Sotheby's Australia's upcoming April 12 sale of antique and contemporary jewelry

Sotheby's Australia's upcoming April 12 sale of antique and contemporary jewelry will be a significant one for the auction house. The event will mark the Australian branch's first standalone jewelry sale, with the highlight slated to be the first red diamond ever offered for public auction in Australia.

The 0.82-carat, fancy purplish-red Argyle diamond is set into a ring and is flanked by a pair of fancy blue diamonds in a round brilliant-cut diamond surround, all mounted in platinum. Its value is estimated at between 700,000 and 1 million Australian dollars (between about $645,065 and $921,556) and will be accompanied by a letter from Argyle Diamonds attesting to its rarity.

Sotheby's said in a media release that despite the notable discovery of the Argyle pink diamond deposits in Western Australia, less than a handful of red diamonds have been discovered, and connoisseurs have long considered red diamonds to be among the most precious and rare of diamonds.

The April 12 sale will offer even more superb examples of colored stones, including a double strand of graduated emerald beads accented with diamond-set rondelles (estimated between $9,676 and $11,519), a sapphire and diamond ring (estimated between $23,034 and $32,248) and an emerald and diamond ring (estimated between $64,497 and $82,907).

Additional items of note include a diamond and platinum ring with a 10.07-carat, heart-shaped center diamond set above round brilliant-cut diamond shoulders and a diamond-set band (estimated between $313,207 and $386,870), as well as a diamond and gemstone-studded Vertu mobile phone hand made and pavé set with fancy pink and colorless diamonds, pink sapphires and rubies with 18-karat rose gold (estimated between $27,633 and $46,055).

Also on offer is a selection of men's and women's timepieces from brands such as Rolex, Cartier, Piaget, IWC and Breitling.

Prior to the April 12 sale, previews will take place in two Australia locations: Melbourne on April 7 and 8, and in Sydney April 10, right up until the evening sale on the 12th.