South China Morning Post
Wilson Lau | 25 Nov, 2022
Demand for ultra-upscale gems has remained resilient, as shown by the strong sales at Hong Kong’s live high-end jewellery auctions.
Amid global inflationary pressures, many affluent individuals consider luxury jewellery an asset class, on par with rare antiques and art pieces. Traditional favourites among discerning upscale jewellery collectors and investors range from premium-quality natural fancy-coloured diamonds and gemstones to top-of-the-line designs crafted by renowned high jewellery houses – all attracting fierce competition at auctions.
Hong Kong’s autumn live jewellery auction season this year was kicked off with the spectacular sale of the Williamson Pink Star, an 11.15-carat, cushion-shaped, fancy vivid pink and internally flawless diamond, in early October. After frenzied bidding, a private buyer in the United States secured the pink diamond for US$58 million. The hammer price makes the Williamson Pink Star the second most valuable jewel or gemstone ever sold at an auction, just behind the record-breaking 59.60-carat CTF Pink Star, which went for US$71.2 million in 2017. The Williamson Pink Star also established a world record price per carat (US$5.18 million) for any diamond or gemstone.
At the Poly Auction Hong Kong’s autumn sale, also held in October, which marked the 10th anniversary of the auction house, a whopping US$7.3 million was paid for a ring mounted with a spectacular 8.388-carat Burmese ruby in modified oval shape, accentuated with diamonds. The ring was crafted by Cartier. Accompanying gemological reports issued by well-established gem labs SSEF and Gübelin in Switzerland indicate that the gemstone has not undergone any heat treatment.
Meanwhile a jadeite and diamond necklace fetched US$6.4 million at the auction. The necklace consists of 43 jadeite beads of evenly intense green colour with high translucency, ranging from 13.59 to 11.42mm in diameter.
A ruby and diamond ring to be offered at Christie’s Magnificent Jewels from the Collection of Rosamund Kwan. Photo: Christie’s
Demand for ultra-upscale gems has remained resilient, as shown by the strong sales at Hong Kong’s live high-end jewellery auctions.
Amid global inflationary pressures, many affluent individuals consider luxury jewellery an asset class, on par with rare antiques and art pieces. Traditional favourites among discerning upscale jewellery collectors and investors range from premium-quality natural fancy-coloured diamonds and gemstones to top-of-the-line designs crafted by renowned high jewellery houses – all attracting fierce competition at auctions.
The Williamson Pink Star sold by Sotheby’s in Hong Kong is the second most valuable jewel ever sold at an auction. Photo: Sotheby’s
Hong Kong’s autumn live jewellery auction season this year was kicked off with the spectacular sale of the Williamson Pink Star, an 11.15-carat, cushion-shaped, fancy vivid pink and internally flawless diamond, in early October. After frenzied bidding, a private buyer in the United States secured the pink diamond for US$58 million. The hammer price makes the Williamson Pink Star the second most valuable jewel or gemstone ever sold at an auction, just behind the record-breaking 59.60-carat CTF Pink Star, which went for US$71.2 million in 2017. The Williamson Pink Star also established a world record price per carat (US$5.18 million) for any diamond or gemstone.
At the Poly Auction Hong Kong’s autumn sale, also held in October, which marked the 10th anniversary of the auction house, a whopping US$7.3 million was paid for a ring mounted with a spectacular 8.388-carat Burmese ruby in modified oval shape, accentuated with diamonds. The ring was crafted by Cartier. Accompanying gemological reports issued by well-established gem labs SSEF and Gübelin in Switzerland indicate that the gemstone has not undergone any heat treatment.
Top-quality jadeite jewellery is a favourite among buyers in Asia. Photo: Poly Auction Hong Kong
Meanwhile a jadeite and diamond necklace fetched US$6.4 million at the auction. The necklace consists of 43 jadeite beads of evenly intense green colour with high translucency, ranging from 13.59 to 11.42mm in diameter.
Equally appealing pieces will be on offer at coming auctions. Christie’s will soon hold the “Magnificent Jewels from the Collection of Rosamund Kwan” auction, as part of its Magnificent Jewels live auction in Hong Kong on November 28. Among the many pieces from top-notch jewellers is a ring set with an unheated Burmese ruby of 12.64 carats and diamonds, at an estimate from US$2.8 million to US$4.4 million. The jeweller is Boghossian.
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