28.00ctw IMPORTANT Fancy Yellow & White Diamond Bracelet, by Black Starr & Frost (from the Estate of Rachel "Bunny" Mellon)

Magnificent does not do this bracelet justice.  From the collection of Rachel "Bunny" Mellon comes this Black Starr & Frost Art Deco-era diamond line bracelet.  An estimated 28ctw of alternating yellow and white Old European cut diamonds, all sitting in simple bezels and joined together by one of the most beautiful manufacturing techniques of a line bracelet I've ever seen.  The three largest yellows have GIA reports, with sizes of 3.14ct, 2.57ct, and 2.45ct. 

The bracelet is by Black Starr & Frost — one of America's most storied and oldest jewelry houses, founded in 1810 — features 12 old European-cut fancy yellow diamonds alternating with 12 old European-cut near-colorless diamonds, totaling approximately 28.00 carats. 

Bunny Mellon was known for many things throughout the decades, but her role as a socialite and philanthropist is what truly cemented her in American history.  She was a close friend of President John F. Kennedy and First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy, having designed the White House Rose Garden herself as an amateur horticulturist.  She was married to Paul Mellon, a prominent financier and collector of fine art.  Her jewelry collection is a dream come true, not to mention she was a muse for Jean Schlumberger for years! 

• 18kt Yellow Gold & Platinum
  
• 7.25" in length
  
• 3.14ct FY VS1 GIA Report #2165486745 
  
• 2.57ct FY VVS2 GIA Report #2165486663 
  
• 2.45ct FY VS1 GIA Report #1162486717 
  
• 28.1 Grams
  
• Hallmarked BS&F
  

The Mellon Auction on November 20–21, 2014, was a landmark auction that totaled $228 million and set two world diamond records. This bracelet, one of the top lots from this auction, sold at Sotheby's for $149,000 plus buyer's premium, above the low estimate—a testament to the power of exceptional provenance. 

Read the full story of Bunny Mellon's extraordinary jewelry collection in our blog post HERE.