LAMBERTVILLE, N.J. – Rago’s June jewelry auctions brought $1.90 million in two sessions: unreserved jewelry on June 8 and fine jewelry on June 10. The highest price achieved by a single lot went to Lot 2051, a rare enameled and yellow gold gem-set collar necklace by master metallurgist Marie Zimmermann, which sold for $53,125, making it the highest price achieved at auction for a piece of jewelry by Zimmermann. Absentee and Internet live bidding was available through LiveAuctioneers.
The sale of this necklace (above) continues Rago’s legacy of record-breaking auction prices by the artist; the overall auction record for any object by Marie Zimmermann was achieved at Rago in 2005 when a jeweled box sold for $125,000. That piece is now at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.
The Marie Zimmermann necklace was the star of Sunday’s fine jewelry segment, which realized $1,633,688 in sales, achieving strong prices across the board for diamonds, gemstones, Art Deco works and signed contemporary pieces.
Highlights include Lot 2357, a pair of 8.80-carat TW OEC diamond drop earrings, which sold for the high estimate of $50,000; Lot 2302, an impressive Art Deco diamond and platinum line bracelet, which sold for $40,625; Lot 2356, a 5.83-carat OEC diamond and platinum ring that soared past the high estimate of $20,000 to sell for $33,750; and Lot 2437, an unmounted 5.90-carat brilliant-cut pear-shape diamond (below) that shattered the high estimate of $18,000 to achieve $26,250.
A Cartier Art Deco “A” jade, diamond and enamel double-headed cliquet pin that realized $26,250 – more than twice the high estimate of $12,000.
Rago’s session of unreserved jewelry on Friday, which brought in $269,394 in sales, also saw strong performances from diamonds, gemstones and gold. Highlights include Lot 47, an Edwardian aquamarine, diamond and platinum pendant, which exceeded expectations to sell for $4,688 – nearly four times the high estimate of $1,200; Lot 259, a blue topaz, diamond and platinum ring, which also shattered its high estimate of $800 to sell for $2,125; Lot 165, a diamond solitaire and yellow gold pendant necklace, sold for $2,125; Lot 425, an Italian gold and diamond strap bracelet, achieved $2,000 against an estimate of $1,200; and Lot 220, a diamond and yellow gold line bracelet which sold for $1,875.
“Our June fine jewelry sale showed real strength in bidding, with continued success from signed pieces epitomizing the work of their respective makers, as well as unsigned pieces of Art Deco which typify the aesthetic of the era. Wearable, bold statement jewelry performed well; and despite a soft global market, diamonds performed admirably and surpassed estimates,” said Katherine Van Dell, Rago’s director of jewelry.
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