New York, 26 May 2026 - Phillips will present The New York Jewels Auction on 10 June 2026, showcasing an exceptional selection of rare gemstones, important diamonds, and signed jewels from the world's most prestigious houses. Led by vibrant colored gemstones and a strong offering of Paraiba tourmalines, the sale is anchored by an important Paraiba tourmaline and diamond ring weighing 31.77 carats, estimated at $550,000 to $650,000. The auction also features works of exquisite provenance from the collection of Irma Nicolas and the estate of Argentina "Tina" Schifano Hills, alongside iconic creations by makers such as Harry Winston, Cartier, and David Webb. A public exhibition will take place at 432 Park Avenue from 5 to 9 June, ahead of the live sale.
Dianne Batista, Head of Jewels, New York, said the season's sale "celebrates the extraordinary beauty and rarity of colored gemstones, with Paraiba tourmalines at the forefront of collector interest." She added that the offering brings together "colorful jewels that combine provenance, craftsmanship, and enduring appeal for today's global collectors," noting that Phillips was "honored to have been entrusted with jewelry from the collections of Irma Nicolas and Tina Hills." She described Ms. Nicolas' collection as reflecting "a lifetime of vision, elegance, and entrepreneurial spirit," and Mrs. Hills' jewels as "miniature works of art that are bold, expressive, and deeply connected to her passion for color, design, and cultural patronage."
Extraordinary Paraiba tourmalines
Discovered only in the late 20th century, Paraiba tourmalines owe their unearthly neon blue to green color to trace elements of copper and manganese, with the most electric blues containing the highest copper levels. With only small known deposits, they rank among the scarcest gemstones in the world, and demand for their vivid hues has surged among collectors and leading luxury houses. Leading the category is an important Paraiba tourmaline and diamond ring centering an oval Paraiba tourmaline weighing 31.77 carats, embellished by marquise-shaped diamonds and blue tourmalines, estimated at $550,000 to $650,000. It is joined by a Paraiba tourmaline and diamond ring set with a pear-shaped stone weighing approximately 9.30 carats, estimated at $80,000 to $120,000, and a pair of Paraiba tourmaline and diamond earrings, set with two oval tourmalines weighing a total of approximately 14.00 carats, estimated at $60,000 to $80,000.
Elegant jewels of a distinguished woman: Irma Nicolas
Phillips is proud to feature twelve exceptional pieces from the collection of Irma Nicolas, the daughter of media pioneer Raoul Cortez Sr. and a businesswoman and philanthropist who, with her husband Emilio Nicolas, helped build Univision into a national media force. Over decades she assembled a collection featuring pieces from Van Cleef & Arpels, David Webb, and Verdura, as well as rare diamonds and pearls. Leading the group is a Fancy Intense Yellow Diamond Ring set with a cut-cornered rectangular modified brilliant-cut fancy intense yellow diamond weighing 14.71 carats, estimated at $150,000 to $200,000. The collection also includes a David Webb gold and emerald cuff bracelet, Repoussé Alligator, estimated at $12,000 to $18,000, an Adler diamond necklace, bracelet, and pair of earrings, estimated at $40,000 to $60,000, and two Van Cleef & Arpels coral and diamond brooches, Rose de Noël, estimated at $30,000 to $40,000.
A life in color: the estate of Tina Hills
Argentina "Tina" Schifano Hills (1921 to 2025) was a publisher, arts patron, and tireless advocate for a free press in Latin America, who served as the first female president of the Inter-American Press Association and, with Pulitzer Prize-winning editor Lee Hills, became a leading figure in Miami's cultural life. Her collection reflects a love of color, nature, and joyful self-expression, with notable pieces by Oscar Heyman and Picchiotti. The New York Jewels Auction will include 41 pieces from the estate, with another 90 offered in the New York Jewels Online auction, led by a magnificent ruby and diamond bow brooch and a rare Piaget black opal and gold watch. A fine collection of De Vroomen jewelry will also feature, including an exceptional tourmaline, diamond and enamel pendant brooch. Highlights from the estate include an Oscar Heyman diamond, sapphire, and emerald brooch, estimated at $6,000 to $8,000, a De Vroomen tourmaline, diamond and enamel pendant brooch from 1999, estimated at $3,000 to $5,000, and a Piaget black opal and gold watch, estimated at $7,000 to $9,000.
Additional highlights
Further highlights are led by signed jewels from Harry Winston. A pair of diamond earrings, Winston Cluster, each a four-stone cluster set with pear and marquise-shaped diamonds weighing approximately 16.15 carats total, is estimated at $100,000 to $150,000. An emerald and diamond necklace set with twenty graduated step-cut emeralds carries an estimate of $500,000 to $800,000, while a diamond ring set with a step-cut diamond weighing 7.30 carats is estimated at $120,000 to $220,000.
The New York Jewels Auction takes place on 10 June 2026, with auction viewing from 5 to 9 June 2026 at 432 Park Avenue, New York. The sale arrives as Phillips marks its 230th anniversary in 2026. Founded in London in 1796 by the auctioneer Harry Phillips, the house celebrates more than two centuries at the forefront of the global market for Modern & Contemporary Art, Design, and Luxury, and today holds its principal auctions in New York, London, Geneva, and Hong Kong.
Estimates do not include the buyer's premium; prices achieved include the hammer price plus buyer's premium.
(Press Release)
