Christies First Live Online Jewelry Auction Since The Coronavirus Lockdown

Christie’s auction house has announced the holding of its first live jewelry auction, since the suspension of such auctions in March, 2020, following the worldwide lockdown caused by the global spread of the coronavirus. All auctions during the period of lockdown were conducted online, and the first live jewelry auction to be held will be the Christie’s Hong Kong Magnificent Jewels Auction fixed for July 9, 2020, previously scheduled for June 2, 2020 but postponed.

Significantly, the major highlight of this sale will be a 12.11-carat blue diamond ring, with a pre-sale estimate of US$ 12.3 million. The extremely rare blue diamond is a marquise-cut, internally flawless, fancy intense blue diamond. This is the second largest marquise-cut diamond ever to appear at a public auction, after the 13.39-carat. Marquise-cut, fancy blue, VVS2-clarity diamond that also appeared at a Christie’s Hong Kong auction in May 2011 and sold for US$ 7.6 million. However, in terms of its color and clarity the 12.11-carat blue diamond is superior to 13.39-carat diamond.

A total of 147 lots will be on offer at this auction, which will be held at The James Christie Room, 22nd Floor, Alexandra House, 18, Chater Road, Central Hong Kong, from 3.00 pm onwards, on Thursday, July 9, 2020. Viewing of the lots will also be held at the same venue from Saturday, 4th July to Tuesday, 7th July, viewing times being from 10.30 AM to 6.00 PM on the first three days and 10.30 AM to 5.00 PM on the last day 7th July, 2020.

Lot 1947 - SUPERB COLOURED DIAMOND AND DIAMOND RING
Lot 1947 – SUPERB COLOURED DIAMOND AND DIAMOND RING

Top highlight of the sale is Lot 1947 – SUPERB COLOURED DIAMOND AND DIAMOND RING – with a pre-sale estimate of HKD 65,000,000 – HKD 95,000,000 (USD 8,424,072 – USD 12,312,105). Ring size 6 ½ platinum and gold ring is claw-set with a marquise brilliant-cut, fancy intense blue, Internally Flawless clarity diamond, weighing 12.11 carats, flanked by a pear brilliant-cut, D-Color, Internally Flawless clarity diamond on the shoulders of the ring, weighing 0.71 and 0.69 carats respectively, accentuated by several circular-cut colorless diamonds on the upper hoop of the ring. The lot is accompanied by two GIA reports bearing Nos. 1206752233 and 2347561366 in respect of the marquises-cut diamond and the two pear-brilliant-cut diamonds respectively.

The next highlight of the sale in terms of estimate is Lot 1945 – MAGNIFICENT STAR RUBY AND DIAMOND NECKLACE, ETCETERA – with a pre-sale estimate of HKD 18,000,000 – HKD 28,000,000 (USD 2,332,820 – USD 3,628,831). The 38.2 cm Etcetera white gold, loop or festoon necklace, designed by Edmond Chin of ETC Hong Kong, has a central pendant and eight loops or festoons on either side, and a ruby-set clasp behind

Lot 1945 - MAGNIFICENT STAR RUBY AND DIAMOND NECKLACE, ETCETERA
Lot 1945 – MAGNIFICENT STAR RUBY AND DIAMOND NECKLACE, ETCETERA

The centerpiece of the pendant is an oval, cabochon-cut, pigeon blood-red, Burma star ruby, with a distinct six-rayed star, weighing 19.53 carats, with a row of five ova-cutl and cushion-cut rubies on either side, with a D-E color, pear-shaped diamond, weighing 1.00-carat placed above and below, and suspended from the festoon necklace, with a D-E color, 3.55-carat, marquise-shaped diamond placed at the point of suspension and the loop of the pendant set with small circular-cut diamonds.

Each of the eight loops on either side, is set with colorless circular-cut diamonds, with a group of four rubies placed at the center of each loop, each group consisting of a central circular or cushion-cut ruby and an oval cabochon ruby placed on the inner side and two oval cabochon rubies on the outer side. These cabochon rubies also display asterism. At the point where two loops meet, a D-E color, flawless to VS2-clarity, marquise-cut diamond is placed.

Lot 1945 - MAGNIFICENT STAR RUBY AND DIAMOND NECKLACE, ETCETERA
Lot 1945 – MAGNIFICENT STAR RUBY AND DIAMOND NECKLACE, ETCETERA

The lot is accompanied by a Gubelin 2012 report bearing No. 12101080, in respect of the cabochon star ruby, weighing 19.53 carats, of Burma origin, with no indications of heating and a distinct asterism. 15 GIA reports dating from 2011 to 2019 in respect of 15 marquise diamonds weighing 0.70 carats to 3.55 carats, D to E Color and Flawless to VS2-clarity, also accompanies the lot.

