Large diamond ring has spotlight in Sworders auction May 20

Estimated to sell for £65,000 to £75,000 is this 3.41-carat diamond in a platinum ring setting. Sworders image.

LONDON – Sworders is about to auction the finest diamond the company has ever sold in its 200-year history. The 3.41-carat stone is in a four-claw platinum ring setting, and will go under the hammer at the silver and jewelry sale on Tuesday, May 20, with an estimated selling price of £65,000 to £75,000 ($110,000-$127,000).

Internet live bidding will be provided in LiveAuctioneers.com.

Helen Jonas from Sworders silver and jewelry department said, “When it comes to evaluating the quality of diamonds, we work with what we call the Four C’s: carat, cut, clarity and color. This particular stone excels in every category and is accompanied by a GIA grading report – one of the most respected organizations in the diamond industry.

“To have a weight of nearly three and a half carats is exceptional; it’s one of the largest diamonds we have ever sold. In fact, it’s almost the size of the little fingernail of the model wearing it!”

The oval brilliant cut means that the diamond can refract light internally from one facet to another, before reflecting it back up through the center to give the stone its characteristic sparkle.

“Most diamonds contain tiny natural imperfections called inclusions, which interfere with the passage of light through the stone and affect their clarity, but this example is internally flawless. There is also no yellowish or brownish tint to the stone, meaning that it’s colorless – which is the best color for a diamond to have. In short, we rarely see examples as fine as this one,” added Jones.

Other highlights in the sale include some highly collectible provincial Irish silver, a 1907 silver serving dish and cover by Guild of Handicraft with a guide price of £300 to £500, and a pair of natural pearl and diamond drop earrings that Sworders found loose in a large cardboard box among mixed costume jewelry, and surprised the owner with an estimated selling price of £3,000 to £5,000.

View the fully illustrated catalog and register to bid absentee or live via the Internet as the sale is taking place by logging on to www.LiveAuctioneers.com.