Dazzling Diamonds and Storied Provenance Headline Sotheby’s New York High Jewellery Auction

The Crown Jewel: 35.01ct Graff Diamond Ring

Sotheby’s New York is set to host an extraordinary High Jewellery auction on 13 June, featuring 110 remarkable lots — many of them centred around colourless and fancy coloured diamonds. This exclusive sale not only showcases some of the most important stones on the market today but also brings to light jewellery with historic provenance, including pieces from the Vanderbilt and Wade families, and a private collection chronicling a decades-long romance.

The Crown Jewel: 35.01ct Graff Diamond Ring
Leading the sale is a breathtaking 35.01-carat emerald-cut diamond ring from luxury jeweller Graff. This D-colour, VVS2 clarity diamond is described as “highly important,” and is expected to fetch between USD $2 million and $3 million (approximately AUD $3 million to $4.5 million). It’s one of 13 spectacular jewels from a private collection titled Joie de Vivre: Journey in Jewels — a tribute to a husband’s enduring love, with each piece gifted to his wife throughout a 60-year marriage.

Another standout from the same collection is a pair of emerald and diamond earclips by Graff, boasting four sugarloaf cabochon emeralds weighing a total of approximately 84 carats. These exceptional earrings carry a presale estimate of USD $800,000 – $1.5 million.

Additional highlights from this private collection include:

An aquamarine and diamond bracelet: USD $40,000 – $60,000

A jade and diamond pendant-brooch, circa 1910s: USD $25,000 – $35,000

Fancy Colours Steal the Spotlight
The number two lot of the sale is a striking 5.02-carat fancy pink diamond ring with VS2 clarity, estimated at USD $1.5 million – $2.5 million. Following closely is a 2.02-carat fancy vivid blue diamond ring, cut in a modified rectangular mixed style, with an estimate of USD $1.4 million – $1.8 million.

Also drawing significant attention is a pair of flawless D-colour pear-shaped diamonds weighing 10.32 and 10.11 carats respectively. Both diamonds are rated “excellent” in polish and symmetry, with a combined estimate of USD $1.1 million – $1.5 million.

American Legacy: Vanderbilt and Wade Family Heirlooms
Among the historic highlights is a ruby and diamond sautoir by Marcus & Co., dating back to circa 1915. The centrepiece is a 9.60-carat unheated Burmese ruby, surrounded by old European-cut diamonds and accented with calibre-cut rubies. This important jewel is estimated at USD $1 million – $2 million and once belonged to Emily Vanderbilt Wade, the great-granddaughter of Cornelius Vanderbilt and daughter of Rhode Island Governor William Henry Vanderbilt III.

Three other Vanderbilt Wade jewels will also go under the hammer:

Cartier Art Deco diamond bracelet: Estimated at USD $60,000 – $80,000

Rene Lalique Art Nouveau pendant: Crafted from gold, enamel, emerald and pearl, circa 1900, with an estimate of USD $20,000 – $30,000

Multistone tassel sautoir: Featuring rubies, emeralds, pearls, diamonds and enamel, and possibly designed by Paulding Farnham of Tiffany & Co., with an estimate of USD $40,000 – $60,000

A Rare Opportunity for Collectors and Connoisseurs
This Sotheby’s auction is not only a chance to acquire some of the world’s most exquisite diamonds and gemstones but also to own a piece of history. With provenance linking to America’s most prominent families and jewellery houses such as Graff, Cartier, and Tiffany & Co., the pieces represent both artistic excellence and emotional legacy.

For collectors, investors, and jewellery lovers alike, 13 June will mark a significant date on the global jewellery calendar.

Graff Opens Huge Store in Las Vegas

Graff Jewellers Las Vegas

Graff has opened its biggest store in North America, at the Fontainebleau Las Vegas luxury resort and casino.

The 3,300sq ft showroom is second only to the flagship Graff in Paris, at 3,700sq ft.

Graff, founded in 1960 by British jeweler Laurence Graff, is recognized as one of the world’s most prestigious luxury jewelers.

CEO Francois Graff (Laurence’s son) said: “The opening of our new salon at Fontainebleau Las Vegas represents a pivotal moment for Graff in North America, a testament to our continued success and commitment to expansion across the region.”

The Las Vegas store is the brand’s 10th location in North America. It has more than 50 worldwide.

The new showroom features a serpentine counter with angular displays inspired by diamond facets, a bespoke bridal area with engagement rings, wedding bands, and bridal jewelry crafted from celadon wood and chiseled glass.

To celebrate the opening, Graff has curated a special selection of high jewelry featuring rare diamonds, emeralds, rubies, and sapphires.

Source: IDEX

Graff celebrates yellow diamonds

In celebration of Haute Couture Week, Graff is exhibiting a collection of yellow diamonds at its flagship Paris boutique to complement the unveiling of its new high jewellery necklace

Launched yesterday (4 July 2023), visitors to Sunrise: A Celebration of Graff Yellow Diamonds will discover a world of rarity and lustre through a stunning showcase of high jewellery pieces featuring rare yellow diamonds, accompanied by displays detailing Graff’s storied history with these incomparable stones.

