RUBY, SAPPHIRE AND DIAMOND 'BOUQUET HAWAII' BROOCH, VAN CLEEF & ARPELS, CIRCA 1940

Designed as a bouquet decorated with diamond-, ruby- and sapphire-set flowers, to gold leaves and stems, the diamonds together weighing approximately 2.50 carats, the rubies and sapphires together weighing approximately 9.50 carats, mounted in 18 karat yellow gold, signed and numbered 54360.

Colour and Clarity: In our opinion, the sapphires are about medium deep, intense blue colour, rubies are about strong purplish red to red colours, overall clean to naked eyes and lively. Under 10X magnification, there are natural inclusions and some coloured stones have surface abrasions, but not seen to naked eyes. The diamonds are about G to H colours, SI to I clarity. Signed and numbered to the back, with French assay marks. Condition: This brooch is offered without reserve. Vintage piece, minor signs of wear and minute surface tanishing, overall in very good conditions. IMPORTANT NOTICE: Please note that jadeite and rubies of Burmese origin and articles of jewellery containing jadeite or rubies of Burmese origin all less than 100 years old may not be imported into the US. The purchaser's inability to import any item into the U.S. or any other country as a result of these or other restrictions shall not justify cancellation or rescission of the sale or any delay in payment. Please check with the specialist department if you are uncertain as to whether a lot is subject to these import restrictions, or any other restrictions on importation or exportation.
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion. Illustrations in the catalogue may not be actual size. Prospective purchasers are reminded that, unless the catalogue description specifically states that a stone is natural, we have assumed that some form of treatment may have been used and that such treatment may not be permanent. Our presale estimates reflect this assumption.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

Accompanied by a signed box.

Literature:

Les Arts Decoratifs, Van Cleef & Arpels: The Art of High Jewelry, edited by Évelyne Possémé, page 123. 

"During the war, Van Cleef & Arpels' workshop operated at a considerably reduced pace. Precious stones no longer reached Europe and the jewelry houses fell back on gold, considered a safe investment, for their creation...Presented at the World's Fair in New York in 1939... The Hawaii series, with its clips of simple, almost naive, loose bunches of unsophisticated flowers, and matching rings and bracelets, set with rubies, diamonds and sapphires in the colors of the allied flags, met with success at the time of the Liberation."