Uncommon Golconda diamonds may realize $300K during April auction

CHICAGO -- The April 3 and 4 Important Jewelry auction at Leslie Hindman Auctioneers will offer an impressive and expansive array of fine diamonds and colored stones, signed jewels and important antique works. Highlights of the sale include rare Golconda-type diamonds, fancy colored diamonds, important natural pearls, a selection of fine certified emeralds, rubies and sapphires, including two exquisite antique Yogo Gulch sapphire pieces, and important jewels by Van Cleef & Arpels, Harry Winston, Tiffany & Co. and Chopard, among others.

The diamonds session will include two excellent emerald cut stones of nearly six carats, both rare Golconda-type, D color and internally flawless or potentially so. One is a diamond and ruby ring estimated at $250,000 to $300,000 and the other an octagonal step cut diamond estimated at $275,000 to $325,000. Larger sizes and shapes are also available including a rectangular brilliant cut ring with a 10.02 carat stone ($130,000-$160,000), a vintage ring with a square emerald cut stone of 8.00 carats ($175,000-$200,000), a 6.12 carat round brilliant cut ($40,000-$60,000), a 4.68 carat marquise cut Art Deco ring ($80,000-$120,000) and many more.

Natural fancy colored diamonds in a wide range of colors are on offer, including an important loose certified stone assortment which features fancy light to fancy intense stones in blues, greens, pinks, orange-yellows and chameleon. A 2.44 carat fancy green diamond, for example, is being offered at $65,000-85,000 while a very rare 0.52 carat fancy intense green stone has a presale estimate of $20,000 to $30,000.

A suite of Van Cleef & Arpels jewels also takes full advantage of the natural colored diamond spectrum, showcasing blues, pinks, greens and yellows as a matched bracelet and earrings together with a pendant necklace. Both the 18 karat gold, fancy color diamond and diamond aquarelle century collection earrings and the 18 karat white gold, fancy color diamond, diamond and colored diamond Ode Printemps Bracelet have estimates of $70,000 to $90,000. The 18 karat bicolor gold, fancy color diamond and diamond century necklace is estimated at $35,000 to $55,000.

Among the highlights of estate jewelry are numerous natural pearl pieces, including four necklaces in single and double strand styles and a significant brooch. The latter contains a 12.00 x 11.00 mm drop shape pearl and nearly nine carats of old European cut diamonds in a platinum navette shape setting with a presale estimate of $30,000 to $50,000.A graduated single strand natural pearl necklace will

be on offer with a presale estimate of $20,000 to $30,000.

Fine color is represented by highlights such as a fine Edwardian butterfly brooch containing 152 sapphires, the majority of which have been tested and certified as being of Yogo Gulch origin ($6,000-$8,000) and an important Belle Epoque sapphire and diamond bracelet containing seven certified Yogo Gulch sapphires ($75,000-$100,000). Rounding out colored stones is a Tiffany & Co. Colombian emerald and diamond ring ($30,000-$50,000) and a 3.59 carat ruby and diamond ring ($15,000-$20,000).

Anchoring the collection of signed pieces are sizable groups of Verdura, Van Cleef & Arpels, Chopard and Tiffany & Co. from vintage to contemporary eras, as well as an important Harry Winston jewel. Highlights include a platinum, diamond and tsavorite garnet bangle bracelet containing more than 15 carats of tsavorite garnets and a lily-of-the-valley motif invisibly set sapphire demi parure (a brooch and a pair of earclips), both by Van Cleef & Arpels. The Verdura session includes nine pieces of contemporary jewels by the designer, each conjuring spring in varying hues of citrine, peridot, tourmaline and rubellite. An 18 karat yellow gold and pink tourmaline ray brooch by Verdura, for example, is being offered at $15,000 to $25,000.

Finally, an exceptionally preserved Victorian turquoise, garnet and diamond serpent necklace, circa 1840 and estimated at $6,000 to $8,000, highlights the antique session.

The Important Jewelry preview will be in New York March 8 ­ 10 and Chicago March 30 ­ April 3. The sale will be followed by the Fine Timepieces evening auction April 4. For more information, visit www.lesliehindman.com or call 312-280-1212.