Blue Diamond Earrings Lead Bonhams Sale

RAPAPORT... A pair of blue diamond earrings will lead a sale of finejewels at Bonhams that includes pieces from the estate of former New YorkYankees owner George Steinbrenner's wife. The set features a marquise-shaped brilliant cut,fancy-intense-blue diamond with VS1-clarity, weighing 1.81 carats, and anoval-shaped modified brilliant-cut, fancy-blue diamond, weighing 1.62 carats. Thosestones are topped by two cushion-shaped modified brilliant-cut diamondsweighing 2.24 and 2.28 carats, and surrounded by marquise and roundbrilliant-cut diamonds carrying a total weight of 2.60 carats. The piece is setto go under the hammer for $850,000 to $1.3 million at the December 8 New YorkJewels sale. Bonhams will also offer jewelry from the estate of JoanSteinbrenner, former vice chairperson of the Yankees. The collection includesan 18-karat gold and diamond Trika bracelet and earrings by Bulgari, a gold anddiamond Panth??re wristwatch by Cartier, and an 18-karat gold, diamond andcultured pearl necklace-and-ring set by Henry Dunay. The sale will also feature a ring set with a pear-shapedmodified brilliant-cut, 2.46-carat, fancy-pink-purple, SI1-clarity diamond, anda pear-shaped modified brilliant-cut, 2.01-carat, D-color, internally flawlessdiamond. The piece is estimated at $350,000 to $550,000. Other notable items include a cut-cornered rectangularmodified brilliant-cut, 10.88-carat, fancy-vivid-yellow diamond, which isexpected to fetch $275,000 to $475,000. A Bulgari Trombino ring, set with arectangular-shaped step-cut, 16.98-carat sapphire, and flanked by baguette andround-brilliant diamonds, is estimated at $180,000 to $250,000. The sale willalso highlight signed pieces by Bulgari, Cartier, Harry Winston and Van Cleef& Arpels. Bonhams will preview the jewelry in Hong Kong from November21 to 24, with the public exhibition in New York opening December 4. Image: The fancy-blue diamond earrings. (Bonhams)