LONDON.- Christie’s London announces highlights of the upcoming Important Jewels auction on 26 November 2014. The sale includes an array of both antique and modern jewellery, signed pieces by the great houses such as Cartier, Chaumet, Dior, Graff, Mauboussin, Tiffany and Van Cleef & Arpels, together with some exceptional coloured stones and diamonds. The sale totals 444 lots and is expected to achieve in excess of £9 million.

Leading the sale is a late 19th century sapphire and diamond brooch (estimate: £400,000- 500,000). At over 14 carats, this exceptional treasure was once owned by the Hon Evelina Rothschild, and could well have been a wedding present to the bride when she married Clive Behrens on 5 December 1899. What makes this brooch so special is the sapphire which is of Kashmir origin, bears no indications of heating and is rare in its finely proportioned cut and richly saturated colour. The sale offers two more highly desirable sapphires, a ‘royal blue’ late 19th century Burmese sapphire and diamond pendant of over 41 carats (estimate £200,000-300,000), and a Ceylon sapphire and diamond ring of 23 carats (estimate £200,000-300,000).

Diamond Highlights

With collectors’ ever-increasing demand for investment quality diamonds, Christie’s London will offer an excellent selection of stones in a variety of cuts and colours. There are several private collections within this sale, each containing rare jewels of high importance.

• A fancy coloured diamond ring Estimate: £300,000 - 500,000

• A pair of internally flawless diamond ear pendants, by Graff Estimate: £150,000 - 180,000

• A single-stone diamond ring, by Graff Estimate: £180,000 – 220,000

Van Cleef and Arpels: The Property of a Lady

Christie’s is honoured to present The Property of a Lady, sold by order of The Executors. This private collection features a group of beautiful Van Cleef & Arpels Mystery-Set jewels; the patented mystery setting technique exemplifies the jewellery house’s superb level of craftsmanship.

• Ruby and diamond ‘fleurettes’ ear pendants, by Van Cleef & Arpels Estimate: £80,000 - 100,000

• A pair of Mystery-Set sapphire and diamond ‘campanule’ ear clips, by Van Cleef & Arpels Estimate: £40,000 - 60,000

• A pair of emerald drop and diamond ear pendants, by Van Cleef & Arpels Estimate: £60,000 - 80,000

Period and Vintage Jewellery Ranging from Early 1800s to 1980s

• A pair of rare Georgian diamond ear pendants, circa 1810 Estimate: £25,000 - 35,000

• An Art Deco natural pearl and diamond necklace/clip brooch Estimate: £80,000 - 100,000

• A pair of mid-20th century diamond ear clips, by Cartier Estimate: £60,000 - 80,000

Top Signed Jewels-Cartier

The Cartier section of this sale comprises over 70 pieces, and encapsulates the broad spectrum of design of this great jewellery house; from an early 20th century enamel and diamond desk clock, Art Deco aquamarine and diamond ear pendants, an emerald and diamond scarab brooch of the 1950s, to the modern day with eleven iconic ‘Panthere’ jewels, each capturing the essence of this famous Cartier motif in their sleek and alluring form.

• Early 20th century enamel and diamond desk clock, by Cartier Estimate: £15,000 - 20,000

• A gem and diamond reversible ‘Panthere’ pendant necklace, by Cartier Estimate: £19,000 - 25,000

• A diamond ‘Panthere’ ring, by Cartier Estimate: £12,500 – 18,500

The 4th of August 2014 marked the 100th anniversary of Britain’s entry into the First World War. A Poppy brooch has been designed, created and donated by George Pragnell (estimate £5,000-10,000), and is being sold to benefit The Royal British Legion