Bonhams to auction largest collection of luxury jewellery created by Marina B Collection includes jewellery worn by singer Alicia Keys Our Coverage Sponsored by Stribling and Associates
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A stunning collection of jewellery designed by Marina B, the granddaughter of Sotirio Bulgari, founder of Bulgari, is set to go under the hammer for the first time ever at Bonhams in November.
The Marina B Legendary Luxury Jewellery Collection, comprising nine highly individual lots that reflect the Italian designer’s iconoclastic approach to jewellery, will be presented for sale this autumn.
Widely celebrated as a designer who revolutionized jewellery and women’s relationship to it, Marina B’s pieces embodied bold and elegant design, the use of diamonds and coloured gemstones, and the juxtaposition of geometric lines and subtle curves.
Celebrity fans of Marina B jewellery include actresses Elizabeth Taylor, Sophia Loren, Jennifer Lopez, Amy Adams and Mila Kunis and singers Alicia Keys, Taylor Swift and Faith Hill.
The sale features the largest and most valuable collection of Marina B jewellery ever to be sold at auction. It includes:
A cultured pearl, sapphire, diamond, tourmaline and onyx 'Pauline' torque necklace, signed by Marina B. The tapered sprung collar reflects a classic Marina B design with two Marina B-cut pink tourmalines surrounded by pavé diamonds. It is set to the front with a cushion shaped sapphire. A similar collar was worn by international film star and Italy's most renowned and honoured actress Sophia Loren at the 65th Annual Academy Awards event in March 1993.
Estimates: HK $200,000-300,000; US $25,800 - 38,700; GBP £15,600 - 23,450
A diamond 'Kar' torque necklace, signed by Marina B. This stunning collar was worn by 15-time Grammy award-winning singer Alicia Keys when she performed at the 2013 Superbowl. The necklace is designed as a sprung collar set to the front with courses of brilliant-cut diamonds. Its shape and pattern is seen in many of Marina B’s signature designs. Appreciating its beauty, simplicity and versatility, Alicia wore this actual collar upside down when she performed at the Superbowl so it did not interfere with her vocal cords while she sang.
Estimates: HK $110,000-200,000: US $14,200 - 25,800 and GBP £8,600 - 15,600
A magnificent sapphire and diamond necklace and earring 'Amelia' suite, signed by Marina B. Marina B was known for her bold, unique and innovative designs, but she also celebrated the beauty of stones and classic jewellery design. This suite features the beauty of the Ceylon sapphires that are simply accentuated by diamonds in a classic setting. The necklace itself is set with 12 cushion-shaped natural Ceylon sapphires to the front totaling 104.81 carats, with the largest weighing 15.95 carats.
Estimates: HK$ 3,900,000-5,000,000; US $503,000-645,000; GBP £ 305,000-390,000
A magnificent ruby and diamond 'Georgina' ring, signed by Marina B. This stunning ring combines Marina B’s innovative style using large, precious stones of exceptional quality in a flamboyant and abstract setting. The natural Burmese ruby weighs 10.54 carats with a marquise and asscher-cut diamond surround.
Estimates: HK$ 3,100,000-4,500,000; US $400,000-580,000; GBP £242,000-352,000
An orange sapphire and diamond ‘Fujiyama’ bangle, signed by Marina B. Another excellent example of Marina B’s signature style, the hinged bangle design reflects her personal take on inspiration from Japanese culture and cherry blossom. The bangle is highlighted by brilliant-cut diamonds and accented with circular-cut orange sapphires as stylised cherry blossoms.
Estimates: HK $140,000-200,000; US $18,000 - 25,800; GBP £10,900 - 15,600
A pair of orange sapphire and diamond ‘Cuf’ earrings*, signed by Marina B. The earring design complements the Fujiyama’ bangle: each kidney-shaped earring is highlighted by brilliant-cut diamonds, accented with circular-cut orange sapphires as stylised cherry blossoms.
Estimates: HK $80,000-120,000; US $10,300 - 15,500; GBP £6,300- 9,400
A fine diamond and sapphire ‘Claw’ dress ring, signed by Marina B. The striking and unusual claw ring incorporates a unique dress ring shape with unusual buff-top pink and blue sapphires. Together they form a very unusual design that is associated with the medieval period which often inspired Marina B's dress ring designs. The pear-shaped diamond, weighing 3.02 carats, the surround and shoulders set with pink and blue sapphires.
