Bonhams says its jewelry sales during the first half of this year were up 40 per cent on the same period in 2022.
The UK-based auctioneer announced a 32 per cent increase in global sales across all departments to a record $550m for the six-month period. It did not provide a breakdown for all jewelry sales.
Bonhams held 40 dedicated jewelry sales (12 live, 28 online) across its global network – London, Paris, New York, Los Angeles, Hong Kong, and Sydney – in the first half of 2023, compared to 24 sales in the same period last year.
It sold 6,428 individual lots. The biggest highlight was a 35-carat type IIa emerald-cut, D-color, VVS1-clarity Leviev diamond ring that beat its $2.5m high estimate in March, selling for $2.7m at its New York saleroom.
Other notable lots included a 6.22-carat fancy pink carat diamond ring that sold for $1.2m, and a 10.61-carat fancy yellow diamond ring that sold for four times its estimate at $242,000, both in New York.
Jean Ghika, Bonhams global director jewellery, said: “We have seen success at all price points from £500 to multimillion figures.
“With the 40 per cent growth in auctions both online and live and with the addition of The Weekly: Jewelry, Bonhams Jewellery has successfully broadened the scope and offering to our clientele.”
