Latest news with #Sotheby
San Francisco Chronicle
27-05-2025
- Entertainment
- San Francisco Chronicle
Zendaya's engagement ring designer opens up about her inspiration
Zendaya kept it casual when debuting her engagement ring at the Golden Globe Awards earlier this year, despite nearly breaking the internet over her 5.02-carat diamond. But it turns out, that was exactly the attitude that the jeweler behind the piece wanted. "My whole idea is of relaxed ease and fitting into your daily life,' the ring's designer, Jessica McCormack, told the New York Times in a recent interview. 'It's about functionality and fantasy, making jewels that are fun and cool but wearable and that just make you incredibly happy every time you look in the mirror.' McCormack's designs have become a go-to for those with similar sensibilities, who are looking to show off their diamonds on a more day-to-day basis. In addition to creating the cushion cut diamond for the Oakland native, her other celebrity clients include Rihanna, Dua Lipa, Zoë Kravitz, Margot Robbie and Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex. 'There's no joy if you can't see them and others can't enjoy them on you,' McCormack told the Times. Though she had no formal design training, the New Zealand-born artist has a long history of working with fine jewels and vintage pieces. She said she learned from her father, an art and antiques dealer, and found her work in Sotheby's fine jewelry department in London to be a strong foundation for her career. The designer launched her brand in 2008, drawing inspiration from the antique pieces she had come to know and love. Since 2013, she has been operating out of a storefront and workshop in London, where Zendaya and her fiancé, British actor Tom Holland, purchased a home in 2022. McCormack opened her first U.S. store in New York City on Tuesday, May 27. Holland and Zendaya met on the set of 'Spider-Man: Homecoming' in 2017, and went public with their relationship in 2021. Neither has spoken about their engagement since Zendaya debuted the ring in January, though Holland's father confirmed it on his Patreon account. Zendaya has continued to drop subtle nods to her relationship with her 'Spider-Man' co-star, from showing off her tiny 't' tattoo in honor of him during a recent Louis Vuitton photoshoot to channeling her inner bride with a Bianca Jagger-inspired Met Gala outfit. But the 'Euphoria' actor's stylist, Law Roach, confirmed that the wedding is still 'far away' due to the couple's busy schedules. Both actors are set to star in Christopher Nolan's mythic action film, 'The Odyssey,' set for release July 17, 2026. They're also slated to return to the Spiderverse in Marvel's 'Spider-Man: Brand New Day,' due out July 31, 2026. Meanwhile, Zendaya has been back on the set of Season 3 of the HBO drama ' Euphoria,' which was heavily delayed before production resumed this year.
New York Post
15-05-2025
- Business
- New York Post
Failed auction of $70M bronze bust stuns Sotheby's bidders into silence
Sotheby's high-stakes auction turned into a jaw-dropping spectacle Tuesday night when a $70 million Alberto Giacometti bronze bust failed to sell, leaving bidders and art insiders gobsmacked. The pièce de résistance of the evening, Giacometti's 'Grand tête mince (Grand tête de Diego)' carried a sky-high estimate that proved too lofty for the cash-strapped crowd. Despite starting the bidding at $59 million, Sotheby's auctioneer Oliver Barker couldn't push the offers beyond $64.25 million, ultimately announcing the bust as a, well, bust. 3 The crown jewel of the night, Giacometti's 'Grand tête mince (Grand tête de Diego),' had a jaw-dropping price tag that was just too rich for the room, leaving the cash-strapped crowd with their wallets snapped shut. Lev Radin/ZUMA Press Wire / 'There is an argument to be made that while guarantees typically undermine competitive bidding on a lot, in the case of the Giacometti one might have provided collectors with assurance and permission to pursue the sculpture,' Alex Glauber, president of the Association of Professional Art Advisors, told The New York Times. The monumental bronze, one of six casts modeled after the artist's brother Diego, was consigned by the Soloviev Foundation, the nonprofit arm of the late real estate titan Sheldon Solow. Solow, known for shunning auction guarantees, opted for a traditional auction route — a gamble that, this time, didn't pay off. 'No one who is an informed buyer who is serious in this market — billionaire or not — is going to pay what essentially amounts to a 50 percent premium on something that sold in recent memory,' Todd Levin, a New York-based art advisor, told the Times, referencing a 2013 sale of another cast that fetched just over $50 million. The artwork's flop was a crushing blow to Sotheby's Modern evening sale, where the Giacometti accounted for nearly 30% of the auction's $240 million low estimate. 3 The towering bronze, one of six casts modeled after Giacometti's brother Diego, was put up for grabs by the Soloviev Foundation — the charitable arm of late real estate mogul Sheldon Solow. Lev Radin/ZUMA Press Wire / In the end, the sale brought in just $152 million, leaving some wondering if the air is too thin at the top end of the market. 