10.02-carat fancy intense blue diamond sold for $8.7 million at Sotheby's New York High Jewelry auctionSotheby'sA 10.02-carat fancy intense blue diamond sold for $8.7 million to lead Sotheby's High Jewelry auction in New York on June 16, surpassing its pre-sale estimate. The cut-cornered rectangular modified brilliant-cut diamond was also the highest-priced jewelry lot sold during the New York spring auction season, according to Sotheby's.Fancy-colored diamonds dominated the sale, accounting for six of the top 10 lots. Rounding out the leaderboard were rare Paraíba tourmalines and signed jewels by Cartier and Harry Winston.The auction realized $43.4 million, exceeding its $38.7 million high estimate. Sotheby's said 98% of lots sold, with 63% exceeding their high estimates, while more than one-third of all purchases were made online.The auction reflects the continued strength in fancy-colored diamonds and exceptional colored gemstones at the high end of the market.A 5.02-carat fancy intense pink and light pink diamond ring that sold for $2.9 millionSotheby'sThe second-highest lot was a 5.02-carat oval-shaped fancy intense pink diamond with VS1 clarity, flanked by a pair of pear-shaped light pink diamonds. Following bidding between two collectors, the ring sold for $2.9 million.Play Puzzles & Games on ForbesCartier Art Deco Kashmir sapphire and diamond earclips fetched $1.6 millionSotheby'sOne of the auction's biggest surprises was a pair of Art Deco Cartier diamond earclips set with six unheated Kashmir sapphires weighing a combined 23.02 carats, accented by mixed-cut diamonds. The lot opened at $850,000—already well above its $120,000 high estimate—and sparked an intense bidding battle between a bidder in the room and another on the telephone before selling for $1.6 million.A 13.77-carat fancy light purplish pink diamond realized $1.5 millionSotheby'sA ring centered with a 13.77-carat cut-cornered rectangular mixed-cut fancy light purplish pink diamond with VS2 clarity realized $1.5 million.Rare Paraíba tourmalines also drew strong interest. Named after the Brazilian state where they were first discovered in the late 1980s, the gems are prized for their vivid blue-to-green hues and distinctive neon glow, created by trace amounts of copper. Although paraiba-type tourmalines have since been found in Nigeria and Mozambique, stones from the original Brazilian deposits remain the most sought after.A 7.70-carat Brazilian Paraíba tourmaline sold for $1.4 million, nearly triple its high estimateSotheby'sFive Paraíba tourmalines from a private collection were offered in the sale. Leading the group was a 7.70-carat oval-shaped Brazilian Paraíba tourmaline with no indications of clarity enhancement. After a three-minute bidding contest between two buyers, the gemstone sold for $1.4 million, nearly triple its high estimate.6.76-carat fancy grayish blue diamond fetched $1.2 millionSotheby'sA ring set with a 6.76-carat cushion modified brilliant-cut fancy grayish blue diamond realized $1.2 million.A 34.75-carat rounded-corner square modified brilliant-cut fancy intense yellow diamond attracted what Sotheby's described as "fierce bidding" before selling for $1 million, well above its high estimate.A 34.75-carat fancy intense yellow diamond fetched $1 million Sotheby'sA diamond necklace and bracelet combination by Harry Winston realized $998,400Sotheby'sA diamond necklace and bracelet combination by Harry Winston realized $998,400.A 6.11-carat unmounted Brazilian Paraíba tourmaline sold for $972,800Sotheby'sAnother Brazilian Paraíba tourmaline with no indications of clarity enhancement ranked ninth in the sale. The 6.11-carat modified triangle-shaped gemstone sold for $972,800, nearly double its high estimate.Fancy pink, fancy gray-blue diamond and diamond toi et moi ring fetched $960,000Sotheby'sCompleting the top 10 was a toi et moi ring featuring a 2.20-carat marquise-shaped fancy pink diamond with VS1 clarity paired with a 2.12-carat marquise-shaped fancy gray-blue diamond with SI2 clarity. Accented by near-colorless marquise and baguette-cut diamonds, the ring achieved $960,000, more than three times its high estimate.The New York auction also marked the conclusion of Sotheby's collaboration with De Beers following previous presentations in Hong Kong and Geneva. The final offering included a group of natural diamonds led by an 11.33-carat old mine brilliant-cut D-color, VVS2-clarity diamond, which sold for $896,000.