Who wouldn’t love an antique diamond engagement ring? How about one with Royal provenance and an updated mounting from world renowned designer JAR? This gorgeous limey colored diamond weighing approximately 2.49cts is hitting the Christie’s auction block on April 16th for the second time since 1998. It has been set by JAR in a platinum mount surrounded by single cut diamonds. The cut, size, and color most certainly make up for the low clarity rating of I1.
There is no denying that the body of work created by JAR (Joel A. Rosenthal) is beyond impeccable. He is one of the true jewelry masters of our time. That said, what draws me most to this piece is definitely the diamond and its color. The simple and clean mounting takes a back seat, and I think that’s how it should be in this case.
The antique diamond once belonged to Countess Eliza Branicka Krasińska and served as the stone for her engagement ring to famous romantic poet Count Zygmunt Krasinski of Poland. They wed in 1843 and remained together until the Count’s death in 1859. No provenance exists as to the exact origin of the stone or to the whereabouts of its previous settings.
Auction estimate: $300,000 – $500,000 USD
All images courtesy of Christies, Inc.