Hindman Palm Beach fine jewelry auction tops $540K

Nicholas Varney, multigem Bird of Paradise brooch. Price realized: $28,125. Hindman image

PALM BEACH, Fla. – The Hindman Palm Beach Fine Jewelry auction on Feb. 9 realized over $540,000 in 116 lots with international bidders showing fantastic engagement on a range of bold and eye-catching designs. The auction included stunning diamond pieces and a range of bright statement jewelry from renowned designers such as Tony Duquette, Christopher Walling, Nicholas Varney, de Grisogono, Evelyn Clothier and Angela Pintaldi. Absentee and Internet live bidding was available through LiveAuctioneers.

“We were thrilled to see the outstanding results of this year’s Palm Beach Fine Jewelry auction,” said Sally Klarr, Hindman’s senior specialist and director of jewelry and timepieces. “We were pleased to have had the opportunity to sell works by such iconic designers and were delighted with the incredibly high engagement and the enthusiasm with which bidders responded to this distinct selection of jewelry.”

Nicholas Varney’s jewelry received incredible interest with his multigem Bird of Paradise brooch (above) leading the auction and selling for $28,125 against a presale estimate of $6,000-$8,000. A multigem “brick” bracelet (below), another exceptional piece by Varney, sold for more than double its estimate and realized $13,750. The bracelet consists of three rows of links containing cultured Biwa pearls surrounded by round brilliant cut diamonds and pink and orange diamonds with an elongated opal for the clasp.

Nicholas Varney, multigem ‘brick’ bracelet. Price realized: $13,750. Hindman image

There was also significant interest in renowned designer Tony Duquette’s pieces with a multigem and petrified coral brooch (below) leading the way, selling for nearly four times its estimate, and ultimately realizing $23,750. Duquette’s moonstone and opal pendant/brooch (lot 116) also beat its presale estimate and sold for $11,250 against an estimate of $5,000-$7,000.

Tony Duquette, multigem and coral brooch. Price realized: $23,750. Hindman image

Jewelry items by influential designer Christopher Walling were among top performers, with a cultured Biwa pearl, diamond, and sapphire bracelet (below) being one of the top lots and selling for $17,500. Walling’s abalone pearl and tourmaline flower brooch (lot 94) was another piece that far surpassed its estimate, realizing $10,625, more than five times its estimate.

Christopher Walling, cultured Biwa pearl, diamond and sapphire bracelet. Price realized: $17,500. Hindman image

Other standout items included two diamond eternity bands that sold for far above their estimates, realizing $18,750 (lot 19) and $17,500 (lot 18) against estimates of $7,000-$9,000 and $5,000-$7,000 respectively. A pair of diamond hoop earrings (lot 21) also beat its estimate and sold for $12,500.

View top auction results on LiveAuctioneers here: https://www.liveauctioneers.com/pages/recent-auction-sales/