JCK Jewelry Agenda: Week of Dec. 7

By Victoria Gomelsky | December 04, 2025

New York City’s four major auction houses go head-to-head this week as they stake their claims on the top end of the jewelry market. What will the results reveal about the state of the market on the brink of 2026? Watch this space.

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Phillips New York Jewels Auction: Dec. 8, 10 a.m. ET (in person and online)

Phillips Cartier art deco diamond brooch — *Art deco diamond brooch, 1920s, with brilliant-, baguette-, and step-cut diamonds in platinum, signed Cartier London, estimate $15,000–$20,000 (photo courtesy of Phillips)*

From a dramatic pair of earrings featuring paraiba tourmalines in elongated pear shapes to an unusual two-stone diamond ring set with a 5.12 ct. step-cut near colorless diamond and a 5.06 ct. step-cut fancy brownish greenish yellow diamond, this week’s New York Jewels sale at Phillips offers a bevy of unexpected delights.

Bonhams’ New York Jewels: Dec. 8, noon ET (in person and online)

Bonhams Tiffany bird on a rock orange tourmaline pendant brooch — Bird on a Rock brooch with pink sapphire eye, round brilliant-cut diamonds, and 52.49 ct. cushion-cut tourmaline (convertible into pendant accented by marquise- and round brilliant-cut diamonds), signed Tiffany & Co. and Schlumberger Std., numbered; estimate $45,000–$65,000 (photo courtesy of Bonhams)

A 3.13 ct. fancy vivid blue diamond estimated at $3.5 million to $5.5 million headlines Bonhams’ New York Jewels auction. In addition to the pear-shape type IIb gem, Bonhams boasts a number of exceptional colored stone lots, including a Tiffany Bird on a Rock brooch/pendant featuring a spectacular orangish red tourmaline.

Sotheby’s High Jewelry: Dec. 9, 10 a.m. ET (in person and online)

Sothebys high jewelry two old mine cut diamond necklaces — Two impressive diamond necklaces with graduating old mine–cut diamonds in collet settings, 17.25 inches and 15.25 inches, attachable for wear as a single necklace, estimate $350,000–$550,000 (photo: © Sotheby’s)

Pieces by modern masters such as Hemmerle mix with branded high jewels from the likes of Bulgari and Cartier as well as vintage treasures from icons including David Webb and Paul Flato in Sotheby’s High Jewelry sale. Even though the house is no longer using the term magnificent in the name of auctions for its most valuable jewelry (apparently, the high jewelry label “aligns more closely with today’s increasingly digital marketplace,” says Sotheby’s), make no mistake: The sale’s 131 lots are absolutely fabulous.

Christie’s Magnificent Jewels: Dec. 10, 10 a.m. ET (in person and online)

Christies Van Cleef and Arpels Ludo Hexagone Zip necklace — Ludo Hexagone Zip necklace with pull tassel, oval cabochon, variously shaped chrysoprase plaques, baguette and round emeralds, and round diamonds in 18k yellow gold, signed Van Cleef & Arpels, estimate $200,000–$300,000 (photo: Christie’s Images Ltd. 2025)

The top lot in Christie’s Magnificent Jewels auction this week is the 18 ct. Rockefeller Kashmir sapphire ring, which carries an estimate between $1.5 million and $2.5 million. Other Rockefeller jewelry highlights include a Cartier art deco emerald and diamond bracelet, a colorful pair of parrot brooches (with diamond heads) by Raymond Yard, and a Cartier diamond wristwatch.

Top: Green turquoise long beaded necklace with 18k gold, $1,800; Pippa Small