‘America’s finest gemstones’ make an appearance at Bonhams Los Angeles

Sapphire mining at the Yogo Gulch in Montana began in 1895 after a cigar box of pale blue gems picked from a creek by a local rancher found its way to Tiffany’s in New York, where an appraiser pronounced them “the finest precious gemstones ever found in the United States”.

20 Sep 2021

Moonstone, sapphire and enamel pendant necklace from c.1905, $28,000 (£21,500) at Bonhams Los Angeles.

20 Sep 2021

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Stones found on American soil – tourmalines from the state of Maine, North Carolina moonstones, Mississippi freshwater pearls and sapphires from Montana – were all favourites of Louis Comfort Tiffany (1848-1933).

This moonstone, sapphire and enamel pendant necklace dates from c.1905. At the California Jewels sale at Bonhams Los Angeles (27.5/25% buyer’s premium) on September 13, it was estimated at $3000-5000, it took a much healthier $28,000 (£21,500).