges Fouquet is predicted to fetch up to EUR 25,000 ($26,104). It was inspired by a famous drawing by Alphonse Mucha, depicting actress Sarah Bernhardt as M?(C)lissande in Edmond Rostand's play La Princesse lointaine. Pieces from prestigious jewelry houses, such as Cartier, Van Cleef & Arpels, Bulgari, Chaumet, and Boucheron will also hit the auction block in Monaco, Artcurial added.Iimage: The 17.5-carat diamond. (Artcurial)