Sotheby’s Sealed is an innovative closed bid auction platform that ensures confidentiality in bid amounts and selling prices while preserving the interactive and exciting qualities of a standard open auction. Bidders will not be able to see any bids except their own, but they can monitor the ranks of their bids on a dynamic leaderboard and choose to increase their bids at any point before the lot closes. If you were previously the high bidder, but a bid placed by another bidder exceeds yours, you will be notified via email.
Our anti-sniping feature ensures that if a bid is placed within the final 60 seconds of the lot's scheduled closing time by a bidder in the top three ranks or by a bidder who moves into the top three ranks, the lot will extend by two minutes to allow for further competitive bidding.
Lots in Sotheby’s Sealed auctions are offered without the buyer’s premium that is customary in most auctions.
The Gem Drop is a monthly release of stunning jewels—featuring brilliant white diamonds, vibrant colored diamonds and rare gemstones. Each lot is offered with no reserve and with no buyer’s premium, making the Gem Drop an excellent opportunity to acquire some of the world’s most beautiful gemstones at competitive prices.
Please note, starting in March 2025, the lots in the Gem Drop will begin closing at 60 second intervals instead of every half hour, so be ready for a fast-paced, dynamic private auction.
Please click here to learn more about bidding in Sotheby’s Sealed auctions.
