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The sale of the century and rumors of a local auction house's demise are among the top talking points this week, along with a healthy serving of events.

Three Rivers Auction Company

Talk about a gem of a sale. Three Rivers owner Tripp Kline nearly sparkles as he discusses this Sunday's auction that features the second round of a three-part bling bidfest featuring the longtime collection of Washington, Pa., resident Virginia Huban.

"We're really generating a lot of interest for this auction from all around the country," he says. "There are a lot of high-end rings, bracelets, necklaces and other jewelry with prices in the $3,000 to $5,000 range."

In particular, an 18-karat, white gold ring with a 2.15-carat center stone surrounded by eight full-cut side diamonds should create strong bidding. Kline says this dazzler, from Pittsburgh's J.C. Keppie Co., carries a conservative presale estimate of $10,000 to $15,000.

Another object of desire is a ladies 14-karat, yellow gold, amethyst-quartz link necklace with 20 individual, faceted, oval-shaped amethyst stones of varying sizes. Likewise, a dragonfly-shaped diamond and opal pin is providing plenty of flights of fancy among impatient bidders, Kline says.

"Vintage insect-shaped pins seem to be the rage these days," he says. "This really is a fantastic piece that makes quite the fashion statement."

Whether it tugs on your purse strings or heartstrings, a cello-shaped pin should strike the right chord. The stamped 3D, 14-karat, yellow-gold musical bauble contains 71 full-cut diamonds set in white gold. Especially noteworthy are the highly polished yellow-gold strings and bow.

While this week's sale features the three-pack's choicest selections, the Dec. 11 finale promises another round of stellar items.

Both sales will be at the Three Rivers showroom at West Beau and Washington streets in Washington, Pa. Previews start at 10 a.m. Sunday and Dec. 11 with opening bids at noon.

Details: 724-222-8020 or www.3riversauction.com.

Dargate Auction Galleries

Following the recent layoffs of four employees and cancellation of November's sale, local bidders created a buzz around town that Dargate Auction Galleries' days were dwindling. Not so, says Cleveland-based owner Dan Zivko.

"Sounds like the competition might be starting rumors that are false," he says. "(The layoffs and cancellation) were pre-planned. What people probably don't know is that a little over a month ago, I bought out my partner, Paul Novocel. He had a program where he had an auction every month. I like bigger auctions, with better items, every three months."

Scrubbing November's sale also was part of the plan.

"We already had a couple things scheduled, and I didn't want to upset that," Zivko says. "Once we got through what we had committed to, that gave us a chance to step back and slow down until mid-January."

During 2005, Dargate conducted nine sales. On the slate for 2006 are four events, starting with a three-day 2006 inaugural -- Jan. 13 through 15 -- followed by auctions in April, July and October. The streamlined schedule, explains Zivko, will allow Dargate to focus on creating more powerful sales.

"It doesn't make sense to force-feed an auction," he says. "You should only hold an auction when you have quality items. You booby trap yourself if you try to do something every month without good merchandise. Instead of just pushing things out to sell, we're going to sit back and be more particular."

With staff reduced to four full-time positions, Dargate will hire temporary help when needed to prepare for and work during the quarterly sales.

Along with his former business partner, Zivko had bought Dargate from Larry Farley a little more than three years ago. They moved the operation from its Baum Boulevard site in East Liberty to the current Point Breeze location, where he says the auction house will remain.

"We will stay in the building," says Zivko, who also owns the Internet-based e-Wolf auction company. "This is just a better way of doing things."

Constantine & Mayer Inc.

Jeff Constantine is feeling a little flush these days. As co-owner of the Oakmont-based auction service that continues to grab marquee events, such as last year's University Club sale and his more recent Gertrude Mellon spectacular, he's closing out the year with a two-day bash, Dec. 12 and 13, featuring a potpourri of country and golden oak furniture, Roseville and Weller pottery, glass, silverware, coins and select Mellon leftovers.

The bulk of the lineup comes from the estate of longtime Franklin Park collector Robert Sachs, with additions from what Constantine describes as an "untouched attic that looks like time stopped there 90 years ago." On a house call to a Springdale home, he ventured to the garret and discovered a trove of antique bisque dolls, pressed steel trucks, stenciled wooden wagons and other toys of yesteryear "covered in coal dust and sitting in the same place as the last time anyone ever touched them."

With plenty of items in the $10 to nearly $4,000 range, a mid-19th century grandfather clock stands with a presale estimate of $2,500 to $3,500.

Details: 412-828-7015 or www.constantinemayer.com

Royal York Auction Gallery

Bob Simon revs up the Royal York engine on Dec. 10 with a sale that features a 2004 bronze Chrysler Sebring with an odometer total of just 4,958 miles. Of course, the docket includes a nice selection of furniture, silver and more. Previews are from 5 to 8 p.m. Dec. 8 and 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Dec. 9, with the sale starting at 9 p.m. Dec 10 at 5925 Baum Blvd., East Liberty.

Details: 412-661-1171.

J.S. Dill Auctions

December opens with this Thursday's sale at J.S. Dill in Zelienople, where items include an array of furniture, glassware, china and some framed World War II posters. The following Thursday, Dec. 8, the crew sets up shop again with some early Pittsburgh stoneware, vintage film footage of the Pirates 1960 World Series championship, jewelry and a few musical instruments.

Details: 724-453-0853 or jsdillauctions.com.

Recent sales

"It was an absolute blowout of a sale." That's how Constantine & Mayer Inc.'s co-owner, Jeff Constantine, describes his Nov. 18 and 19 auctions at the Oakmont Country Club. Featuring goods from the Ligonier home of Gertrude Mellon, the event fetched about $533,000, with five items selling above $10,000 mark. Bringing down the high price of $36,000, an early American, woven folk art, circa 1820 hearth rug caught everyone by surprise. "We didn't realize just how good it was until the bidding started," says Constantine, who started the bidding at $100.

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