CHRISTIE’S HONG KONG MAGNIFICENT JEWELS AUTUMN AUCTION 2013

   LED BY THREE EXTREMELY RARE BURMESE UNHEATED RUBIES

Hong Kong – On 26 November 2013, Christie’s Hong Kong will stage its Hong Kong Magnificent Jewels auction. Presenting over 300 pieces of jewellery and estimated to fetch a combined total of approximately HK$720 million / US$90 million, the sale is headlined by a Burmese unheated pigeon’s blood red ruby and diamond necklace and ear pendants, a 13.21-carat oval-shaped Burmese no heat ruby and diamond ring, as well as a diamond rivière composed of all D colour brilliant-cut diamonds. While the rubies lead the show, a sensational array of rare diamonds, coloured stones, natural pearls and jadeite jewellery will offer up a wide spectrum of choices for collectors, with a group of important pieces from international design houses adding to the dazzle. Highlights from these categories include a pair of natural pearl and diamond ear pendants, a pair of significantly sized emerald and diamond ear pendants, and a vivid emerald green double-strand jadeite bead necklace.

 THE RUBY PASSION

Beautiful, rare and of great worth, rubies have been widely appreciated and collected since ancient times. In Indian civilization, they are known as ratnanayakaya, meaning the “Lord of the Gemstones”; while in the Bible, they appear in the book of Proverbs as a metaphor for one of the most precious materials. During medieval times, rubies were also hailed as “the gem of gems… (which) surpasses all other gems in value” by Philippe de Valois (1293 – 1350), the first King of France of the House of Valois.

The sale is topped by the astonishing Crimson Garland suite by Etcetera comprising a magnificent Burmese no heat ruby and diamond necklace (Illustrated middle, lot 2109, est. HK$38,000,000-58,000,000 / US$4,800,000-7,250,000) and a pair of Burmese no heat ruby and diamond ear pendants (Illustrated right, lot 2110, est. HK$15,000,000-25,000,000 / US$1,875,000-3,200,000). All the rubies used in the necklace and ear pendants are vivid “pigeon’s blood” red, the most desirable colour for rubies, and consist of top-quality rubies totalling 99.98 carats in weight and diamonds of over 70 carats combined. In addition, despite the fact that rubies weighing over five carats are known to be extremely scarce, it contains two cushion-shaped rubies each weighing 10.32 and 10.03 carats as its centrepieces, making it an extraordinary collectible. Meanwhile, the pair of ear pendants is set with two cushion-shaped rubies of 6.17 and 6.03 carats, respectively, each within an oval-shaped diamond border.

Also from the Burmese unheated ruby family is an exceptional ruby and diamond ring named “The Regal Ruby” (Illustrated left on page 1, lot 2075, est. HK$38,000,000-58,000,000 / US$4,870,000-7,250,000). Set with an oval-shaped ruby weighing an imposing size of 13.21 carats, the ring is flanked by half-moon diamonds and mounted in 18k white and yellow gold.

DIAMONDS AND COLOURED DIAMONDS

Diamonds continue to play an important part in Christie’s Hong Kong’s jewels sale, with one particular superb D colour flawless and internally flawless clarity (Ex/Ex/Ex) diamond rivière (Illustrated left, lot 2103, est. HK$56,000,000-72,000,000 / US$7,000,000-9,000,000) among this season’s top lots. Mounted in platinum, this diamond stunner is designed as a graduated line of 52 brilliant-cut diamonds, five of which have been determined as Type IIa, mearning that they are the most chemically pure type of diamonds and have exceptional optical transparency. In addition, they have all been graded as “triple excellent” in cut, polish and symmetry.

In the coloured diamonds category, two pieces of jewels take the spotlight. The first is a rare oval-shaped fancy intense orangy pink diamond and diamond ring (lot 2063, est. HK$33,000,000-50,000,000 / US$4,200,000-6,250,000). Centring upon a 12.85-carat, VVS1 clarity fancy intense orangy pink diamond, one of the most sought-after diamond colours to be known, the ring boasts a brilliant-cut diamond border and pear-shaped diamond surround, joined to the brilliant-cut diamond bifurcated half-hoop. The second is a “Starlight” pendent necklace set with a  pear-shaped W to X range, light brown colour VS2 clarity (Ex/Ex), Type IIa diamond of 90.80 carats designed by William Goldberg (lot 1978, est. HK$24,000,000-35,000,000 / US$3,000,000-4,500,000). The diamond pendant came from a diamond rough of a very rare hefty weight of 268.79 carats. The odds of finding such a significant rough is very high when historically, approximately one ton of ore is processed in order to yield a one-carat diamond crystal. It ultimately fetched two diamonds, in which one of them is the pear-shaped diamond pendant of an imposing size of 90.80 carats. The necklace is accented by a series of pear-shaped pink diamond flower heads and suspended from a three-strand brilliant and baguette-cut diamond neck chain. With such an intricate structure and eye-catching design features, the necklace showcases Goldberg’s unique flair.

