News
Apr 15, 2025
Christie’s to Unveil an Exclusive Private Cache of JAR Creations in Geneva
Twenty-one bespoke JAR pieces—never before on the market—headline Christie’s May 14 Magnificent Jewels sale in Geneva. 
Isabella J. Romano
isabella.j.romano@fifthavemag.com
JAR multi-gem chain necklace in 18 k rose gold and blackened silver, estimated at $285,000–$400,000.
Christie’s is set to present 21 exquisite JAR jewels from a private collector at its upcoming Magnificent Jewels sale in Geneva on May 14, marking the first time these bespoke creations have ever appeared on the market.  Each piece was acquired directly from Joel Arthur Rosenthal in the 2000s and 2010s and collectively carries a low-end estimate of $3 million. 
JAR’s craftsmanship shines through in the multi-gem chain necklace, which combines an array of round brown diamonds, emeralds, tourmalines, garnets, peridot, topaz, fire opals, rubies, spinels, amethysts, aquamarines, and sapphires set in 18 k rose gold and blackened silver.  The brand’s signature pavé-stitch technique creates seamless color transitions, elevating each gem’s natural hue with precision akin to fine embroidery. 
Versatility defines JAR’s aesthetic: the Semainier bracelets, crafted in 18 k yellow gold with rubies and diamonds, can be worn separately or interlocked into a striking necklace, demonstrating how form and function intertwine.  Meanwhile, the sculptural Apricot Blossom bangle and the Spiraling Thread earrings underscore JAR’s ethos of wearable art—where each silhouette is as much sculpture as it is jewelry. 
Many of these works debuted in JAR’s 2013 Metropolitan Museum of Art retrospective—the only exhibition ever dedicated to a living jeweler—highlighting the brand’s rarefied position in fine jewelry history.  By offering them now, Christie’s affords collectors a unique opportunity to own pieces that bridge institutional art prestige and singular private ownership. 
As the industry watches, this sale not only cements JAR’s legacy of color mastery and bespoke technique but also reflects the enduring allure of pieces crafted one client at a time—fewer than eighty creations annually, each a testament to Rosenthal’s singular vision.
Isabella J. Romano is the senior editor, news at 5th Ave. Magazine, covering auction highlights and the bespoke jewelry side of the market.
