Private-Collection Jewels to Lead Christie's Sale

RAPAPORT... Christie's New York Magnificent Jewels auction will featurea number of jewels from private collections, including the duPont Ruby, abrooch expected to fetch up to $5.5 million. The piece, which comprises a total of 11.20 carats ofBurmese rubies, emeralds, diamonds and natural pearls, is being offered by theVirginia Museum of Fine Arts. It comes from the collection of Jessie BallduPont, a noted philanthropist, and the wife of multimillionaire businessmanand duPont gunpowder heir Alfred duPont. The brooch, which will go under thehammer December 11, has a presale estimate of $3.5 million to $5.5 million. Christie's will also offer a Tiffany & Co. Belle ??poqueColombian emerald and diamond ring weighing 9.11 carats, from the samecollection. That piece is valued at $500,000 to $700,000. Another Belle ??poque piece, a Kashmir sapphire and diamond ringwith a combined weight of 30.14 carats, from a distinguished New York estate,is estimated at $3.5 million to $5.5 million. Other notable items include a 3.07-carat, fancy-vivid blue,VVS1-clarity diamond ring, valued at $3 million to $4 million, and a24.13-carat, D-flawless diamond ring estimated at $2 million to $3 million. A 23.55-carat, D-color, Harry Winston diamond ring will also be offered at thesale. The piece, which is potentially internally flawless, has a presale estimateof $2 million to $3 million. Additional jewels from notable private collections encompass thoseof the Rothschild family and Judith-Ann Corrente, a philanthropist and CEO ofthe Metropolitan Opera Association. Ten lots from the collection of Marion OatesCharles, and three from Deeda Blair's, two socialites with connections tovarious presidents, authors and celebrities, will also feature at the auction. Highlights from the collection are available for viewing atChristie's Los Angeles on October 30 and 31, before moving to Geneva and HongKong in November, prior to the December sale. Image: The duPont Ruby. (Christie's)