Gold and diamond bracelet by Sabba. Courtesy FD Gallery
A remarkable gold and diamond bracelet featuring a central emerald-cut diamond of 9.43 carats by the contemporary design fine jewelry house Sabba is among 15 never-before-seen estate jewelry pieces to be shown at Tefaf New York from May 4-8. The elite exhibition showcases fine art, antiques, design, and some jewelry from the likes of niche houses like Hemmerle. This estate jewelry exhibition however belongs to FD Gallery and will include some 60-70 pieces from Cartier, Van Cleef & Arpels, Jar, Verdura, Bulgari, Boucheron, and Tiffany & Co. FD Gallery will be the only house showasing estate jewels. Prices to range between US $35,000 to $3,700,000.
Fiona Druckenmiller, founder of FD Gallery. Courtesy of FD Gallery
Fiona Druckenmiller, a former investment banker, launched her career as an antique and 20th-century jewelry dealer some seven years ago. (Of note, her husband, Stanley Druckenmiller, was named the most charitable man in American in 2009.) “Like many women, my appreciation for jewelry began as a child, watching my mother put on her pieces before going out to dinners or parties,” says Druckenmiller of her love affair with jewels. “I began collecting over 20 years ago and just had a great deal of passion for it. I wanted to offer other collectors the experience I sought as a collector, myself, and decided to open FD when my youngest went off to college. We opened in 2010 on 65th Street and Madison ave, in a small gallery space with lots of foot traffic. Seven years later we moved into a brownstone on 80th street as much more of a destination, now that people are more familiar with the gallery and the collection.
Diamond earrings circa 1780. Courtesy FD Gallery
Among the jewelry includes a pair of diamond earrings made in 1780. Once belonging to Princess Armand d’Arenberg of the Netherlands, she wore the jewels, featuring 47 carats worth of diamonds, to the glorious social affair that was the Count of Beaumont’s Ball in 1950. In a recent piece in the Financial Times, Druckenmiller explained how signed 20th-century high jewelry is diminishing in supply. As appreciation for rare period jewels increases, pieces from houses like VCA and Cartier are in fact doubling in value. She sources her collection of family jewels privately, for the most part.
The Cartier platinum, onyx, and diamond bracelet strung with three strands of coral beads is also featured. The 1933 Art Deco bracelet once belonged to American socialite and philanthropist Marjorie Merriweather Post who spent much of her fortune on collecting jewelry and art. Much of which can be still viewed at Hillwood, her former estate, which is now a museum showcasing her pieces. With recent major collectors proving to be Arab, charmed by the beauty, design, and potential investment value of estate jewelry, this is a New York visit not to be missed. Tefaf New York Spring May 4-8
Inside the six-story townhouse FD Gallery in New York. Courtesy FD Gallery
