A 5.01-carat flawless, colorless Type IIa diamond mounted on an 18k gold ring fetched an impressive $175,000 at Heritage’s Spring Fine Jewelry Signature® Auction held on Monday. Type IIa diamonds, characterized as the most chemically pure, are exceptionally rare, constituting less than 2 percent of all diamonds, rendering this gem among the scarcest on Earth. Prior to the auction, Jill Burgum, Heritage’s Executive Director of Fine Jewelry, remarked, “This diamond epitomizes perfection—boasting superior color, clarity, and a Type IIa classification. It’s a pinnacle example.”
The standout diamond was one of the eight lots that commanded six-figure prices during the May 6 auction, which amassed a total of $4,703,144. A notable bidding skirmish ensued midway through the auction’s first session over a diamond and sapphire bracelet. Initially valued at $50,000, the platinum-topped 18k gold bracelet, adorned with approximately 74.00 carats of oval and cushion-shaped sapphires, ultimately fetched $162,500—nearly $150,000 beyond its high pre-auction estimate. Another eye-catching bracelet, featuring a spectrum of colored diamonds, surpassed expectations, realizing a final bid of $150,000.
Additional top-performing diamonds included an impressive 8.54-carat marquise-shaped diamond set in a classic white gold mounting, which sold for $143,750. An elegant rose gold necklace boasting a 4.37-carat round brilliant-cut diamond fetched $118,750, while a 5.01-carat diamond and platinum ring attained the same price. An exquisite platinum ring, featuring a 5.00-carat emerald-cut diamond centerpiece, realized $100,000, and a 6.31-carat diamond and white gold ring was secured for $75,000.
The auction also showcased an array of colored gemstones, highlighted by a 2.62-carat unmounted Paraiba tourmaline, which sold for $125,000—$65,000 above its high pre-auction estimate. Notable gemstone pieces included a circa 1950 Oscar Heyman yellow sapphire and diamond bracelet, achieving $93,750, and a Ceylon sapphire, diamond, and emerald ring, which garnered $47,500. Additionally, a 2.95-carat unmounted and untreated Colombian emerald fetched $40,000—$25,000 more than its high pre-auction estimate.
Jill Burgum expressed satisfaction with the auction’s outcomes, stating, “We curated a beautifully balanced sale featuring a blend of diamonds, colored gemstones, and designer brands.”
The auction’s second session, highlighting Property from the Estate of Mrs. Betty Jo “BJ” Graham of El Paso, Texas, surpassed expectations. Graham, known for her contributions to American history and the arts community of El Paso, was commemorated through a collection of fine jewelry. Notable pieces included an 18k gold ring embellished with three pear-shaped yellow diamonds totaling 10.35 carats, which sold for $87,500, and a 4.15-carat diamond, platinum, and 18k gold ring that realized $45,000. Standouts from Graham’s collection included jewels by Brazilian jeweler Amsterdam Sauer, such as an opulent 18k gold necklace adorned with amethysts, emeralds, aquamarines, and diamonds, fetching $22,500, and a pair of tourmaline, diamond, and cultured pearl earrings, which sold for $23,750.
