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Raymond Yard Unheated Ceylon Sapphire Ring, 14.33 Carats
- This ring centers an unheated 14.33-carat Ceylon sapphire
- The sapphire displays the same prized royal blue hue as Lady Diana Spencer's engagement ring
- Set in platinum by the legendary Raymond Yard in 1939
- Mr. Yard wrote in the firm’s register that this sapphire was the kind of "gem" a privileged jeweler might see only once in a lifetime
- Get complete item description here
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Gems of this type have long been prized for their brightness, optical purity and velvety blue. . .
Gems of this type have long been prized for their brightness, optical purity and velvety blue saturation. According to the American Gemological Laboratories, the sapphire in this ring is unheated and fully natural, a trait exhibited by only a small fraction of fine corundum. Its crystalline depth, balanced cut and commanding size distinguish it among the finest Ceylon stones to appear on the market. Pictured in the firm’s 1939 register, Yard handcrafted the platinum Art Deco mounting that remains today. The ring pairs the sapphire with its two shield diamonds, weighing 2.23 and 2.26 carats, and is formed in its perfectly proportioned mounting, where each of the gems is roughly 1/3 of the width and the sapphire is 1/2 of the depth.
The ring was created by Raymond Yard, one of the foremost American jewelers of the twentieth century. Yard’s clientele included the Rockefeller, Vanderbilt, Woolworth and du Pont families, and he was known for selecting only the most superior materials for his commissions. Robert M. Gibson, the current president of Raymond Yard, told us that Mr. Yard wrote in the firm’s register that this sapphire was a “gem,” the kind of stone a privileged jeweler might see only once in a lifetime. He recalls his father, Yard’s protégé and successor, reflecting on more than fifty years at the firm and noting, “Maybe there were 25 times when we saw a stone that we would call a gem.” Yard purchased the stone in 1930 and kept it in his safe for nine years until the right commission arose in 1939. He then designed and executed the platinum setting recorded in the firm’s register that year.
Circa 1939
Download the AGL Report
| Maker: | Yard, Raymond |
| Period: | 20th Century |
| Origin: | Ceylon |
| Type: | Rings |
| Style: | Art Deco |
| Stones: | Sapphire |
Buy With Confidence
For over a century, we've placed important art, rare jewels and exceptional objects with more than 14,000 collectors worldwide, and have been recognized by trusted publications including Robb Report, The New York Times, Wall Street Journal and more.
On Approval
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Full credit plus 5% annual appreciation for five years
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