Blue Diamond Earrings Score Big at Bonhams

RAPAPORT... A pair of blue diamond earrings fetched just under $1.3 million atBonhams' New York Jewels sale, beating its high estimate. The set features a marquise-shaped brilliant cut,fancy-intense-blue diamond with VS1 clarity, weighing 1.81 carats, and anoval-shaped modified brilliant-cut, fancy-blue diamond, weighing 1.62 carats. Thosestones are topped by two cushion-shaped modified brilliant-cut diamondsweighing 2.24 and 2.28 carats, and surrounded by marquise and roundbrilliant-cut diamonds carrying a total weight of 2.60 carats. The piece soldfor $1.28 million to an anonymous US buyer at Sunday's auction, beating itspresale high estimate of $1.25 million, Bonhams said Monday. Jewelry from the estate of former New York Yankees vicechairperson Joan Steinbrenner also performed well, with all nine lots selling.Those included an 18-karat gold and diamond Trika bracelet and earrings byBulgari, which garnered $25,075, and a cultured pearl and diamond necklace-and-ringset by Henry Dunay, which brought in $18,825. Signed jewels proved popular at the sale, with arectangular-shaped step-cut, 16.98-carat sapphire Trombino ring by Bulgarifetching $250,075, just surpassing its $250,000 upper valuation. A pair ofdiamond earrings by Cartier sold for $106,325, and a matched citrine anddiamond set by Van Cleef & Arpels achieved $47,575 following a bidding war. "The sale was well attended, with participation from 26different countries, and many of the lots exceeded the top end of their presaleestimates," said Bonhams senior international jewelry director Brett O'Connor. A ring featuring a pear-shaped modified brilliant-cut,2.46-carat, fancy-pink-purple, SI1-clarity diamond alongside a pear-shapedmodified brilliant-cut, 2.01-carat, D-color, internally flawless diamond failed to find a buyer. That piece was estimated at $350,000 to $550,000. Bonhams will feature additional jewels from the estate ofJoan Steinbrenner at its upcoming California Jewels sale on December 12. Image: The blue diamond earrings. (Bonhams)