Raymond Yard

For generations, the duPont name has traced a path through art, design and the rarest of jewels, guided by an enduring appreciation for superlative artistry. Collecting across many categories has been a family tradition for well over a century, reflecting a connoisseurial appreciation for exceptional design and material quality. From this distinguished legacy emerge two remarkable jewels — each a testament to the understated polish shaped by generations of impeccable taste.

Lot 159, a ring by Raymond Yard, centers upon a 5.43-carat Colombian emerald of superb color and clarity, the sleekness of the octagonal step-cut enhanced by brilliantly tapered side diamonds. Yard was among the most celebrated American jewelers of the twentieth century, admired for his exquisite workmanship and the exemplary quality of his gemstones — Burmese rubies, Kashmir sapphires and Colombian emeralds of the finest grade. His creations epitomized the refinement of his era, attracting a clientele that included the Rockefellers, Woolworths, Douglas Fairbanks Jr., and Joan Crawford, as well as members of the duPont family. This ring, with its crisp geometry and vividly saturated hue, embodies the understated glamour that defined his work.

Accompanying it is a Burmese spinel of remarkable purity, its vibrant red hue and crystalline clarity making it a particularly fine example. Together, these rings speak to a lineage of taste that bridges family heritage and the golden age of American jewelry — jewels that continue to capture the extraordinary craftsmanship and sophistication that have long shaped the duPont tradition.