Spring fever and a 70-degree temperature took over Manhattan last Friday at precisely the time that I entered Christie’s Midtown auction house, where I am always personally greeted by Gil Perez, Christie’s debonair doorman, to preview some of the world’s most remarkable diamonds and jewelry at a specially orchestrated editor’s preview. Given the chance, a select group of editors jumped at the opportunity to literally dive into several trays of carefully curated mega-jewels and diamonds that will be put up for auction during the Magnificent Jewels Sale on April 12.
Who could resist sipping French vintage rose Champagne while trying on diamonds so rare, so BIG, and so pink (there were some white ones in the preview), they were chosen to match the Champagne and the peonies decorating a private upstairs salon? Thankfully for all who attended, this was not a “live” auction, nor was there an opportunity (incentive, yes) to purchase jewels as the luncheon progressed and the Champagne flowed freely. This is when a private Swiss bank account comes in handy—if the whim strikes.
The fact is that Christie’s in-house jewelry expert Rahul Kadakia practically grew up at Christie’s and while he plays around with the world’s most magnificent jewels on a regular basis, he has yet to become blasé and bored with his profession. Who can blame him when he’s admiring a 6.61 carat fancy pink diamond ring that could bring in $3 million at auction?
Each precious gem that was presented at the preview has its own history and a story, according to Kadakia, who uses these nuggets of information and refers to them when he’s selecting the pieces that form the collections that make up the various jewelry-themed auctions that take place around the world at Christie’s.
Interestingly, jewelry at this level of excellence and provenance is now accepted and recognized as an investment of the highest quality, rivaling fine art and other collectibles that have dealers and private individuals bidding up prices like never before.
Among some of the rarer diamonds (although this seems so arrogant a term when referring to any flawless diamond) on display and being tried on were an intense pink, 6.61 carat ring surrounded with two diamond baguettes (Lot 147), a Van Cleef & Arpels emerald and diamond necklace (Lot 269), a mega-37 carat white diamond ring (Lot 272) that is bigger than a thumb nail (it left many editors wondering when and where would one wear this door-knocker), and lastly, a purple-pink 10 carat diamond ring (Lot 294) which is estimated to fetch a minimum of $12 million.
For anyone looking for some excitement on April 12, visit www.christies.com to find out more about this particular sale and to view other videos about collecting and buying diamonds.
all images © Christie’s Images Limited 2011
