A Texas estate jeweler heard about our propensity for vintage high-end artisan jewelry and approached us with a fantastic Van Cleef & Arpels signed and numbered platinum art deco brooch. Van Cleef & Arpels was founded in the 1890s by gem cutter Alfred Van Cleef and his partner and gem dealer Salomon Arpels. Their partnership resulted in jewelry with only the finest color stones that were expertly and finely cut and of the highest caliber. These pieces were often worn by royalty.
This brooch, offered to us for $25,000, was indeed exquisite, with just under 10 carats of the finest color diamonds and several incredible sapphires (all with GIA reports). The “star of the show” is the rectangular sapphire, with no heat and of Burmese origin – arguably the finest designation for sapphires!
Van Cleef & Arpels is known for floral motifs and animals, and this brooch typifies their style, grace and vivid designs. All four of the sapphires have GIA reports (3 are from Cambodia, also known as an area that produced fine color sapphires) to verify the gems were not heated.
Even though the appraised value would top $100,000, we were able to negotiate a wholesale price of $20,000, and the brooch is available by appointment only in our store. If it does not sell, it will be put up for auction on our sister site Hess Fine Auctions with a $30,000 to $35,000 estimate. Please note, this piece needs to be seen in person. Newsprint cannot possibly capture the vibrancy of color and incredible workmanship. (Brooches are BACK! Even men are sporting them on their suit lapels!)
Go ahead, Google us. We have three former sothebyscom associates and two art
historians on staff. Call or email us if you want to deal with Florida’s leading auctioneer.
We have sold the contents of several museums and collections for USF,
the Shriners, and the prestigious Gail Culverhouse art collection.
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