From Left: Lot 644, A Colored Diamond and Diamond Pendant Necklace;
Lot 579, A De Beers Fancy Intense Blue Diamond and Diamond Ring.
Jewels & Jadeite at Phillips Hong Kong, 25 November.
As Thanksgiving and Christmas draw near, the time has come to express our gratitude for the people we love most. The pleasure in giving or receiving a jewel may come from the inherent beauty of the piece, but often a jewel carries a message of personal significance, whether through the choice of a particular birthstone or diamonds as a symbol of eternity. Perhaps it may simply be the unique quality of creation, a jewel that is designed to last a lifetime, that encapsulates the sentiment perfectly. Here is our guide to some of the treasures to be found in our Hong Kong Jewels and Jadeite auction on November 25th.
Beloved in both Western and Oriental cultures, rubies are a fiery, passionate gem. Whether it is a classic pair of floral earrings set with unheated Burmese rubies (Lot 504, Estimate: HK$55,000 – 80,000) or a wheat-motif ruby brooch by Chanel (Lot 559, Estimate: HK$40,000 – 60,000), which symbolizes prosperity and abundance, red is the way to go.
For the ultimate animal lover, why not wear a little kitten, cleverly portrayed in fine translucent jadeite (Lot 624, Estimate: HK$120,000 – 160,000)? If you're looking for a unique and magnificent cocktail ring, the sculptural ribbon bow ring (Lot 632, Estimate: HK$150,000 – 250,000) set with a champagne-hue diamond in the center is bound to attract attention.
Sapphire has a classic, evergreen appeal for engagement rings. No bride-to-be could possibly resist a beautiful sapphire of over 11 carats with a pastel pink diamond surround (Lot 604, Estimate HK$530,000 – 650,000). Pink also stuns in the organic beauty of pink conch pearls. This dramatic pair of earrings (Lot 614, Estimate HK$280,000 – 380,000), with their flowing tassels of colored seed pearls, will light up the face of the wearer with a soft glow.
The brooch as a statement jewel has come back in vogue and can turn a daytime dress into a soiree-ready look. This brooch set with a Sri Lankan sapphire of over 50 carats (Lot 570, Estimate HK$900,000 – 1,200,000) is a stunning choice. Equally alluring is a pair of earrings with two heart-shaped untreated natural emeralds (Lot 620, Estimate HK$850,000 – 1,000,000). The heart shape is a notoriously difficult cut, even for the most experienced gem cutter, which makes these two well-matched emeralds particularly special.
Color remains at center stage in this pair of fancy yellow diamond earrings (Lot 578, Estimate HK$1,700,000 – 2,000,000) Each central stone is encircled by another twenty yellow diamonds, affording them an extravagant look. Also fit for the red carpet is a classic pendant necklace (Lot 610, Estimate HK$1,700,000 – 2,200,000) set with Muzo emeralds and Argyle pink diamonds. The pendant can be detached and suspended from a simple chain for a more pared down look.
Nothing expresses eternal love the way diamonds do, and who better than De Beers to understand how the earth’s ultimate sparking creation can ignite passion in the heart of a connoisseur. This fancy intense blue diamond (Lot 579, Estimate HK$3,500,000 – 4,500,000) embodies subtle opulence. And surely our cover lot, an iconic ‘Zip’ necklace by Van Cleef & Arpels (Lot 656, Estimate HK$3,500,000 – 4,500,000), is also a symbol of utmost affection, as it takes skilled craftsmen hundreds of hours to realize this challenging design. Show your beloved that she is worth every second of that precious time.
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