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To most people, an obvious show of wealth may come in the form of a sparkling, large diamond of perfect quality and proportions. But to a select few, the style and rarity of jewels transcend commercial value and the need for the blatant display of wealth.

Erudite collectors go to New York-based Siegelson where they will find only the finest objects, designed without compromise. The pieces go beyond the ordinary and are the complete opposite of commercial and mass-produced jewelry evident in retail today. As company president Lee Siegelson says: "The 10 percent of 10 percent of the market is our clientele, the one that can appreciate pieces beyond intrinsic value."

He stresses that whether it is emeralds, rubies, other precious stones or signed jewelry, there is less and less to choose from at a top-quality level. "Hopefully, clients will come through with a depth of things to consider at our price points ($150,000-$5 million and counting) but at always the top 10 over 10 quality," he says.

Lee is a third-generation descendant of Louis Siegelson, who founded the company in New York in 1920 where he sold and repaired watches. In 1940, his son Herman started selling diamonds and became one of the most popular jewelry retailers and suppliers in New York's Diamond District.

Today, Lee uses this experience and has refined the inventory to sell only the best and rarest stones set in designs that enhance their beauty. He has also made a name for himself as an authority and respected source for important estate and contemporary jewelry and watches from 1850 to the present, especially objets d'art from the 19th century to 1930s such as rare clocks, jeweled music boxes and home accessories. The inventory has an equal representation of large and rare stones and design-driven collectables from the finest makers.

Every piece in Siegelson's inventory is the result of screening with a curatorial eye, offering only the best examples from significant periods by important makers. Many signed pieces come not only with a provenance of ownership but also historical, artistic, editorial and/or catalogue documentation.