PEARL AND JADEITE

On the other hand, the pearls & jadeite category, one of the most prominent collections at Christie’s Hong Kong, offers a quartet of top pieces. “The Empresses of the Orient” – a unique pair of natural pearl and diamond ear pendants (lot 2095, est. HK$18,000,000-28,000,000 / US$2,300,000-3,500,000) is set with two white natural pearl drops measuring approximately 11.3-11.4 x 17.8 and 12.0-12.0 x 18.5 mm each, surmounted by natural white perfect button pearls measuring approximately 13.7-13.7 x 11.3 and 13.7-13.8 x 12.0 mm, to the brilliant-cut diamond hook. Another pearl highlight is “The Aurora Pearl” – a natural pearl and diamond pendent necklace by Etcetera for Paspaley (lot 2092, est. HK$1,500,000-2,500,000 / US$190,000-300,000). Named after the Roman Goddess of the Dawn and discovered in 2003, the 102.4-grain Aurora Pearl is the largest “virgin” or undrilled pearl ever offered at auction and one of the largest pieces from the Paspaley collection. Its beauty is characterised by a play of colours between intense pink, blue and green orient on a pure white ground.

With growing interest and demand from both Chinese and international collectors, the price of top-class jadeite continues to gain momentum in the high-end jewellery market. Following Christie’s Shanghai Inaugural Auction in September, where a carved jadeite laughing Buddha ignited a fierce bidding war and was eventually sold for 13 times its original estimate, a fabulous line-up of jadeite pieces will be featured in the autumn 2013 auction. The two exceptional highlights in this category are epitomes of the three major quality criteria for jadeite: colour, translucency and thickness. One is a superb jadeite bead and diamond necklace (lot 2086, est. HK$16,000,000-25,000,000 / US$2,000,000-3,200,000). Designed as a two-strand necklace, the piece comprises 107 slightly graduated jadeite beads of even, vivid emerald green colour and high translucency. The other is a jadeite and diamond necklace (Illustrated left, lot 2017, est. HK$8,000,000-12,000,000 / US$1,000,000-1,500,000) with its front set with seven thick high-domed oval jadeite cabochons of bright emerald green colour and high translucency, linked by brilliant-cut diamond spacers.

COLOURED GEMSTONES

A rare pair of emerald and diamond ear pendants (lot 2049, est. HK$9,500,000-12,000,000 / US$1,200,000-1,500,000) stands out in the Coloured Gemstones section. Each of this significantly sized ear pendant pair is set with a Colombian moderate oil emerald drop weighing over 30 carats and suspended from an emerald bead surmount of approximately 8.17 and 7.24 carats, respectively, within a brilliant-cut diamond surround and centre.

Other highlights include a 37.32-carat cushion-shaped Burmese no heat “royal blue” sapphire and diamond brooch (lot 1914, est. HK$10,500,000-18,000,000 / US$1,350,000-2,250,000), and a square-shaped Colombian no oil emerald and diamond brooch of approximately 12.00 carats from the Thurn and Taxis collection (lot 2000, est. HK$4,800,000-6,500,000 / US$600,000-800,000).

HONG KONG MAGNIFICIENT JEWELS

Grand Hall, Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, No. 1 Expo Drive, Wanchai

26 November 2013, Sale 3268

PREVIEW:

21-25 November 2013  10:30am to 6:00pm

AUCTION:

26 November 2013 (Friday) 1:30pm

PRESS CONTACTS:

Simone Woo | Hong Kong | +852 2978 9966 | swoo@christies.com

Meng Mi | Beijing | +86 10 8572 7977 | mmi@christies.com

Please click here to view the factsheet and images of the above auction highlights.