Sotheby's & Steinmetz shake hands to launch desirable diamonds

15 Jul '05

4 min read

Mr. Auclert, who has 14 years of retail experience, most recently as director of Chanel's worldwide jewelry department, adds, "We expect that our buyers will come from the two sources who have already been active purchasers in Salon Privé: those who want to acquire gem quality diamonds throughout the year, not just at auction, and those who prefer to acquire privately while simultaneously valuing Sotheby's expertise and eye for design and craftsmanship."

Sotheby's Diamonds represents the evolution of Sotheby's existing jewelry retail activity, Salon Privé, which offers jewels of superb quality throughout Asia, Europe and North America.

For many years, Steinmetz has been one of the most important clients of Sotheby's and has sold many rare and exceptional white and colored diamonds through Sotheby's, both at auction and privately. Among these was the 100-carat pear-shaped D color internally flawless diamond that sold in Geneva in 1995 for $16.5 million, the world-record price for a diamond at auction.

Sotheby's Salon Privé and Steinmetz have also worked together in the past, including most recently in an exclusive selling exhibition held during the weekend of the glamorous Monaco Grand Prix.

Sotheby's Diamonds will launch its collection of diamond jewelry in December 2005 in New York and Hong Kong, followed by events and private appointments in key market centers around the world. The initial offering will include rare and important diamonds and diamond jewelry of outstanding quality and workmanship with prices starting at $100,000. Sotheby's will provide more detailed information and images of the first collection later in the year.

More Sotheby's Holdings Inc News... More Fashion News - United States Of America...