34 carat diamond tops $500,000, Chicago World`s Fair vase soars to $135,000 at Clars
(Artdaily.org)

On Sunday, February 17th, the energy in the saleroom at Clars Auction Gallery was electrifying as bidders waited anxiously for numerous historic lots to be presented for sale. Phone bidders were poised from around the world as well for what would become an international bidding event. A 34.28 carat fancy light yellow old mine cut diamond and platinum ring that boasts both rarity and rich history came to the sale from the historic Spenger Collection of the San Francisco Bay Area. Bidding on this extraordinary diamond opened at $200,000 and the sale price quickly escalated to $530,000 selling to a bidder in the saleroom. This diamond ring’s provenance purportedly dates back to King Kalakaua of Hawaii who reportedly purchased this ring in 1887. In 1890, the King took out a loan on the ring from Crocker Bank in San Francisco but