Auction of the Week: Sunny Crawford Von Bülow’s Emerald Necklace by Van Cleef & Arpels Fetches $289,800

Known for her remarkable taste in fashion and jewelry, the heiress and socialite Sunny Crawford von Bülow had amassed an impressive collection of magnificent pearls, Van Cleef & Arpels brooches, and a spectacular Van Cleef & Arpels emerald, ruby, and diamond necklace that featured a dazzling carved Colombian emerald. The collection recently hit the block at Christie’s as part of the magnificent jewels sale on June 11.

The top lot of the sale was the Van Cleef & Arpels necklace, which sold for $289,800 against its $200,000 estimate. The signed, circa-1965 necklace is set in 18k and 14k yellow gold and features a hexagonal carved tablet emerald surrounded by marquise and pear-shape rubies, with round and marquise-cut diamonds on the pendant and necklace.

Martha Sharp Crawford, known as Sunny, was born in 1932 into of one of America’s most important families as the sole child and heir of George W. Crawford, chairman of Columbia Gas and Electric. Part of the high society of New York City and Newport, Rhode Island, she was often compared to Grace Kelly due to her elegant style and refined taste. Some of her haute couture pieces are in the permanent collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute.