A 4.03-carat fancy intense blue Diamond will headline Bonhams London Fine Jewellery sale in September. The pear-shape diamond, which has been in a private collection for over 30 years, has a pre-sale estimate of £1.2-£1.5 million ($1.54-$1.9 million).
The sale of 188 lots includes a selection of white and coloured diamonds, sapphires from Kashmir, Burma and Sri Lanka, signed jewellery from Cartier and Van Cleef & Arpels, and the largest private collection of jewellery ever to come to auction by Anglo-Italian designer Andrew Grima.
Jean Ghika, Head of Jewellery for Bonhams UK & Europe, said, “We are delighted to bring this exceptional stone to the market. Blue diamonds are extremely rare and highly coveted. We are looking forward to showcasing this stone, along with other selected lots in London, New York, Hong Kong and Geneva, where we anticipate considerable interest.”
The second headline lot is a diamond brooch featuring a central square step-cut 4.83-carat fancy grey-blue diamond, with a fancy dark brown-greenish yellow step-cut diamond to either side, weighing 2.51 carats and 2.38 carats respectively, suspending a pear-shape fancy pink diamond drop below, weighing 1.9 carats. The brooch dates from the mid-20th century and has a pre-sale estimate of £650,000-£850,000 ($836,390-$1.1 million).
The third notable lot in the sale is a single-stone ring featuring a 9.61-carat Kashmir sapphire. The octagonal step-cut stone has no indications of heating and is estimated at £500,000–700,000 ($643,400-$900,670).
Ghika added, “Kashmir sapphires are amongst the most highly prized gems for serious collectors given the mines were only open for a period of approximately 30 years from the late 1880s onwards. This stone has the classic attributes associated with sapphires from the Kashmir region, a rich and intense blue colour coupled with a velvety appearance.”
https://www.gemkonnect.com/news/blue-diamond-headline-bonhams-grima-jewellery-sale-september