Tomorrow (September 19), international auction house Bonhams will host its September California Jewels sale, including over 300 lots of art deco designs with stones spanning the rainbow. With jewels from prominent designers and houses (David Webb, J.E. Caldwell & Co., Tiffany & Co., Jean Schlumberger, and Elsa Peretti among them), the sale promises a chance to obtain some seriously significant pieces.
“California Jewels has significant and curated private collections in the auction, such as the statement David Webb designs alongside the exquisite jewelry from J.E. Caldwell & Co., an American brand founded in 1868, who produced some of the finest examples of American Belle Époque, Art Nouveau and Art Deco designs,” said Emily Waterfall, the director of Bonhams’ jewelry department in Los Angeles, in a statement. “The Art Deco pieces included in the sale showcase the extraordinary designs, stones, and craftsmanship all of which remain wearable and highly sought-after pieces of jewelry today.”
Below are a few of the ones to watch (among many others).
J.E. Caldwell & Co. ring (circa 1940) in platinum with a 4.26 ct. brilliant-cut fancy intense yellow diamond and round, baguette and tapered-baguette diamonds, estimate $20,000-$30,000J.E. Caldwell & Co. earclips (circa 1940) in platinum with a 1.34 ct. round fancy yellow diamond, a 1.28 ct. fancy intense yellow diamond, and baguette and tapered-baguette diamonds, estimate $10,000-$15,000J.E. Caldwell & Co. brooch (circa 1920) in platinum and 14k gold with a 0.75 ct. old European-cut diamond, 2.8 cts. t.w. old European-cut and single-cut diamonds, and French-cut rubies, estimate $4,000-$6,000David Webb pendant brooch (pictured at top) in 18k gold with a 9.75 ct. round emerald cabochon, oval emeralds, and ruby cabochons, rose-cut diamonds, and enamel, estimate $8,000-$12,000David Webb earclips in 18k gold with white enamel, and 3.45 cts. t.w. round diamonds, estimate $8,000-$12,000Tiffany & Co. bracelet (circa 1920) in platinum with sugarloaf sapphire cabochons, baguette sapphires, and 4.6 cts. t.w. old mine-cut and old European-cut diamonds, estimate $15,000-$20,000Elsa Peretti for Tiffany & Co. mesh necklace in 18k gold with round diamonds, estimate $1,000-$2,000Jean Schlumberger for Tiffany & Co. earrings in 18k gold, estimate $800-$1,200