Phillips Announces Further Highlights from the Jewels & Jadeite Spring Auction in Hong Kong

 Phillips Announces Further Highlights from the Jewels & Jadeite Spring Auction in Hong Kong

The Inaugural Jewellery Sale at Phillips’ New Asia Headquarters in the West Kowloon Cultural District on 23 May to Feature an Exquisite Selection of Signed Jewellery, Coloured Gemstones and Diamonds

Led by a Magnificent Sapphire and Diamond Necklace by Bulgari

HONG KONG – 24 April 2023 – Further to the recent announcement of a magnificent sapphire and diamond necklace by Bulgari, which is set with an unheated Ceylon sapphire with ‘royal blue’ colour weighing 118.35 carats, Phillips is pleased to unveil additional highlights from the Jewels & Jadeite Spring Auction in Hong Kong. The sale will be held on 23 May at the company’s new Asia headquarters in Hong Kong’s West Kowloon Cultural District. It comprises a wide range of thoughtfully curated coloured diamonds and gemstones, as well as iconic signed pieces by leading jewellery makers including Van Cleef & Arpels, Cartier, Tiffany & Co., and Chanel, among others.

Charlene Lau, Head of Department, Hong Kong, Phillips Jewels, said: “Following the success of the unveiling event in Hong Kong in March to announce the star lot, Phillips is delighted to reveal other highlights from our first jewellery sale taking place at the company’s new Asia headquarters in West Kowloon. In addition to the exceptional Bulgari sapphire and diamond necklace to lead this season’s sale, we are delighted to offer an array of iconic signed pieces such as the ‘Zip’ necklace by Van Cleef & Arpels and the vintage ‘Tutti Frutti’ Brooches by Cartier. The sale also highlighted by a selection of the finest Burmese rubies and rare coloured diamonds that are highly sought after in the market. We have witnessed a significant growth with unprecedented participation and sell through rates last season, and we look forward to carrying on this sturdy buying momentum to our new saleroom in Hong Kong this May.”

Iconic Signed Jewels

Like a discreet homage to Paris, the city of elegance, Van Cleef & Arpels links ‘Haute Couture’ with ‘Haute Joaillerie’ through the invention of its iconic ‘Zip’. The Duchess of Windsor allegedly inspired Renée Puissant, then artistic director of Van Cleef & Arpels and daughter of the Maison’s founding couple, to transform the ordinary zipper into an exceptional piece of jewellery. This undertaking was proven to be very ambitious and challenging. With the assistance of jewellery designer Réne-Sim Lacaze, the iconic Zip necklace was finally realized more than a decade later in 1950. Till this very day, anywhere from 400 to 1,200 hours are required by skilled craftsmen to create one Zip necklace. This necklace presented in this season’s sale in warm pink gold is a fine example of the classic ‘Zip’ necklace design which highlights the chevrons and an understated chain tassel. With alternating pink sapphires and diamonds, it exudes a feminine aura that is also powerful and bold --- a dream for all serious jewellery collectors.

This season’s Jewels & Jadeite Sale offers two flowerpot brooches by Cartier made in the 1920s, that are quintessential ‘Tutti Frutti’ style jewellery of the Art Deco period, employing rock crystal, a very popular material found on brooches, onyx and diamonds for the monochrome palette, and carved gemstones for their explosive colours. Patented by Cartier in 1989, ‘Tutti Frutti’ is used to describe the interpretation of Indian style with polychrome theme depicting leaves, berries and blossoms. ‘Tutti Frutti’ jewellery pieces were extremely popular among the most discerning collectors and continued to fetch extraordinary prices at international auctions. Each ‘Tutti Frutti’ creation is completely unique and although these two brooches come as a pair, they are singular in their design and overtones.

Also on offer is a Schlumberger for Tiffany & Co. ring set with a 6.26-carat unheated Kashmir sapphire. Jean Schlumberger was one of the most celebrated jewellery designers of the 20^th century, best known for the creations he produced during his time at Tiffany & Co., starting from the mid-1950s.  He also remains one of the only four jewellers who are permitted to sign their creations for Tiffany & Co.. Typical motifs in his work include exotic birds, flowers, plants and many sea creatures, which he combined with the most exuberant colours of gemstones and enamels, mounted in platinum with soft lines of yellow gold. The ring highlighted in this season’s auction is designed as five little diamond-set bees outlining a vibrant Kashmir sapphire in its silky glow, held together by wire work of yellow gold and an open high-dome design, lending it a dramatic presence.

This season Phillips will also offer an exquisitely made diamond and onyx brooch by Chanel which is a graceful depiction of the Maison’s most recognizable motif, the camellia flower, and the monochrome combination is also a true classic of the Maison.

Fiery Burmese Rubies

Adorned and coveted throughout centuries and often associated with power, wealth, success, and health, the finest Burmese rubies have sparked excitement amongst collectors, fetching strong prices at auctions over the years.  Important Burmese rubies presented this season include a 5.01-carat unheated Burmese ruby and diamond ring. Rubies of over 5 carats are highly sought-after by gemstone collectors due to their extreme rarity, and specimens of good colour and clarity are exceedingly hard to come by nowadays. Another bracelet set with thirty-six rubies of fiery red colour, the twelve largest certified to be of Burmese origin and with no indications of heating by Gübelin Gem Lab, is a delightful addition to any connoisseur’s collection.   

Coloured Diamonds

Among the rarest colours that could be found in natural diamonds are blue and green, the first one owes their hue to boron element and the latter to radiation. For the right amount of boron and radiation to take effect in boroughs where diamonds were formed over billions of years ago, for it to be discovered and excavated, for it to be studied meticulously and to be cut to perfection, it was a journey of countless miracles. The 2.02-carat Fancy Green-Blue diamond offered this season displays a crisp ice-like colour and resembles pools of clearest waters glimmering under the sun.

Other highlights this season include a pair of modern and elegant earrings enhanced by two matching Fancy Intense Yellow diamonds of superb colour, and a yellow diamond bracelet with twenty-seven graduated radiant-cut diamonds, on which the diamonds are ingeniously matched and set in yellow gold to create this attractive golden piece of jewel.

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Jewels & Jadeite Hong Kong Spring Auction: 2 pm Hong Kong time, 23 May, 2023

Location: Phillips Asia headquarters, G/F, WKCDA Tower, West Kowloon Cultural District, No. 8 Austin Road West, Kowloon

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ABOUT PHILLIPS

Phillips is a leading global platform for buying and selling 20th and 21st century art and design. With dedicated expertise in the areas of 20th Century and Contemporary Art, Design, Photographs, Editions, Watches, and Jewelry, Phillips offers professional services and advice on all aspects of collecting. Auctions and exhibitions are held at salerooms in New York, London, Geneva, and Hong Kong, while clients are further served through representative offices based throughout Europe, the United States and Asia. Phillips also offers an online auction platform accessible anywhere in the world.  In addition to providing selling and buying opportunities through auction, Phillips brokers private sales and offers assistance with appraisals, valuations, and other financial services.
Visit www.phillips.com for further information.

*Estimates do not include buyer’s premium; prices achieved include the hammer price plus buyer’s premium.

PRESS CONTACTS:            

HONG KONG – Ingrid Hsu, Public Relations and Communications Director, Asia Ingridhsu@phillips.com   +852 2318 2043 
LONDON - Katie Carder, Head of Press, Europe              kcarder@phillips.com                      +44 20 7901 7938
NEW YORK - Jaime Israni, Public Relations Director, Americas  jisrani@phillips.com              +1 212 940 1398

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