'Between Christie's pulling the Warhol 'Electric Chair' and the Giacometti failing to sell at Sotheby's, it's clear that the air is incredibly thin at the upper pricing band of the market, even for masterworks by tried and true names,' Glauber added. Julian Dawes, Sotheby's head of Modern and Impressionist art, said to the Times that the auction house had anticipated a strong turnout, with 'serious interest from major collectors.' He explained, 'We had people poised to bid on this work, and that is why we felt a responsibility to ourselves and to the seller to keep it in the auction and to give it that chance.' Now, the Giacometti joins a growing list of high-profile works that have been 'burned' — a term for pieces that fail to sell and risk becoming toxic on the market. 3 When the gavel finally dropped, the auction raked in a mere $152 million — a far cry from the sky-high expectations, sparking whispers that the top-tier art market may be losing its shine. AFP via Getty Images For Sotheby's, the $70 million bust is now a bronze elephant in the room. Sotheby's previously got a pricey slap on the wrist for allegedly playing fast and loose with tax laws. Last November, the ritzy auction house agreed to shell out $6.25 million after New York Attorney General Letitia James and state tax honcho Amanda Hiller claimed it helped wealthy clients dodge sales tax on millions in art purchases. Prosecutors said Sotheby's winked and nodded as buyers falsely claimed they were resellers — all to save a few bucks on Picasso and Pollock. The auction giant was ordered to clean up its act and stop playing tax-dodger cupid.
Observer
11-05-2025
- Business
- Observer
'Mediterranean Blue Diamond' could fetch $20 million at auction
A 10-carat blue diamond which could fetch $20 million when it goes under the hammer later this month was presented by auction house Sotheby's in Geneva on Thursday. The cushion-shaped piece, known as the "Mediterranean Blue Diamond," was mined in South Africa and displayed a rare colour that qualified as fancy vivid blue, Sotheby's said. "The market for coloured diamonds continues to go from strength to strength," said Jessica Wyndham of Sotheby's, added that she expected a price in the region of $20 million. In 2016, another vivid blue diamond sold for 56.8 million Swiss francs ($68.7 million) at a Christie's auction in Geneva. Sotheby's high jewellery collection, which includes other coloured gemstones, was presented to journalists in Geneva ahead of a live auction scheduled for May 13 at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel. The Mediterranean Blue Diamond's allure stems from its stunning, vibrant blue color and rarity. Known for its captivating hue, the diamond is among the rarest fancy colored diamonds, making it highly sought after by collectors and investors alike. Its large size, high clarity, and exceptional cut further elevate its status in the luxury jewelry market. Blue diamonds have long symbolized prestige and exclusivity, and the Mediterranean Blue variant is no exception. With limited availability and unparalleled beauty, this gemstone continues to command premium prices and remains a coveted treasure in the world of fine jewelry. —Reuters
Business Recorder
09-05-2025
- Business
- Business Recorder
‘Mediterranean Blue Diamond' could fetch $20 million at auction
GENEVA: A 10-carat blue diamond which could fetch $20 million when it goes under the hammer later this month was presented by auction house Sotheby's in Geneva on Thursday. The cushion-shaped piece, known as the 'Mediterranean Blue Diamond,' was mined in South Africa and displayed a rare colour that qualified as fancy vivid blue, Sotheby's said. 'The market for coloured diamonds continues to go from strength to strength,' said Jessica Wyndham of Sotheby's, added that she expected a price in the region of $20 million. In 2016, another vivid blue diamond sold for 56.8 million Swiss francs ($68.7 million) at a Christie's auction in Geneva. Sotheby's high jewellery collection, which includes other coloured gemstones, was presented to journalists in Geneva ahead of a live auction scheduled for May 13 at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel.
TimesLIVE
09-05-2025
- Business
- TimesLIVE
‘Mediterranean Blue Diamond' could fetch $20m at auction
A 10-carat blue diamond which could fetch $20m (R365m) when it goes under the hammer was presented by auction house Sotheby's in Geneva, Switzerland on Thursday. The cushion-shaped piece, known as the "Mediterranean Blue Diamond", was mined at Cullinan in SA and displayed a rare colour that qualified as fancy vivid blue, Sotheby's said. "The market for coloured diamonds continues to go from strength to strength," said Jessica Wyndham of Sotheby's, adding she expected a price in the region of $2m. In 2016, another vivid blue diamond sold for 56.8 million Swiss francs (R1.2-trillion) at a Christie's auction in Geneva. Sotheby's high jewellery collection, which includes other coloured gemstones, was presented to journalists in Geneva ahead of a live auction scheduled for May 13 at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel.
