Van Cleef & Arpels, will be unveiling their most recent collection of high jewelry this July at Paris Haute Couture.

The collection, entitled “Les Voyages Extraordinaires,” is the latest in a long line of incredibly creative masterpieces. Van Cleef & Arpels has a history of producing sophisticated high jewelry inspired by mystical narratives and enchanting images. Past collections include “Midsummer Night’s Dream,” which features elegant pieces such as the “Folie des Pres Solitaire,” a ring with white gold, diamonds, yellow sapphires and a yellow cushion sapphire boasting 9.79 carats.

The Les Voyages Extraordinaires collection, inspired by the work of the legendary author Jules Verne, will be on display at Paris Haute Couture from July 5th to July 8th, and make its official debut on September 15th, at the XXV Paris Biennale des Antiquities.

-Affluent Page

[Van Cleef & Arpels]

For the first time in a year and a half, the famous Vanderbilt Rose will be offered by Siegelson for sale. This historic jewel will be up for sale at the upcoming Berkshire Hathaway Shareholders Event.

Formerly in the collection of Empress Eugénie, wife of Napoleon III, the corsage ornament was purchased by Le Musée Louvre in 2008 for $11 million. It has since toured with the American Museum of Natural History as part of its Nature of Diamonds exhibit.

This historic jewel with royal provenance consists of 250 carats worth of diamonds. No other piece is comparable in size or importance, making it the most significant piece of French jewelry on today’s market.

Created in 1855, the Vanderbilt Rose’s original owner was the niece of Napoleon Bonaparte, Princess Mathilde Bonaparte. Known as a bright individual, Mathilde owned one of the most distinguished literary and artistic salons in Paris during the Second Empire. After her death in 1904, the Vanderbilt Rose was auctioned off and sold by Cartier to Cornelius Vanderbilt III. As the “Queen of New York Society,” the jewel became her signature adornment.

Estimate for the Vanderbilt Rose is available upon request.

-Affluent Page

[Siegelson]

On April 22, 2010 at their Rockefeller Plaza showroom, Christie’s will host Jewels: The New York Sale, with the Catherine the Great Emerald Brooch and the Emperor Maximilian Diamond.

Set with an estimate of $1,000,000 – $1,500,000, the Emperor Maximilian Diamond is said to have been worn by the Emperor himself, in a small satchel around his neck during his execution at the age of 35. Mounted in platinum, the cushion-cut diamond weights a little under 40 carats, and is of I color and VS1 clarity with a very strong blue fluorescence, according to the Gemological Institute of America.

Although not the jewelry piece with the highest estimation, the Emperor Maximilian Diamond has an interesting background story.

Reappearing in a sale, after its disappearance following the plunge into insanity by Emperor Maximilian’s wife, the diamond was later purchased by gem dealer, Ferdinand Holtz in 1919, who refused to sell the diamond. However, after his death in 1946 it was sold to a private collector in New York.

Also on sale, is the Catherine the Great Emerald Brooch, estimated at $1,000,000 – $1,500,000.

-Affluent Page

[Christie's]

A rare Fancy Intense Pinkish Orange Diamond Ring (est. $2.5/3.5 million) will headline Sotheby’s upcoming jewelry sale next month in New York.

Always in Style: 150 Years of Artistic Jewels and Magnificent Jewels, is actually comprised of three separate sessions. The first session is simply an extensive survey of period and signed jewels from the 19th century up until modern times, which represent the principal design themes of those time periods.

Magnificent Jewels, the second session, features stunning diamond and colored stone jewels from some of the most prestigious collections including Patricia Kludge, Ann Getty, and the Nancy M. Daly estate. Jewels that were former members of the Marlene Dietrich and Isabella Stewart Gardner collections will be offered as well.

The highlight of the second session is the rare Fancy Intense Pinkish Orange Diamond Ring that is set with a 7.67 carat, type IIa, cut-cornered rectangular modified brilliant-cut stone that is the largest flawless or internally flawless diamond of this color graded by the GIA. Coming in right behind it is A Platinum and Diamond Ring (est. $2/3million) that is set with a 9.25-carat round diamond of D color, made from similar type IIa material. Coming from a distinguished collection, the ring carries a grade of triple-X, signifying its elegant cut, polish, and symmetry.

Rounding out the sale is the third session, Always in Style: 150 Years of Artistic Jewels, a single-owner collection of signed and decorative jewels created over the last two centuries, featuring Cartier, Daniel Brush, Marcus & Co., Giuliano, Boivin, T.B. Starr and Giorgio Facchini.

Notables from the April 20th sale will be on public exhibition at Sotheby’s Los Angeles office on March 26th and in Hong Kong from April 3-6. The presale exhibitions in New York will be held April 16 through April 20th.

~Affluent Page

[Sotheby's]

A 5.16-carat Pear-Shaped Internally Flawless Fancy Vivid Blue Diamond Ring will be the prize piece of Sotheby’s upcoming “Jewels and Jadeite” Spring Sale, taking place on April 7 in Hong Kong.

This rare gem, which is from an Important Private Collection, is the first of De Beers Millennium Blue Diamond Collection to be at auction. Estimated at $4.6-5.8 million, this diamond was expertly cut and polished by The Steinmetz Diamond Group, and is laser-inscribed with the number “11″ on it; there were 12 diamonds in the Millennium Collection.

Of those 12, nine were given the grade of “Fancy Vivid” by the Gemological Institute of America, with this particular one being among them.

Blue diamonds are some of the rarest in the world, with the Premier Diamond Mine of Transvaal in South Africa being the main source. Out of all the rough diamonds that are excavated each year, it is said that only one of them will be able to produce a significant blue diamond.

The De Beers Millennium Collection was presented back in 2000 to celebrate the turn of the millennium. They were displayed in London’s Millennium Dome, as well as Japan and Dubai.

~Affluent Page

[Sotheby's]

As part of “The Sensational Six,” a magnificent single-strand jadeite bead necklace, will be the headliner of Christie’s – Hong Kong’s upcoming sale of exquisite jewels next month.

Estimated to sell between $6.4 million and $10 million, this bead necklace is a rare gem; it has become increasingly difficult to find one with such high quality and matching beads. Representing the highest level of jadeite collecting, this particular necklace is a beautiful infusion of color, texture, and translucency that is hard to find.

Being extremely translucent and glass-like, each of the 51 emerald beads are saturated evenly and in a way that produces a vibrant color that one can’t take the eye away from. The texture – which is of the finest – is complimented with excellent craftsmanship, which is easily noticeable as each shape is perfect. The single-strand necklace is carved from old mine Burmese rough, making it one of the most important jadeite necklaces to ever be offered on the market.

Each of “The Sensational Six” is a jewel that is the best of its type, and is expected to garner at least a total of $25 million.

Along with the magnificent single-strand jadeite bead necklace, the rest of these stunning gems include: a superb 5.01carat Fancy Vivid Blue VS2 heart-shaped diamond ring ($4.5 million to $7million); a stunning pair of 2.48 carat and 2.03 carat Fancy Deep Blue heart-shaped and 10.12 carat D VS2 and 9.61 carat E VS1 pear-shaped diamond ear pendants ($3.7 million to $5 million); an exquisite Kashmir sapphire and diamond bracelet, circa 1960, by Cartier ($3 million to $5 million); an impressive 10.05carat D IF old cushion-shaped Golconda diamond ring ($1.25 million to $2 million) ;and an exceptional four-strand natural coloured pearl and diamond necklace ($1.2 million to $2 million).

Set to take place on the 1st of June in Hong Kong, Christie’s is currently touring “The Sensational Six” through North America, Europe, and Asia.

~Affluent Page