Natural Pearl Fetches 1.45 Million at Bonham's Auction

Natural Pearl Sold for 1.45 Million (photo Bonhams)

Natural Pearl Sold for 1.45 Million (photo Bonhams)

A natural pearl and diamond drop pendant from the estate of American philanthropist Mary Clark Thompson sold for more than $1.45 million, making it the top lot at the auction. The pendant’s main feature is a single drop pearl measuring 14.1mm in width and approximately 23mm in length, which is attached to a platinum and rose-cut diamond surmount. The pearl became the subject of a “frenzied bidding war,” the auction house said, before fetching the highest price paid for a natural pearl at auction for the past six years and also the third most valuable single natural pearl ever sold at auction.


It made the pearl’s $30,000 - $50,000 pre-sale estimate almost laughable in hindsight.

The pearl is accompanied by a GIA report and also an SSEF report and Appendix Letter stating: “A natural pearl of this size and quality can be considered rare and exceptional.”

“Really good example of natural pearls of exceptional quality where their size, symmetry, rich luster and blemish-free skins do not appear on the market as often as they used to,” said Susan Abeles, head of Jewelry for Bonhams US. “Indeed, pearls such as this are a rare commodity and it is nearly impossible to find these gems.”

Read entire article here: https://www.forbes.com/sites/anthonydemarco/2017/12/05/a-single-pearl-fetches-1-45-million-at-bonhams-new-york-auction/#4120169f7666

Click here to post comments

Join in and write your own page! It's easy to do. How? Simply click here to return to Pearl News.

Enjoy this page? Please pay it forward. Here's how...

Would you prefer to share this page with others by linking to it?

  1. Click on the HTML link code below.
  2. Copy and paste it, adding a note of your own, into your blog, a Web page, forums, a blog comment, your Facebook account, or anywhere that someone would find this page valuable.