These Earrings Could Fetch $12M at Christie’s Auction

By Annie Davidson Watson | November 28, 2023

The year is going out with a bang at Christie’s, whose final live jewelry auction of 2023, Magnificent Jewels on Dec. 6, will offer colored diamonds of every hue by such prestigious jewelers as Van Cleef & Arpels, Tiffany & Co., Harry Winston, and Bulgari.

A particularly rare pair of fancy vivid orange-yellow diamond earrings, called California Sunset (pictured above), headlines the sale with $12 million at the upper end of its estimate. The platinum and 18k rose gold earrings have two 3 ct. oval brilliant-cut diamonds and two 0.73 ct. marquise brilliant-cut diamonds, with a fancy vivid orange-yellow oval mixed-cut diamond of approximately 12 cts. dangling from each.

Graff diamond ring — *Graff ring in platinum with 42.97 ct. emerald-cut diamond and tapered baguette-cut diamonds, estimate $500,000–$700,000*

Other highlights of the sale include a Graff ring with an emerald-cut diamond of nearly 43 cts., a René Boivin emerald and diamond lion brooch, and a 1940s Cartier brooch (from the collection of American heiress Margaret Thompson Biddle.

Boivin Lion Brooch — *René Boivin Reclining Lion brooch in 18k yellow gold and 18k white gold with baguette and tapered baguette emeralds and round and old-cut colored diamonds, estimate $300,000–$500,000*

*Cartier brooch (circa 1945) in yellow gold with carved and baguette emeralds, pear-shape and round cabochon rubies, and old, single, and round diamonds, estimate $200,000–$300,000*

Christie’s is also holding a jewelry auction online through Dec. 8. Featuring over 300 lots at various price points (and many without reserve), the sale features Buccellati, David Webb, Cartier, Schlumberger, Verdura, and other top design names across a range of individual pieces and matching necklace/earrings, bracelet/earrings, necklace/bracelet, and even cufflinks/shirt studs sets—all just in time for the holiday season!