Bonhams’s upcoming London Jewels sale features a remarkable highlight: the Mouawad “Toi et Moi” ring, expected to be the star of the show on June 13. The ring, anticipated to fetch between £1 million and £1.5 million ($1.3 million to $1.9 million), boasts a striking design. It flaunts a five-carat radiant-cut fancy intense blue diamond paired with a 5.1-carat radiant-cut fancy purple-pink diamond. The two dazzling stones are elegantly positioned beside each other, encircled by a gallery and shoulders adorned with brilliant-cut pink- and blue-tinted diamonds.
Jennifer Tonkin, co-head of Bonhams’s jewelry department in the United Kingdom, praised the ring’s center stones as “miracles of nature.” She expressed the auction house’s immense pride in presenting such a remarkable piece. Tonkin highlighted the diverse array of exceptional jewels featured in the London Jewels sale, spanning various eras, including Kashmir sapphires, certified diamonds, and exceptional colored diamonds.
Among the other standout pieces in the auction are several diamond treasures. An exquisite diamond fringe necklace from circa 1950 is estimated to fetch between £200,000 and £300,000 ($255,000 to $382,000). It showcases a captivating arrangement of graduating baguette and brilliant-cut diamonds, with a fringe adorned with brilliant and marquise-cut diamonds leading to pear-shaped diamond drops. Additionally, a diamond rivière necklace from the 19th century, featuring cushion-shaped diamonds in pinched collet settings, could fetch £100,000 ($127,000).
While some of the Art Deco pieces in the auction may not command such lofty estimates, they offer accessories from esteemed jewelers. For instance, a rare Cartier bangle from around 1930, estimated at $32,000 to $45,000, boasts ruby cabochons within an engraved Persian-inspired mount, adorned with graduated emerald, ruby, and sapphire cabochons atop tiered rock crystal. Similarly, a Bulgari brooch from the same era, valued at $15,000 to $19,000, showcases a rare openwork design featuring a trio of brilliant-cut diamond chevrons.
For enthusiasts of colored diamonds, Bonhams presents a delightful array of yellow-colored options. A Graff diamond pendant necklace featuring a 9.7-carat rectangular brilliant-cut stone beneath a smaller heart-shaped diamond is estimated at $96,000 to $121,000. Additionally, a 10-carat fancy intense yellow diamond takes center stage in a diamond ring, estimated at $76,000 to $102,000.
With a total of 120 lots up for grabs at the London Jewels sale, there’s sure to be something to captivate every collector, regardless of their preferred style.