Estimates: HK $350,000-550,000; US$ 45,200 - 71,000; GBP £27,300 - 43,000
An impressive tourmaline, diamond and onyx 'Cristina' torque necklace, signed by Marina B. This also epitomises Marina B’s classic style. The ‘Cristina’ series featured only five collars, each with different stones. Designed as a tapered sprung collar set throughout with fan-shaped motifs of graduated pear-shaped tourmalines surrounded by pavé-set brilliant-cut diamonds, all highlighted with fancy shaped onyx accents.
Estimates: HK$ 450,000-650,000; US $58,000 - 83,900 GBP £35,200 - 50,800
A cultured pearl necklace, signed by Marina B. The 90cm necklace features 71 natural colour golden South Sea cultured pearls which graduate from golden colour into soft white towards the back, completed by a spherical cultured pearl clasp.
Estimates: HK $150,000-200,000; US $19,350 - 25,800; GBP £11,700 - 15,600
Graeme Thompson, Head of Jewellery at Bonhams Asia, says: "We are delighted to be offering this wonderful, sumptuous and rare collection of Marina B jewellery. Her designs are iconic because of their architectural boldness combined with the use of vivid coloured gemstones contrasting with white diamonds. Undoubtedly Marina B was one of the pioneers of 1980s creativity and this is a rare opportunity to own one of the jewels she designed.”
The Marina B Legendary Luxury Jewellery Collection will go on a global tour, visiting Europe and America in September and then Asia in October and November, before it goes on sale at Bonhams Hong Kong on 26 November 2014.
Graeme Thompson adds: “Bonhams is honoured to have been entrusted with the sale of these magnificent Marina B pieces of jewellery.
"Some of the greatest celebrities of our time have worn Marina B jewellery and this is an excellent opportunity for buyers to add highly iconic, one of a kind jewels and exceptional gemstones to their collections.”
About Marina B
Marina Bulgari began her illustrious career in the company founded by her grandfather Sotirio Bulgari, where she created some of Bulgari’s most enduring bestsellers. After the death of her father in the late ‘70s, Marina left Bulgari S.p.A. to follow her entrepreneurial mindset and creative spirit. In 1977 she launched her own signature brand, Marina B.
At Marina B, Marina designed an incredible succession of iconic and legendary jewellery that bears the undeniable mark of her creative process. In the ‘80s and ‘90s, Marina B was embraced by connoisseurs, international jet-setters and celebrities around the world as the epitome of style, elegance and creativity in luxury jewellery.
Marina was born in Rome on July 12, 1930 to a Greek father and German-Italian mother. Early on, she developed a passion for art, architecture and mathematics. Upon Marina’s graduation from Saint Mary’s College in Ascot, England (where she studied Engineering), she returned to Italy to work in the family business that would launch her long and storied career. Her keen sense of design, proportion and scale combined with an understanding of engineering and movement is a hallmark of the Marina B collection.
Celebrity fans of Marina B jewellery include actresses Elizabeth Taylor, Sophia Loren, Jennifer Lopez, Amy Adams, Melonie Diaz and Mila Kunis, singers Alicia Keys, Taylor Swift and Faith Hill.
Bonhams, founded in 1793, is the world’s third largest auctioneer of fine art and antiques. The present company was formed by the merger in November 2001 of Bonhams & Brooks and Phillips Son & Neale. In August 2002, the company acquired Butterfields, the principal firm of auctioneers on the West Coast of America. Today, Bonhams offers more sales than any of its rivals, through two major salerooms in London: New Bond Street and Knightsbridge; and a further three in the UK regions and Scotland. Sales are also held in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Carmel, New York and Connecticut in the USA; and Germany, France, Monaco, Hong Kong and Australia. Bonhams has a worldwide network of offices and regional representatives in 25 countries offering sales advice and valuation services in 60 specialist areas. For a full listing of upcoming sales, plus details of Bonhams specialist departments go to www.bonhams.com.
