Christie’s will offer Color and Ingenuity: The Collection of Lucille Coleman, an assemblage of jewels from the New York philanthropist, as a cornerstone of its Magnificent Jewels auction on 17 June at Rockefeller Center in New York City.
The collection features a concentration of works by Van Cleef & Arpels, including one of the most significant groups of ‘ Mystery-Set’ jewels ever to appear at auction. Leading the collection is a Van Cleef & Arpels Ruby and Diamond Mystery-Set Brooch, estimated at $400,000 to $600,000, alongside a Van Cleef & Arpels Diamond Ring, estimated at $800,000 to $1,200,000.
Patented in 1933, the Mystery Set technique involves cutting each gemstone, most often rubies, sapphires, emeralds, or diamonds, and inserting them into gold rails to preserve the seamless brilliance of the design. To have nine ‘ Mystery-Set’ jewels of this scale and caliber from one collector marks a rare occasion at auction.
Coleman dedicated her life to charitable initiatives, most notably through her support of New York-Presbyterian Hospital, which named a residential tower on 72nd Street and 1st Avenue in her honor. The seller’s proceeds will go towards her chosen institutions.
Nicolas Luchsinger, CEO of Buccellati, said he had helped build the collection over three decades. “ Mrs. Coleman often described her style as ‘classic with a twist,’ and her extraordinary collection, primarily Van Cleef & Arpels, embodies that perfectly,” he said.
Additional offerings from the collection will be sold alongside Important Watches, Jewels Online, and Watches Online: The New York Edit during Luxury Week in New York. A whimsical sculpture by Fernando Botero from Coleman’s fine art collection will feature at Christie’s in the fall season. Doyle will present further works from the estate through a series of sales beginning in September 2025 and continuing through December, including a dedicated single-owner auction and category-specific sales such as Important Paintings and Asian Works of Art.
(Press Release)
