Looking back, 2013 was a spectacular year for fine jewelry. Record auction prices were achieved for diamonds, fancy color diamonds, and vintage jewels from Cartier, among others. Diamonds and gemstones continued to rule the red carpet, as the world’s luxury jewelry houses lavished their best designs on Hollywood legends and new starlets alike. And emerging jewelry designers forged new territory in 18K gold and unusual gemstone combinations. Here are a few highlights:
Diamond of the Year. A 118-carat white diamond (the size of a small egg) was sold for a record $30.6 million at Sotheby’s Hong Kong in October. It eclipsed the record set by a 101-carat stone that sold for $26.7 million at Christie’s Geneva in May.
The Great Gatsby Effect. Ever since the film debuted in March at the Cannes Film Festival, its fabulous Art Deco jewels recreated from 1920s archival drawings by Tiffany & Co. have had a huge effect on the popularity of the period. Look for more Art Deco auction records to be broken in 2014.
Best Red Carpet Jewels. Jennifer Lawrence wore a trendsetting back necklace from Chopard at the Academy Awards, but 75-year-old Jane Fonda nearly stole the show in stunning yellow diamond earrings.
Timeless Chanel. Our jewelry “Greatest Hits” list would not be complete without a nod to Coco Chanel. We featured House of Chanel haute joaillerie modeled on Mademoiselle’s 1932 collection, as well as a high-tech pearl necklace from the Spring 2014 collection.
An Up-and-Comer. The British Jewellers’ Association (yes, they spell it with two ls) named Andrew Geoghegn as its Designer of the Year for 2013. His AG “Chocolate Box” ring features 18K yellow gold with aquamarine, Madeira citrine, amethyst and diamonds ($7,330). Divine.
All in all, it was a great year to be Obsessed by Jewelry. Have a dazzling New Year’s…and we’ll see you in 2014!
