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Timeless Styles, Original Pieces make a Splash at John Moran’s December 13th Fine Jewelry Auction |
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Timeless Styles, Original Pieces make a Splash at John Moran’s December 13th Fine Jewelry Auction
- An Art Deco Diamond, Emerald, and Platinum Bracelet hammers for more than three times the high estimate
- Functionality and fine design attract bidders worldwide to bid on designer timepieces
Pasadena, CA—John Moran’s much-anticipated December Fine Jewelry, Antiques, and Fine Arts Auction did not disappoint this year, as a number of gorgeous decorative arts pieces, fine jewelry, and designer watches were offered up just in time for the holidays.
Evoking the November 15th Decorative Arts sale, Russian pieces inspired intensely competitive bidding among long-distance as well as local buyers. An 88-standard silver and enamel cup sold for eight times the high estimate ($800 – 1200), realizing $10,000, while a Faberge egg pendant brought $3368.75 (estimate: $1500 – 2000). Elsewhere in decorative arts, a charming child’s 14K gold place setting and partial vanity service realized nine times the high estimate (estimated at $700 – 900), selling for $4500. A Scottish tortoiseshell snuffbox, featuring a portrait of Bonnie Prince Charlie (mid-18th century champion of the Jacobite cause) reverse-painted on glass, delighted overseas bidders, but ultimately went to a local floor bidder for the price of $1680, well over the estimate of $400 – 600.
Diamonds of all cuts and settings were also in high demand, with charming whimsical pieces bringing as much interest as classic settings and antique pieces. Right off the bat, a French art nouveau citrine, diamond, and enamel pendant (circa 1895) brought $7200 (estimate: $4000 – 6000). A diamond and black enamel lorgnette by Cartier created quite a stir among floor bidders, ultimately selling for five times the high estimate, at $4200 (estimate: $600 - 800). A diamond and 18k white gold butterfly brooch made buyers’ hearts flutter, bringing $1440 at the block (estimate: $800 – 1200).
More fine jewelry highlights from this category include:
• A Tiffany and Co. diamond and yellow gold eternity band, estimated at $600 – 800, achieved $1560.
• A pair of diamond and 14k yellow gold hoop earrings doubled the high estimate, ultimately selling for $3675 (estimate: $1250 – 1750).
• An Italian 18K yellow gold, enamel, and diamond wasp brooch quickly zoomed well above estimate, finding a buyer at $3900 (estimate: $1500 – 2000).
• A pair of circa 1850 antique diamond earrings, featuring rose-cut diamonds was estimated at $1800 – 2250, and garnered $5206.25.
• A three-stone diamond and 18K gold ring, which may make an excellent and unexpected stocking stuffer, sold for $16,800 (estimate: $10,000 - $15,000).
The classic beauty and enduring style of Art Deco was confirmed by appreciative bidders, who snatched up Deco jewelry pieces at competitive prices. Most notably, an exquisite Art Deco bracelet, set with 52 French-cut diamonds, offset by rows of caliber-cut emeralds (104 in total) stole the hearts of floor, phone, and absentee bidders, ultimately going to a floor bidder for a price of $30,000 (estimate: $7000 – 9000). Two diamond and platinum Art Deco rings also made bold statements. The first, a cross-over ring featuring a 1.35 ct central old European-cut diamond, realized $4200 (estimate: $2500 - $3500), while the second, featuring a 1.61 ct central diamond flanked by 2 marquise and 6 baguette-cut diamonds brought $4800 (estimate: $2500 -3500). An Art Deco onyx desk clock by Cartier (once owned by British character actor Roland Young) brought a number of interested parties forward in the week prior to the sale, and ultimately fetched nearly five times the high estimate at $14,700 (estimate: $2000 – 3000).
Time pieces new and old were also in high demand. An antique 18K gold pocket watch by F.B. Adams and Sons, estimated at $1000 – 1500, reached a healthy $2125. Two Chopard watches, one an 18K white gold “Happy Diamonds” ladies bracelet wristwatch, featuring a mother of pearl dial and 5 loose bezeled diamonds (estimate: $3500 - 5500), and the other, an equally impressive 18K white gold bracelet wristwatch with a rectangular mother of pearl dial (estimate: $3000 – 5000), garnered $10,200 and $6250, respectively. A gorgeous gentleman’s Jaeger LeCoultre Reverso-Duoface-Night-Day 18K yellow gold wristwatch found a home with a local Pasadena bidder for $6600 (estimate: $4000 -6000) (PHOTO 6). A mid-century 8-Day Cartier desk clock that looked like it would be right at home on the set of Mad Men brought a flurry of bidding activity among bidders on the floor, but ultimately went to a phone bidder for $2450 (estimate: $500 – 700).
John Moran Auctioneers’ next sale will be held February 7th, 2012, and will feature Antiques and Decorative Arts. The Fine Art sale usually scheduled for February has been moved to April 17th, and has been made a two-session sale. The first session will feature California and American Art (a John Moran staple), while the second session will highlight European and Modern works. Bidding for all sales is available from the floor, by phone, by absentee, and online via ArtFact.com. For more information on this or any sales past or future, including sales results and consignment inquiries, you are invited to call the offices of John Moran Auctioneers at (626) 793-1833 or visit www.johnmoran.com.
Visit us at http://www.johnmoran.com for more information. Or call us at: (626) 793-1833 or email us at
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