Sotheby’s Hong Kong High Jewelry live sale totaled HK$256,931,760 / US$32,812,755, with 89 percent of lots sold. The house reported its highest ever sell-through rate and highest ever performance to estimate for the category, alongside the appointment of Stewart Young as Head of the Jewelry Department, Asia, the return of Chin Yeow Quek as Senior Advisor, and the addition of Senior International Specialist Charlene Lau.
The top lot of the season was Cartier’s coloured stone and diamond ‘ Tutti Frutti’ pendent necklace, which drew over 30 bids to achieve HK$21,640,000 / US$2,763,644, roughly double its high estimate (est. HK$6.5m to HK$11.5m). A Van Cleef & Arpels sapphire and diamond bracelet sold for HK$5.76m / US$735,610 (est. HK$5.5m to HK$8m).
Among diamonds, The De Beers Jwaneng 28.88, a D-colour, Flawless, Type IIa, 28.88-carat unmounted diamond unearthed from the Jwaneng Mine in Botswana, sold for HK$21,030,000 / US$2,685,741 (est. HK$17m to HK$22m). An 18.29-carat D-colour Internally Flawless pear-shaped diamond sold for more than double its low estimate at HK$8,960,000 / US$1,150,000, and a Graff ring featuring a 10.45-carat D-colour round brilliant-cut diamond achieved HK$5,760,000 / US$738,000.
Coloured diamonds saw solid results, led by an Argyle Fancy Pink diamond of 1.06 carats from the mine’s final 2021 tender, which sold above its high estimate at HK$1,536,000 / US$197,000. A Fancy Vivid Purplish Pink diamond and diamond ring sold for HK$5,760,000 / US$735,610, and a Fancy Intense Purplish Pink diamond and diamond ring for HK$3,328,000 / US$425,019.
Signed jewels by heritage houses drew strong attention. Two diamond jewels from the late 1920s to early 1930s by Mario Buccellati surpassed their high estimates, with a pair of diamond pendant earrings circa 1930 fetching HK$358,400 / US$45,771 (est. HK$80,000 to HK$160,000) and a diamond ring circa 1925 selling for HK$243,200 / US$31,059 (est. HK$60,000 to HK$140,000). A Kashmir blue sapphire and diamond ring by the same house reached HK$3,584,000 / US$457,713 (est. HK$2.8m to HK$3.8m).
Coloured gemstones remained highly sought after. An important sapphire and diamond ring by Ronald Abram sold for HK$15,616,000 / US$1,994,319 (est. HK$13m to HK$18m); a rare pair of emerald and diamond earclips mounted by Harry Winston sold for HK$12.8m / US$1,634,688 (est. HK$10m to HK$18m); a 6.16-carat ruby and diamond ring sold for HK$3.2m / US$408,672 (est. HK$2.8m to HK$3.8m); and a vintage emerald and diamond necklace of Afghanistan origin sold for five times its high estimate at HK$1,664,000 / US$213,000 (est. HK$200,000 to HK$300,000). An online Fine Jewelry sale runs until 29 April 2026.
(Press Release)
