A winter season fine jewelry auction at Sotheby’s that took place on December 12 in the City That Never Sleeps presented a selection of stunning and timelessly chic items.
The highlight of this event was a 7.08-carat diamond ring, bringing in $240,000, $40,000 less than the upper price tag. This dazzling lot showcases a cut-cornered rectangular step-cut diamond accented by a pair of trapeze-cut diamonds.
The bidding event also offered various colored diamonds, gemstones, and items from renowned designers, including Kat Florence, Raymond Yard, Bulgari, Cartier, and Kwiat.
Among other items featured at the event were ones from the collection of a beauty trailblazer, Sydell Miller, who passed earlier this year. As a visionary entrepreneur, she empowered women and was a role model to millions. In the 1970s, she and her husband launched the first pre-cut strip eyelash sets into production. Their creativity and curiosity didn’t stop there. By 1980, they introduced Matrix, a salon-quality hair care brand that is popular and trusted for its high-performance products.
What was unique about Sydell Miller was that she curated a huge and carefully selected collection of jewelry by herself. Buying and wearing jewelry was an essential part of her self-expression, and she sincerely valued craftsmanship and strived to explore beauty in all its forms. Moreover, Miller supported various causes and institutions throughout her life, particularly in healthcare, the arts, and animal care. In honor of her dedication to charity, a portion of the auction proceeds will go to initiatives in these fields.
Lots from another iconic collection were sparkling on December 12. We are talking about the items that once belonged to Merle Muskal Reskin, a talented singer, dancer, and entertainer who performed in theater and on television. After her Broadway career, she devoted herself to philanthropy, particularly in the arts, alongside her husband, Harold Reskin. In keeping with her spirit of generosity, proceeds from the sale of her jewelry collection will benefit several charitable organizations, primarily focused on healthcare and supporting veterans.
The auction’s top lots were:
A bracelet with a graduated line of round, rare, completely colorless diamonds ranging from 1.01 to 2.42 carats fetched $180,000, which is higher than its anticipated value.
A 4.21-carat ring that features a fancy-vivid-yellow, VVS1-clarity main diamond stone framed with triangle-shaped, and old European and single-cut diamonds earned within its expected range.
Pendant and pair of earclips with emeralds as center stones surrounded by smaller pear- and round-shaped diamonds set in platinum and 18-karat gold. The set was sold for $102,000.
A bezel-set octagonal-shaped step-cut 10.97-carat emerald ring achieved $102,000, more than its $80,000 low estimate.