The House’s latest high jewellery creation features an extremely rare 30ct fancy intense yellow pear shape diamond, accompanied by a further 138ct of yellow and white diamonds.

Every element of the piece has been created using the stone-led design techniques for which the Graff atelier is renowned and has been crafted to emphasise the elegant silhouette of the centre stone.

Graff design director, Anne-Eva Geffroy explained: “Before we design, we study each diamond carefully to uncover the secrets that lie within its depths.

“Only then do we design, and when we do, we work to accentuate the natural beauty of each stone.

“The fancy intense yellow diamond set into this piece gives a golden sunshine glow.

“Yellow diamonds bring so much joy.

“It is an honour to be inspired by stones that radiate such beauty.

“The yellow diamonds we work with are exceptional in quality, cut, and quantity.

“Very few jewellers have the luxury of such a wide range of colour.”

In vibrant halos of yellow and white diamonds, stones radiate outwards from the central fancy intense yellow diamond to replicate the rays of the sun.

A perfect synthesis of diamond design and hand-craftsmanship, each bespoke setting has been meticulously assembled by master artisans within the House’s London workshop.

CEO of Graff, Francois Graff added: “Celebrating Graff’s legacy of innovation and leadership in presenting the highest quality rare diamonds, this will be the most significant collection of yellow diamonds that have ever been brought together in one place, including a fancy intense yellow stone of incomparable beauty.

“These are truly jewels that represent the very best of Graff.”

Further pieces on display in the showcase at the flagship Paris boutique include unique high jewellery necklaces, Tribal-inspired jewels, earrings, and single-stone rings that unmistakably express Graff’s design DNA through the combination of superb stones with bold designs and unparalleled craftsmanship.

An impressive roster of important and famous yellow diamonds have passed through the House over the course of its history, beginning with the Star of Bombay in 1974.

The Star of Bombay is an historical yellow stone that was re-cut and polished by Graff using revolutionary expertise and new techniques.

Since then, Graff has introduced many famous and historical yellow diamonds over the years, including the 118.08ct Delaire Sunrise and the 132.55ct honey-hued Golden Empress.

Sunrise: A Celebration of Graff Yellow Diamonds is currently exhibiting at Graff Rue Saint-Honoré throughout Haute Couture Week in Paris.

Source: professionaljeweller

Graff To Unveil A Watch Paved With 60 Fancy Yellow Diamonds At Baselworld

Graff Yellow Diamond Watch

For the upcoming Baselworld watch and jewelry trade fair, Graff will unveil an important collection of jeweled watches, each showcasing diamonds using what the company describes as “pioneering jewelry watchmaking skills.” The first watch in the collection was unveiled Tuesday with the entire piece paved with 60 fancy vivid yellow diamonds totaling more than 25 carats. The price of the watch was not released.

To add to the color theme, the diamonds are set on a yellow gold case, bracelet and dial. In order to meet this challenge of setting this many exceptional diamonds on a watch, Sam Sherry, Graff’s head of Technologies, devised a jointing system that Graff has developed over the past few years to create flexible bracelets while optimizing the natural beauty of the stones. Graff’s London atelier worked in conjunction with Graff’s Swiss watchmaking team, Graff Luxury Watches, to create this synthesis of haute horology and diamond setting.

This is not the first time Graff has presented a statement bejeweled watch at Baselworld. In 2014, the first year the luxury brand exhibited at the fair, it was the “Hallucination,” a women’s watch covered in a kaleidoscope of 110 carats of rare fancy colored diamonds. Graff claimed at the time it was “estimated to be the most valuable watch ever created.”

The following year Graff unveiled “The Fascination,” a transformable watch covered in 152.96 carats of white diamonds that was valued at $40 million. The pear shaped watch dial on the center of the diamond covered bracelet is removable and can be replaced with a 38.13 carat D flawless, pear shaped diamond, cut and polished by Graff. When the center diamond isn’t in use on the bracelet it is placed on a shank of a ring. So a woman can wear a pure diamond bracelet, an opulent diamond covered watch with a matching ring, or wear either piece by itself.

In 2017, it was the “Princess Butterfly Secret Watch,” covered in diamonds and gemstones mounted with a an invisible setting. To view the time, the owner pushes on one of the center round diamonds and the butterfly wings slide apart to reveal the watch dial.

Source: forbes.com

The Fascination by Graff

The Diamond Watch that effortlessly turns into an exquisite ring

The Diamond Watch that effortlessly turns into an exquisite ring

Created by Graff Diamonds a London based jewellers founded in 1960.

Fascination is a diamond encrusted masterpiece piece which features a 38.13 ct pear shaped diamond which can be worn as a ring or inserted into a diamond encrusted watch bracelet with 152.96 cts of white diamonds.

Graff uses only the very finest diamonds, resulting in the creation of the most fabulous jewels in the world.

The Fascination will be on show at the BaselWorld watch fair in Switzerland, which begins tomorrow.