Original Golconda diamonds are now extremely rare, and occur today only in museum collections or the collections of royalty and rich connoisseurs of diamonds. However, occasionally such diamonds come up for sale at auctions of renowned auction houses, such as Christie's, Sotheby's and Bonhams, and are snapped up by diamond connoisseurs, who are prepared to pay enhanced prices for such diamonds in keeping with their rarity. It was just last year on May 31st, 2011, at the Christie's Hong-Kong Magnificent Jewels Sale, a spectacular pair of diamond ear-pendants known as "The Imperial Cushions" incorporating two antique cushion-cut Golconda diamonds weighing 23.49 and 23.11 carats, appeared at the auctions and was sold for US $9.3 million, within the pre-sale estimate of US $7.1 million to $9.7 million.
The following is a photograph of this spectacular pair of diamond ear-pendants :-
[attachment=91]
Posts by AnitaP
-
-
Wow ! the intense orange papaya-colored Melo pearl looks stunningly beautiful !! Thanks Peter for posting the image of this rare Melo pearl and sharing your excitement with us.
-
These are two stunning conch pearls from the same Bonhams catalogue of the Los Angeles Natural History Sale of Dec.11, 2011. Lot No. 1302, a rare 2.84-carat, ovoid conch pearl with dimensions of 9.0 x 7.0 x 5.5 mm that sold for US$ 3,750 and Lot No. 1303, a 6.43-carat conch pearl with an unusual shape, somewhat heart-shaped or top-shaped, with dimensions of 10.0 x 9.5 x 8.0 mm, and a pre-sale estimate of US$ 3,500 - 4,500, but remained unsold.
Thumbnails below :-
1) 2.84-carat ovoid-shaped conch pearl.
2) 6.43-carat heart-shaped or top-shaped conch pearl. -
I stumbled upon this stunning vivid-orange,papaya-colored,28.15-carat near-spherical melo pearl that appeared at the Bonhams Los Angeles, Natural History Sale, on December 11, 2011. A pre-sale estimate of US$ 55,000 to 65,000 was placed on the lot, but there were no takers !
-
Wow ! As you said, the conch pearl and diamond drop earrings look stunningly beautiful !!! Never seen anything like that before. Little wonder the pair sold for £5,000 more than the upper pre-sale estimate of £15,000.
