Cartier Necklace Smashes Estimate at Bonhams

RAPAPORT... An Art Deco aquamarine and diamond necklace by Cartierfetched more than triple its high estimate at Bonhams' London Jewels sale. The Cartier piece, which is dated from 1940 and features 170carats of aquamarines, sparked an international bidding war, selling for $601,213 against its $192,435 high valuation, the auction housesaid last week.  Ten pieces of jewelry from the private collection of BarbaraTaylor Bradford also crushed estimates. A radiant-cut, 11.30-carat,fancy-yellow, VS1-clarity diamond ring, flanked by demi-lune diamonds, sold for$126,136, more than double its estimate. Meanwhile, a pair of earrings bydesigner David Morris, each featuring five pear-shaped rose-cut diamonds,brought in $39,371, more than five times its presale valuation. A rare private collection of 23 Art Deco clocks, 22 of whichwere designed by Cartier, also triggered a fierce bidding war, Bonhams said.The entire lot garnered GBP 1.2 million ($1.5 million), with a rock-crystal,gold, agate, enamel and diamond-set mystery clock, made in 1919, fetching thehighest price of $789,804, more than double its high estimate. Other notable items included an Ashoka-cut, 6.42-carat,D-color, internally flawless diamond solitaire ring by Boodles. That piece wentfor $425,720, beating its presale high valuation of $384,915, while a pair ofnatural-pearl and diamond earclips by Sterl?(C), made in 1950, received bids frombuyers in 20 countries and sold for $352,051, more than four times its presaleestimate. Image: The Cartier aquamarine and diamond necklace. (Bonhams)