Sun, Oct 12, 2014


Art & Auctions
Star collection to go under the hammer


A stunning collection of jewelry designed by Marina B, is set to go under the hammer for the first time ever at Bonhams in November.

Marian B is the granddaughter of Sotiro Bulgari, the founder of Bulgari, the famous Italian jewelry and luxury goods brand.

The Marina B Legendary Luxury Jewelry Collection, comprising nine highly individual lots that reflect the Italian designer's iconoclastic approach to jewelry, will be presented for sale this fall Bonhams Hong Kong on November 26, 2014.

Widely celebrated as a designer who revolutionised jewelry and women's relationship to it, Marina B's pieces embodied bold and elegant design, the use of diamonds and colored gemstones, the juxtaposition of geometric lines and subtle curves.

Celebrity fans of Marina B jewelry 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 jewelry 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 honored actress Sophia Loren at the 65th Annual Academy Awards event in March 1993.
Estimate: $25,800 - 38,700.

•A diamond 'Kar' torque necklace, signed by Marina B.
This stunning collar was worn by 15 times Grammy award winning singer Alicia Keys as she performed at the 2013 Super Bowl, the annual championship game of the National Football League (NFL) in the US. 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.
Estimate: $14,200 - 25,800.

•A magnificent sapphire and diamond necklace and earring 'Amelia' suite, signed by Marina B.
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.
Estimate: $503,000-645,000.

•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 set in a flamboyant and abstract setting. The natural Burmese ruby weighs 10.54 carats with a marquise and asscher-cut diamond surround.
Estimate: $400,000-580,000.

•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.
Estimate: $18,000-25,800.

•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.
Estimate: $10,300-15,500.

•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 which all form a very unusual design that is associated with the medieval period which Marina B loved to use in her dress ring designs. The pear-shaped diamond, weighing 3.02 carats, the surround and shoulders set with pink and blue sapphires.
Estimate: $ 45,200-71,000.

•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.
Estimate: $58,000-83,900.

•A cultured pearl necklace, signed by Marina B.
The 90-cm necklace features 71 natural color golden South Sea cultured pearls which graduate from golden color into soft white towards the back, completed by a spherical cultured pearl clasp.
Estimate: $19,350-25,800.

Graeme Thompson, Head of Jewelry at Bonhams Asia, says: "We are delighted to be offering this wonderful, sumptuous and rare collection of Marina B jewelry. Her designs are iconic because of their architectural boldness combined with the use of vivid colored 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 Jewelry Collection is currently on a global tour before it goes on sale the November auction in Hong Kong.

Thompson adds: "Bonhams is honored to have been entrusted with the sale of these magnificent Marina B pieces of jewelry.Some of the greatest celebrities of our time have worn Marina B jewelry and this is an excellent opportunity for buyers to add highly iconic, one of a kind jewels and exceptional gemstones to their collections."





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