With the excellent performance of diamonds in general and natural fancy color diamonds in particular, the Lauder family of Estee Lauder have enlisted the expertise of Sotheby’s in assisting them to sell some of the family jewels.

Up for auction at Sotheby’s, with an estimated value of USD13 million, are the pieces which belong to Evelyn and Estee Lauder, respectively the wife and mother of Leonard Lauder, the senior Estee Lauder cosmetics.

Christmas will be coming early for someone as the auction will take place on the 5th of December in New York.

Undoubtedly the piece that will attract the lion’s share of the attention from local and international buyers is one that is both magnificent and has serious progeny. The 47.14-carat heart-shaped fancy intense yellow diamond necklace with diamond pendant that was created by Van Cleef & Arpels was initially sold by Harry Winston to the Duchess of Windsor, Wallis Simpson, wife of King Edward VIII together with a set of pear shaped yellow diamond earrings. The diamond was originally set as a ring but upon her passing it was discovered that the Duchess had sold the ring to her friend, Estee Lauder, in the mid-70s. In 1978, Lauder had Van Cleef and Arpels remove the diamond from the ring and mounted in a diamond pendant necklace.

The diamond is estimated to fetch between USD1.5 – 2 million; however it would not surprise if it brought a much higher sum.

Contributor: Benji Margolese

Estee Lauder Jewelry - Not Only Cosmetic