For the past several months, New York-based Guernsey's has been preparing for the April 25th auction (being held live at an historic Park Avenue mansion and on liveauctioneers.com) which features the privately-owned Marcial de Gomar Emerald Collection.
Over a period of sixty years, Manuel Marcial de Gomar has shuttled between the U.S. and the Muzo region of Colombia where the world's finest emeralds are mined. His personal Emerald Collection – consisting of gems acquired directly from the Muzo Mine and other Muzo emeralds recovered from the 1622 wreck of the Spanish Galleon, Nuestra Señora de Atocha – constitute this unprecedented auction.
Now, with the event only days away, Mr. Marcial, in recognition of his longtime friendship with a gentleman from Muzo, has authorized the inclusion of that gentleman's most treasured gems – this cat's eye pair – into the unique sale.
Originally cut from a single 370 carat trapiche emerald (a unique variety of emerald with a six point radial pattern), these two remarkable stones are believed to be the largest matched pair of Colombian cat's eye emeralds in the world. Beautiful trapiche emeralds, far smaller than these and lacking the elusive cat's eye phenomenon, are still quite valuable and coveted by collectors. The cutting process of this pair has been carefully documented by the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) in an article describing the gems. No wonder that these two matched emeralds, weighing a combined 74.52 carats, have a pre-auction estimate approaching $2 million.
In addition to a wonderful array of cut and uncut museum-quality emeralds, the forty-lot auction also includes several rare, centuries old Spanish gold coins recovered from the ocean floor. Notably, seventy five percent of the lots in this auction – including many remarkable emeralds – are being offered without minimum reserve. Three days of previewing will precede the auction. Those interested should contact Guernsey's directly or visit www.guernseys.com for detailed information.
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