Jewellery at auction

Sadly I have not been my usual awesome self and wasn’t able to attend the NMIT or Box Hill fundraising jewellery auctions. Terribly disappointed – though of course I trust the nights were huge successes!

In other auction news, there are some truly ‘special’ pieces in an upcoming Leonard Joel auction. Now usually there is a substantial offering of bling-tasia – huge or expensive stones plonked in a setting; and this set is no exception. However there are a number of pieces that are surprising in their own special way.

• diamond dress ring
  

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• a coral cocktail ring – oh lordy!
  

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• a citrine cocktail ring
  

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• oh there are more … but enough for now

There’s also a 1/3rd carat pink Argyle loose diamond [link] … with an estimate of a mere $48000 – $52000 (yes, for a third of a carat).

Jewellery fundraising auctions reminder

Okay now. It wouldn’t do for anyone to forget that there are TWO, yes TWO, jewellery auctions in the coming weeks.

Next Wednesday: 9th May
NMIT Jewellery fundraising Auction [facebook page]; “The Advanced Diploma students of 2012 present to you an exciting opportunity to purchase exquisite handmade pieces of jewellery at exceptional prices. Crack open your piggy bank, get your bidding arm ready and help them raise funds for their Graduate Exhibition.“

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The following Wednesday: 16th May
Box Hill Institute silent jewellery auction

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Jewellery ahoy!!

“Beau Sancy” diamond

In diamond news …. oh I know, we’re all SO flush we can consider such flippant purchases …

“THE 400-year-old Beau Sancy, one of the world’s oldest and most-storied diamonds in private hands, is up for sale at Sotheby’s auction house.

Weighing in at 34.98 carats, the sparkling pear-cut gem is estimated to be worth up to $US4 million ($3.87 million).

Those who don’t have the money to buy the jewel can see it on display ahead of next month’s sale.

Cut from the famous gem mines in the Indian city of Golconda, the diamond made its way through four royal European families and once belonged to Queen Marie de Medici of France.“

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More information here; with the beautiful image below:

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This is the site for the Sotheby’s auction.

RMIT New Collectable Auction tonight

I am really very impressed with the quality of the work up for auction tonight at the RMIT New Collectables 2011 Auction.

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Auction media: “Experience the thrill of a live art auction and buy exceptional, affordable artworks by RMIT’s most promising artists at New Collectables.

Works on offer showcase the imagination and skill of RMIT’s art and design students, and include painting, drawing, jewellery, ceramics, sculpture and photography.

As no commission is taken on sales, and there are no expenses or fees for students to enter work, auction and backroom purchases exclusively benefit the participating artists. All auction reserve prices are less than $250.

Bidding starts 6:30pm sharp“

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I was especially impressed with the following:

• Samira Ghasempour ‘Just Leave it Behind‘ print
• James Jardine ‘Centrepiece‘ photograph
• Ohm Pattanachoti ‘Self Portrait No. 2‘ drawing
• Lizzy Sampson ‘The Colour of Money (20)‘ photograph [blog, site]; my favourite in the rooms
• Tanya Ungeri ‘Rebranded‘ photograph

Along with the auction is a ‘back room sales’ of other artworks … worth getting along to!

My, you’re huge too

This time (see last time I uttered such a title) a yellow pear-cut diamond.

The newstells me: the “Rare gem is 110.3 carats and was unearthed in South Africa last year“.

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It is being auctioned through Sotheby’s in Geneva soon, and has an estimate of A$12 – $15m.

Good lordy! Have a look through the catalogue for the entire auction – there are some stunning, and yes very ugly, pieces of jewellery.

Elizabeth Taylor’s gems

As the young people like to say … O.M.G.

Christie’s will hold an auction later in this year of the jewellery collection of the beautiful Elizabeth Taylor (could she be any more stunning I ask you?).

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There is a tour associated with the auction – so if you happen to be in Moscow, London, Los Angeles, Dubai, Geneva, Paris, Hong Kong and of course New York (where the auction will be held) it’d be worth checking it out.

Just to be sure you know – this is certainly not an advert for the auction! But I am stunned by the extravagance, extent and the quality of the jewels in her collection.

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I understand almost all of her jewels were given to her by her lovers … NO ONE does that any more!!! Well, at least not as publically or famously as in the height of the Hollywood era that Elizabeth reigned over.

Apparently many of the gems are historically significant … how wonderful to have $30m of such jewels! Oh I know they’re not “contemporary” by any stretch of the imagination … but we jewellers must acknowledge that our history has roots in such pieces …