"Jewels: The New York Sale & The Annenberg Diamond" @ Christie's NY on October 21, 2009

The Annenberg Diamond. Weighing 32.01 carats. Mounted by David Webb. Estimate: $3-5 million US. Christie's Image Ltd 2009

New York - Christie's is delighted to announce further details of its upcoming flagship auction on October 21, 2009. The day will feature two distinct sales, beginning with Jewels: The New York Sale & The Annenberg Diamond. Led by the perfect D color Flawless Annenberg Diamond of 32.01 carats, the auction will also include rare gemstones and signed pieces by designers such as Boucheron, BVLGARI, Cartier, Van Cleef & Arpels, David Webb, and Harry Winston, among others. For collectors of period jewels, the day’s second auction, Rare Jewels and Objets d'Art: A Superb Collection, will feature an array of over 200 vintage jewels and special creations from Black, Starr & Frost, Boucheron, Cartier, Fabergé, Rubel Frères, René Lalique, Van Cleef & Arpels, Verger Frères, and Harry Winston, to name but a few. Over 380 items will be offered during the course of the two sales, which are expected to realize a combined total in excess of $25 million.

Rahul Kadakia, Head of Jewelry for Christie’s New York, comments, “We are honored to present such a remarkable breadth of fine gems and superb jewels at Christie’s first major sale of the Fall Season. From period jewels to contemporary designs of the highest caliber, these sales are truly unique in the sheer umber of exceedingly rare items offered. When jewels of this quality and exceptional provenance come to auction alongside masterpieces of Art Nouveau and Art Deco design, it is a major event in the global collecting community that is not to be missed.”

The Annenberg Diamond. Weighing 32.01 carats. Mounted by David Webb. Estimate: $3-5 million US. Christie's Image Ltd 2009

The lead highlight of Jewels: The New York Sale & The Annenberg Diamond is the spectacular Annenberg Diamond (pictured at left; estimate: $3-5 million), the finest and most anticipated diamond to be offered this season in New York. This 32.01 carat, D color, Flawless diamond comes from the collection of the late Leonore "Lee" Annenberg, one of America’s most prominent philanthropists .

François Curiel, Chairman of Christie’s Europe and International Head of Jewels commented, “The Annenberg Diamond combines the best of the 4 C’s: top colour, perfect clarity, ideal cut, and excellent weight. And if you add to this the impeccable provenance of the Annenberg name, you have one of the finest gems to appear on the market for many years.”

Leading up to the auction of The Annenberg Diamond, Christie’s will present an assortment of colored and colorless diamonds and gemstones in a variety of sizes and settings, including a 16.33 carat circular-cut, E color, Internally Flawless diamond (estimate: $1,200,000-1,800,000) and a 6.96 carat fancy gray-blue, VS1 clarity diamond ring (estimate: $600,000-800,000). An elegant 21.42 carat, G color diamond ring by Tiffany & Co. (estimate: $500,000-700,000) comes from the collection of the late Broadway actress Lillian Booth, whose caricature still graces the Wall of Fame at Sardi’s, the iconic New York restaurant.

A pair of colored diamond ear pendants. Weighing approximately 7.18 and 8.04 carats. With report 5101563112 dated 17 February 2009 from the Gemological Institute of America stating that the diamond is fancy blue, natural color. With report 15150133 dated 31 July 2006 from the Gemological Institute of America stating that the diamond is fancy light pink, natural color, VS2 clarity. Estimate: $1,000,000-1,500,000. Christie's Image Ltd 2009

For collectors of colored diamonds, a unique pair of ear pendants features an 8.04 carat fancy light pink diamond with pave-set diamond trim for one ear, and a 7.18 carat fancy blue diamond with pink pave-set diamond trim for the other (pictured left; estimate: $1,000,000-1,500,000). Other stunning colored gems include a 31.63 carat sapphire and diamond ring (estimate: $400,000-600,000); a 5.06 carat ruby and diamond ring (estimate: $150,000-200,000), and a 5.84 carat emerald and diamond ring (estimate: $50,000-70,000).

World-Renowned Designers

As market demand for creations by world-renowned designers continues to grow, Christie's is pleased to offer an array of signed vintage and modern jewels. A highlight of the group is an elegant emerald and diamond necklace by Harry Winston from 1956. Designed with a row of white diamonds and one of emeralds, this eye-catching necklace boasts a magnificent 18.95 carat emerald surrounded by diamonds (estimate: $500,000-700,000).

An Emerald and Diamond Necklace By Harry Winston, circa 1956. Central emerald weighing approximately 18.95 carats. Estimate: $500,000-700,000. Christie's Image Ltd 2009.

The legendary house of Cartier is represented by an Art Deco emerald and diamond bracelet, circa 1925 (estimate: $120,000-180,000). This elegant bracelet may well have been part of the collection of Marjorie Merriweather Post, heiress to the C.W. Post fortune and an ardent collector of historic jewels, some of which now reside in the collection of the Smithsonian Institution.

An Art Deco Diamond And Emerald Bracelet, by Cartier. Circa 1925. Estimate: $120,000-180,000. Christie's Image Ltd 2009

Contemporary highlights in the morning sale include a “Panther” bangle bracelet by Cartier that is expertly crafted from diamonds, sapphires, and emeralds (pictured at right; estimate: $150,000-250,000), and a superb diamond bracelet by Van Cleef & Arpels (estimate: $80,000-120,000).

A Diamond, Sapphire And Emerald "Panther" Bracelet, by Cartier. Estimate: $150,000-250,000. Christie's Image Ltd 2009

A Diamond Bracelet, by Van Cleef & Arpels. Estimate: $80,000-120,000. Christie's Image Ltd 2009

A selection of highlights from Jewels: The New York Sale & The Annenberg Diamond and Rare Jewels & Objets d’Art: A Superb Collection will be previewed at Christie’s locations in London, Hong Kong, and Los Angeles prior to the sale in New York.

Auction: "Jewels: The New York Sale & The Annenberg Diamond" October 21, 2009 at 10:00am