SOTHEBY'S MAGNIFICENT JEWELS SALE INCLUDES A RARE 100.17 CARAT DIAMOND NECKLACE

OVER ONE HUNDRED OF THE WORLD'S MOST STUNNING AND AMAZING JEWELS ARE SET TO GO UNDER THE HAMMER AT THE ANNUAL SOTHEBY'S MAGNIFICENT JEWELS AUCTION IN NEW YORK ON 20.APRIL. ONE OF THE HIGHLIGHTS OF THE AUCTION IS THE MUCH ANTICIPATED 100.17 CARAT YELLOW DIAMOND NECKLACE, WHICH IS ESTIMATED TO SELL FOR AT LEAST £2 MILLION. OTHER ITEMS UP FOR BID INCLUDE 17 UNIQUE PIECES FROM BRITISH PHILANTHROPIST PATRICIA KLUGE, WHICH IS ESTIMATED TO SELL FETCH £2.25 MILLION. HIGHLIGHTS FROM HER COLLECTION INCLUDE A 1984 CARTIER PLATINUM, DIAMOND AND SAPPHIRE PANTHERE WRISTWATCH. BUT UNLIKE OTHER WATCHES, THE ACTUAL DIAL IS HIDDEN BENEATH A DIAMOND-ENCRUSTED RECLINING PANTHER. TO READ THE TIME, THE WEARER MUST LIFT UP THE HEAD OF THE ANIMAL. KLUGE, WHO ONCE MODELED IN 'GIRLIE' MAGAZINE KNAVE IN LONDON DURING THE SIXTIES, IS ALSO PARTING WITH A PAIR OF PLATINUM AND DIAMOND PENDENT-EARCLIPS ESTIMATED TO SELL FOR £530,000, AND A PLATINUM AND DIAMOND RING SET WITH A 20.15 CARAT PEAR-SHAPED DIAMOND VALUED AT £132,000. DOZENS OF OTHER JEWELS, WHICH ARE NOT PART OF THE KLUGE COLLECTION ARE ALSO TO BE SOLD. A STANDOUT ITEM IS A PINKISH-ORANGE DIAMOND WHICH 7.67 CARATS, FRAMED AND FLANKED BY ROUND DIAMONDS MOUNTED IN PLATINUM AND 18 CARAT PINK GOLD. A SOTHEBY'S SPOKESMAN SAID THE ITEM WAS THE LARGEST OF ITS KIND AS GRADED BY THE GEMOLOGICAL INSTITUTE OF AMERICA AND IT IS EXPECTED TO FETCH £2.3 MILLION. DESPITE THE SENSATIONAL PRICE-TAGS, INDUSTRY EXPERTS SAY BIDDERS ARE EAGER TO SPLASH OUT ON EXCEPTIONALLY RARE ITEMS.