Ruby Brooch Smashes Estimate at Christie's

RAPAPORT... A ruby brooch sold for nearly $9 million at Christie's NewYork sale Wednesday, far surpassing its $5.5 million high valuation. The piece, which comprises a total of 11.20 carats ofBurmese rubies, emeralds, diamonds and natural pearls, is from the collectionof noted philanthropist Jessie Ball duPont, who was the wife ofmultimillionaire businessman and duPont gunpowder heir Alfred duPont. Thebrooch led the MagnificentJewels sale, which achieved a total of $67.5 million. A round-cornered rectangular modified brilliant-cut,3.07-carat, fancy-vivid-blue, type IIb, VVSI-clarity diamond ring went for $3.4million, against a presale estimate of $3 million to $4 million. Meanwhile, a Belle??poque Kashmir sapphire and diamond ring, with a combined weight of 30.14carats fetched $3 million, just under its $3.5 million low estimate. Other notable items include a rectangular-cut, 23.55-carat,D-color, type IIa, VVS2-clarity diamond ring by Harry Winston. That piece,which has the potential to be internally flawless, brought in $2.2 million,between its $2 million to $3 million presale valuation. A rectangular-cut,24.13-carat, D-color, type IIa, flawless diamond ring, flanked bytrapezoid-shaped diamonds, garnered $2 million, matching its low valuation. Private collections saw strong prices, including items fromthe Rothschild family and property from the collection of Judith-Ann Corrente,a philanthropist and CEO of the Metropolitan Opera Association. A Van Cleef& Arpels Art Deco diamond necklace from Corrente's collection fetched $1.5million, more than three times its low estimate. In total, Christie's sold 91% of lots at the auction, whichlasted for nearly ten hours, and garnered bids from 44 countries. Image: The duPont Ruby. (Christie's)