Designer Jewels & Fine Estates Top Litchfield’s September 15 Jewelry Sale

Litchfield, CT – Litchfield Auctions is pleased to announce their finely curated auction of important and fine jewelry.  The sale is viewable online now, and the live auction will be held on September 15th.

Some wonderful collections have been combined to create this distinguished sale which features property from the estates of Rosalie Coe Weir, Jo Sullivan Loesser and Ines Bausili. Bird Chair and Ottoman by Harry Bertoia for Knoll International. More than 350 lots of jewelry, gems and watches include designers such as Cartier, Tiffany & Co., Van Cleef & Arpels, Schlumberger, Paloma Picasso, Angela Cummings, David Yurman, Rolex, and others.

Lot 108, 6 Carat Kashmir Sapphire and Diamond Ring; Estimate $100,000-$150,000

The top lot in the auction is a Kashmir sapphire and diamond ring, having a 6-carat medium blue sapphire flanked by 1.20-carat bezel set diamonds. This striking ring comes from the estate of Rosalie Coe Weir, and is estimated at $100/150,000 with an opening bid of $50,000. Weir was a prominent social figure in New York society and generous supporter of the arts.  Her love of the craft of fine jewelry shows explicitly in her collection. 

The Weir collection contains other outstanding rings, including a 4-carat diamond & platinum engagement ring, with central old European cut diamond ($50/80,000); a 7-carat Burmese sapphire ring with six round old European cut diamonds ($20/25,000); a Cartier ruby and diamond cocktail ring ($3/5,000); and a Tiffany & Co. emerald and diamond dinner ring ($2/$4,000). Other highlights include a 3.29-carat cushion cut loose diamond ($16/20,000); a pair of Cartier diamond brooch clips ($20/25,000); a French cut diamond and platinum tennis bracelet ($4,500/6,500); and a Cartier ruby and platinum tennis bracelet ($7/10,000).

Lot 31, Lady's Rolex Oyster Perpetual DateJust 31; Estimate $1,500-$2,500

Jo Sullivan Loesser was an American actress and star of musical theatre. Nominated for a Tony Award in 1957 for “The Most Happy Fella", she was also the widow of songwriter Frank Loesser who was known for his Broadway musicals “Guys and Dolls” and “How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying”. Some of the top lots from her collection include a Cartier emerald and diamond cluster ring ($2/3,000); an 18K gold scale link Italian choker ($2,500/3,500); a 4-carat citrine and diamond ring ($1,500/2,500); a striking black opal and diamond cocktail ring ($1,500/2,500); and a lady’s Rolex Oyster Perpetual DateJust 31 watch ($1,500/2,500).

Another collection in this auction includes property from the estate of Ines Bausili. A native Argentinian, Bausili’s father was ambassador to the United Nations in the 1950’s and her grandfather the Minister of Foreign Affairs at the turn of the 20th Century.  The New York Timesannounced that she “went to that big cocktail party in the sky” in her obituary from February 2019. Highlights from her collection include an 18K yellow gold and pave diamond choker ($1,500/2,500), a Tiffany & Co. sterling silver cuff bracelet ($250/350) and a wonderful selection of designer costume and statement jewelry.

Other top highlights in this auction feature an 18K gold salamander brooch by Schlumberger for Tiffany & Co., adorned with green tourmalines, pave diamonds, and turquoise eyes ($4/6000); an 18K gold, sapphire and diamond watch by Cartier ($4/6000); and an Art Deco style diamond and emerald cocktail ring ($2/4000).