A platinum-topped gold and diamond necklace presented to writer and socialite Helen Hay on her wedding day topped Sotheby’s auction Tuesday.
Held in New York, Sotheby’s Magnificent Jewels sale totaled $44.2 million, raising its worldwide jewelry auction sales to $597.5 million so far this year--a new record high for the company in this category.
The auction was led by the platinum-topped gold and diamond necklace that Hay wore on the day she married businessman Payne Whitney--a society event that made headlines across the country, according to Sotheby’s. Featuring four diamonds ranging from F to H color, the necklace sold for $3.2 million.
In fact, all seven of the jewels offered during the sale that came from the estate of Helen Hay Whitney sold, totaling $4.8 million among them.
The remaining lots that fell in the top 10 on Tuesday also included a platinum and diamond ring that sold for $3 million and a platinum, colored stone, diamond and enamel “Tutti Frutti” Cartier bracelet from the estate of Evelyn Lauder. Sold to benefit the Breast Cancer Research Foundation, the bracelet doubled its pre-sale estimate when it garnered $2.2 million.
Rounding out the top 10 lots were a fancy grayish blue diamond ring that sold for $1.4 million; a fancy intense purplish-pink diamond ring that garnered $1.2 million; and a pair of platinum and diamond Harry Winston earclips circa 1972 that went for $1.1 million.
A pair of platinum, emerald and diamond pendant-earclips that once belonged to the Grand Duchess Vladimir of Russia garnered $1.1 million, and a rare and important Egyptian revival platinum, diamond and colored stone bracelet by LaCloche Freres sold for $1 million.
