Controversial Christie's auction features Nazi-linked jewelry.

A Christie's auction of a vast jewelry collection of a late Austrian heiress, bought with riches from a retail empire dating back to the Nazi era in Germany, has been criticized by Jewish groups. The auction house defended the sale of some 700 pieces of jewelry, saying proceeds are going to charitable causes, including a Vienna art museum and medical research. The nearly 26-carat “Sunrise Ruby” and a 90-carat “Briolette of India” diamond fetched less than their pre-sale estimates. Overall, Christie’s said the sale tallied $156 million, above the low estimate to reap $139 million in the day’s event.