Joopiter’s Son of a Pharaoh auction was a massive success.
The inaugural event was anchored by nearly 20 Jacob & Co. jewelry pieces worn and owned by Joopiter founder, Pharrell Williams. About 94 percent of the 47 lots were sold for a total of $5.25 million—surpassing the $3.2 million estimate. And although nearly 66 percent of the featured items were sold above their high estimates, there was one piece that blew all the others out of the water: the Jacob & Co custom N.E.R.D. character pendant chain.
According to Joopiter, the 14 karat three-tone gold piece is adorned with colorful gemstones, like natural fancy yellow, light pink, and color enhanced blue diamonds. The 2005 medallion features a caricature of N.E.R.D. frontman Pharrell along with the rest of his crew. The piece ultimately sold for $2.184 million, nine times more than its high estimate.
Jupiter described the pendant chain as “one of the most historic pieces of contemporary jewelry that represents an incomparable artist, at an incomparable time, with incomparable creativity.”
The auction—which attracted celebrities like Slick Rick, Jaden Smith, Lorraine Schwartz, and Tyler, the Creator—also featured the Jacob & Co. N.E.R.D Brain Chain in white gold, which sold for $725,000—eight times more than its high estimate. A yellow gold version of the chain doubled its high estimate, selling for $150,000. Other standout auction items included the Jacob & Co 32 Gemstone necklace, which sold for $250,000; Jacob & Co. Skateboard Pendant Chain ($103,750); Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Concept Dynamograph ($218,750); Louis Vuitton Multicolor Monogram Trunk ($121,250); and BAPE STA “Spongebob” sneakers ($26,250).
Joopiter was founded earlier this year as a global digital-first auction house and content platform. A portion of the proceeds from the auction will go toward Pharrell’s Black Ambition Foundation, a nonprofit that aims to assist Black and Latinx people excel in business.
You can get a closer look at the auctioned items in the images below. Learn more Joopiter here.
