Article | Glamour That Leaps Off The Page Hong Kong Jewels Auction September 2026

As much as we love a summer beach read, there’s no better time to immerse ourselves in a great novel than September. As the academic year begins again and we crave the scent of old pages and tweed, we can’t help but pair our autumn reveries with something even more dazzling: the kind of larger-than-life jewels that we imagine adorning some of our favorite characters.

So it is only appropriate as we prepare for The Hong Kong Jewels Auction on September 29, that Phillips teams up with Central Hong Kong institution Lok Man Rare Books for a special preview event at the Grand Hyatt Hong Kong on Friday 18 September.

Lok Man proprietor Lorence Johnston will bring a selection of rare literary treasures to the event, inviting us to imagine the extraordinary pieces our favorite fictional characters might wear. RSVP and library-chic dress required. Get a preview of that imaginative spirit below as we pair legendary characters with dream pieces from the auction.

Daisy Buchanan

The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald

As Nick Carraway put it, the inimitable Daisy’s face is “sad and lovely with bright things in it, bright eyes and a bright passionate mouth.” Naturally, she’d lean into the old world Art Deco glamour of Lot 577, adorning an effortless black cocktail dress. To round out the look, she might channel East Egg’s old-money aesthetic with these Harry Winston ruby ear clips, or nod to the green light at the end of her dock with Cartier’s emerald-accented Panthère earrings — an ultimate symbol of desire.

Evelyn Hugo

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid

As Evelyn Hugo proved, Old Hollywood was little more than a culture of ambitious souls faking it until they made it — though the glamour was undeniably real. Green remains her signature color, forever tied to the passions of her story. We all carry those unforgettable moments with us, and what better tribute to them than a magnificent emerald or seven? After all, an eighth husband might be a risk, but another emerald never is.

Nick Young

Crazy Rich Asians by Kevin Kwan

We’ll always recommend the book before the film, but even if you’ve only seen the movie, you’ll likely agree with us on one thing: our dear Nick Young understands a thing or two about elegance. Of course, for Nick and his family, high-grade jadeite would be the kind of heritage wealth that suggests the family has long since arrived, representing deep-rooted Chinese traditions, family lineage, and quiet power. Though his Tiffany and Cartier selections compliment bespoke tailoring and represent a fusion of East and West, all these objects ultimately come together as a set of golden handcuffs for Nick. Objects of elegance, dedication, and history, yes, but also reminders of the traditions Nick must navigate to welcome his true love into the fold.

Bai Liusu (白流蘇)

Love in a Fallen City (傾城之戀) by Eileen Chang

To survive a stifling family and win the heart of a worldly bachelor made rich by the South Seas, Bai Liusu mastered the art of quiet endurance. Like a magnificent South Sea pearl formed slowly and overcoming hardship, her grace was hard-won and deeply resilient — a reminder of how we grow by choosing our own path. These triumphs are best carried as talismans, and we think Bai Liusu could do no better than the selection of South Sea pearls on offer here.

Toru Watanabe

Norwegian Wood by Haruki Murakami

Toru Watanabe moves through the turbulence of late-1960s Tokyo as a quiet observer who prefers to blend in. That understated, minimalist nature is central to his character — he is the listener, the outsider who watches life unfold. To match his introspective soul, the architectural spiral of a Bulgari B.Zero1 set mirrors the cyclical maze of his memories, while the sleek, secure lines of Cartier Love reflects the heavy, unbreakable bonds of his loyalty. It is a subtle, modern armor for a young man navigating the quiet depths of an uncertain world with grace beyond his age.