August 27th, 2009

The famed art auctioneer has signed a lease for 235,000 square feet of warehouse space in Brooklyn. Christie’s will store fine art in the waterfront building.
Christie’s expects to occupy the six-story warehouse building early next year, according to a company spokeswoman.
The company would not say how much it paid for the space, but commercial brokers estimated costs at $8 to $10 per square foot.

August 18th, 2009

One of the earliest Bugatti racing cars is expected to fetch up to 2.4 million euros ($3.4 million) at a sale in France, said auction house Bonhams.
Built in 1912, it was raced by by the manufacturer’s eponymous founder, Ettore, at Le Mans and on the Mont Ventoux.
Compared to the other Bugattis of the era, it has an unusually large engine and uses chains to drive the rear wheels.

August 13th, 2009

A second group of artworks from the collection of the late fashion designer Yves Saint Laurent and his partner Pierre Berge is expected to fetch up to 4 million euros ($5.7 million) when it appears for sale in November.
Christie’s International’s YSL Part II sale, held in collaboration with Pierre Berge, will take place at its Paris auction rooms on November 17, 18 and 19.
Almost 1,200 pieces will be offered, about half of them from the couple’s coastal retreat, Chateau Gabriel, at Benerville near Deauville in Normandy.

August 5th, 2009

A five-carat cushion-cut pink diamond known as “The Vivid Pink” is set to lead Christie’s Hong Kong sale this fall.
According to a media release, the Vivid Pink is the largest potentially flawless fancy-vivid-pink diamond ever offered for sale at auction.
Property of a private collector and set in a ring by renowned jeweler Laurence Graff, the diamond is expected to fetch between $5-$7 million.

August 3rd, 2009

An expat couple who are leaving Dubai for good are offering their four-bedroom apartmentfor as little as $100 through an online auction site.
The couple, who are planning to return to the UK after some 18 years in Dubai, have set up the auction following their difficulties in finding a buyer.
Steve and Arti Halligan will put their home up for an auction with a difference. They will operate a “lowest unique bid” auction through humraz.com.

July 27th, 2009

A giant gem will hit the auction block in New York this autumn with the sale of the 32-carat emerald-cut Annenberg diamond, which is expected to fetch as much at $5 million.
The flawless ring-mounted diamond, owned by philanthropist Lee Annenberg, widow of publishing magnate Walter Annenberg, leads the auction house’s magnificent jewels sale on October 21.
“Gems of this size are extremely rare, and their presence on the market is always an important event in the world of diamonds,” said Rahul Kadakia, Christie’s head of jewelry.
