(IDEX Online) - Bonhams says its jewelry sales during the first half of this year were up 40 per cent on the same period in 2022.The UK-based auctioneer announced a 32 per cent increase in global sales across all departments to a record $550m for the six-month period. It did not provide a breakdown for all jewelry sales.Bonhams held 40 dedicated jewelry sales (12 live, 28 online) across its global network - London, Paris, New York, Los Angeles, Hong Kong, and Sydney - in the first half of 2023, compared to 24 sales in the same period last year.It sold 6,428 individual lots. The biggest highlight was a 35-carat type IIa emerald-cut, D-color, VVS1-clarity Leviev diamond ring that beat its $2.5m high estimate in March, selling for $2.7m at its New York saleroom.Other notable lots included a 6.22-carat fancy pink carat diamond ring that sold for $1.2m, and a 10.61-carat fancy yellow diamond ring that sold for four times its estimate at $242,000, both in New York.Jean Ghika, Bonhams global director jewellery, said: "We have seen success at all price points from ?500 to multimillion figures. "With the 40 per cent growth in auctions both online and live and with the addition of The Weekly: Jewelry, Bonhams Jewellery has successfully broadened the scope and offering to our clientele."