A fancy vivid pink diamond and a fancy vivid blue diamond sell for a combined $18.6 million
Two heart-shaped fancy colored diamonds sold for a combined price of $18.6 million, just surpassing their high estimate at Sotheby’s Hong Kong Magnificent Jewels auction held Friday. Sold as separate lots, the stones were highly promoted as a pair by the auction house.
The first heart-shaped gem was a 5.04-carat fancy vivid blue heart modified brilliant-cut diamond with VS2 clarity. The stone is mounted on a platinum ring flanked by two pear-shaped diamonds. It achieved more than $10.5 million (HK$81.8 million), making it the top lot in the sale. Its hammer price (not including buyer’s premium) was $9 million (HK$70 million).
The second was a 4.49-carat heart modified brilliant-cut, internally flawless, fancy vivid pink diamond. It’s mounted on an 18k white gold ring flanked by pear-shaped diamonds. It achieved more than $8.1 million (HK$63 million), at the high end of its estimate, making it the number three lot of the sale. The hammer price for the gem was $6.9 million (HK$53.5 million).
The buyer or buyers for both lots is unknown at this time and there is no indication whether a single person purchased both fancy colored diamonds.
An Imperial Jade necklace composed of 37 jadeite beads originating from the same rough sold for more ... [+]
A third lot that was highly touted by Sotheby’s and offered without a public estimate was described as an “extraordinary” and “exceptionally rare” Imperial Jade necklace composed of 37 jadeite beads originating from the same rough. According to two lab reports the jadeite beads are graded as “A Jade” and “Imperial Jade.” The latter term refers to the finest specimen of Type A jadeite. The total weight of the jade is 700 carats and the beads possess a “brilliant emerald green color, suffused with intense emerald green streaks,” according to the auction house. The necklace also has a single cabochon ruby surrounded by diamond pavé. It was the last lot offered for the evening and was the subject of spirited bidding. It sold for more than $10.4 million (HK$80.6 million), making it the number two lot of the sale. Its hammer price was 8.9 million (HK$69 million).
The sale of 202 lots concludes the first series of live jewelry auctions in Hong Kong by the major auction houses since the global coronavirus pandemic shut down much of the world’s business. The sale totaled $56.4 million with 80% sold by lot.
The one piece of royal jewelry in the sale did spectacularly well. A bracelet owned and often worn by Princess Margaret (1930 - 2002), the sister of Queen Elizabeth II achieved $210,000, more than triple its high estimate. The antique diamond bracelet by London-based jeweler to the British crown, Garrard, was a gift on her 21st Birthday. The yellow gold and silver bracelet is set with rose- and old-mine-cut diamond floral clusters, complementing the blue enamel and rose-cut diamond-set links.
Not everything went well in this sale. Colorless diamonds had a poor showing among the top lots. Five statement diamonds went unsold, including a pair of unmounted flawless D color heart-shaped colorless diamonds, each weighing 10.51 carats. The estimate for the pair was $1.8 million - $2 million.
Sotheby’s sale offered a diverse group of classic and contemporary signed jewels that were well received by collectors. The top lots in this category are:
* A ring by Graff set with a 10.45-carat oval diamond, flanked by pear-shaped diamonds, mounted in platinum that sold for just over $1 million, within estimates.
* An emerald and diamond ring by Harry Winston, featuring a 16.04-carat step-cut emerald surrounded by brilliant-cut diamonds, mounted in platinum that sold for $720,000, within estimates.
* A ruby and diamond ring by Hong Kong high jewelry artist, Wallace Chan, set with an 8.11-carat cushion-shaped ruby, embellished with cabochon rubies and brilliant-cut diamonds. It sold for $641,856, within estimates.
Van Cleef & Arpels Zip necklace that sold for $362,858
* An iconic Van Cleef & Arpels classic “Zip” gold and platinum necklace set with brilliant-cut diamonds. It sold for $362,858, within estimates.
Cartier Tutti Frutti brooch that sold for $322,540
* An iconic “Tutti Frutti” brooch by Cartier, 1930s, created with carved rubies, sapphires, emeralds and diamonds in a foliate design. It sold for $322,540, well above its high estimate.
* A ring by Cartier set with a 12.89-carat oval sapphire embellished with single- and rose-cut diamonds. It fetched $250,000, within estimates.
* An iconic diamond and ruby Bulgari “Serpenti” necklace that sold for $210,000, within estimates.