Lot 1945 - MAGNIFICENT STAR RUBY AND DIAMOND NECKLACE, ETCETERA
Lot 1945 – MAGNIFICENT STAR RUBY AND DIAMOND NECKLACE, ETCETERA

LOT 1935 – SUPERB DIAMOND RING – is another significant highlight with an estimate of HKD 10,000,000 – HKD 15,000,000 (USD 1,296,051 – USD 1,944,077). The size 6, white metal ring is claw-set with a cut-cornered, rectangular step-cut, D-Color, Internally Flawless diamond, weighing 17.95 carats, flanked by tapered baguette-cut, colorless diamonds on the shoulders of the ring.

LOT 1935 - SUPERB DIAMOND RING
LOT 1935 – SUPERB DIAMOND RING

A 2019 GIA report in respect of the main diamond, bearing no. 1688498, states that the cut-cornered, rectangular step-cut diamond, weighing 17.95 carats is a Type IIa, D-Color, Internally Flawless clarity diamond, with excellent polish and symmetry.

The next most valued lot of the sale is a Jadeite Lot, bearing LOT NO 1925, titled an IMPORTANT JADEITE BANGLE with a pre-sale estimate HKD 8,000,000 – HKD 12,000,000 (USD 1,036,841 – USD 1,555,261). The cylindrical jadeite bangle with an inner diameter of approximately 52.9 mm, has a width of 8.6 mm and a thickness of 8.7 mm.

LOT NO 1925, titled an IMPORTANT JADEITE BANGLE
LOT NO 1925, titled an IMPORTANT JADEITE BANGLE

HK Jade & Stone Lab, year 2020 report, bearing No. KJ 101832, states that the jadeite bangle is of natural color, Fei Cui, Jadeite Jade, without resin.

Another marquise brilliant-cut, fancy intense-blue diamond ring is the next highlight of the sale, bearing LOT NO 1930, titled IMPORTANT COLOURED DIAMOND AND DIAMOND RING, with a pre-sale estimate of HKD 7,000,000 – HKD 9,000,000 (USD 907,236 – USD 1,166,446). Ring size 6 ½ platinum ring is claw-set with a fancy intense-blue, marquise brilliant-cut, Internally Flawless clarity diamond, weighing 2.08 carats, flanked on either side by tapered baguette-cut diamonds on the shoulders of the ring.

LOT NO 1930, titled IMPORTANT COLOURED DIAMOND AND DIAMOND RING
LOT NO 1930, titled IMPORTANT COLOURED DIAMOND AND DIAMOND RING

The Lot is accompanied by a year 2020 GIA report bearing no. 2205720467, stating that the 2.08 carat, marquise brilliant-cut diamond, is Fancy Intense Blue color and Internally Flawless clarity.

LOT 1944 - IMPORTANT RUBY AND DIAMOND RING
LOT 1944 – IMPORTANT RUBY AND DIAMOND RING

LOT 1944 – IMPORTANT RUBY AND DIAMOND RING – is another highlight of the sale, with an estimate of HKD 6,500,000 – HKD 8,500,000 (USD 842,629 – USD 1,101,900). Ring size 6 ½ white gold ring is claw-set with a cushion-cut, pigeon blood-red Burma ruby, weighing 6.065 carats as centerpiece, surrounded by a row of eight oval-shaped, rose-cut diamonds, interspersed by eight smaller circular-cut pink diamonds.

Year 2020 SSEF report bearing No. 111938, accompanying the lot, states that the cushion-cut ruby weighing 6.065 carats is of Burma origin with no indications of heating and having the most desired color, known as Pigeon Blood-Red in the trade.

LOT-1939 - IMPORTANT SAPPHIRE AND DIAMOND NECKLACE
LOT-1939 – IMPORTANT SAPPHIRE AND DIAMOND NECKLACE

LOT-1939 – IMPORTANT SAPPHIRE AND DIAMOND NECKLACE – with an estimate of HKD 6,000,000 – HKD 8,000,000 (USD 777,812 – USD 1,037,082) is among the significant lots of the sale. The 46.5 cm platinum necklace has a neck chain set with pear-shaped diamonds, placed end to end, and a sapphire and diamond pendant hanging from its front lower end. The pendant is set with a lower large oval-cut blue sapphire weighing 12.81 carats and an upper smaller oval-cut blue sapphire, weighing 6.50 carats, separated by rows of pear-shaped sapphires. The clasp behind is set with a cushion-shaped blue sapphire, surrounded by a row of circular-cut diamonds.

LOT-1939 - IMPORTANT SAPPHIRE AND DIAMOND NECKLACE
LOT-1939 – IMPORTANT SAPPHIRE AND DIAMOND NECKLACE

Three SSEF reports from 2018 to 2019, bearing report nos. 99655, 104964 and 101549 in respect of sapphires weighing 12.816, 6.508 and 2.744 carats respectively are all of Kashmir origin, with no indications of heating. Gubelin reports from 2018-2019, bearing report nos. 19010090 and 18080064 in respect of sapphires 6.51 and 2.74 carats state that both sapphires of Kashmir origin with no indications of heating,

24 GIA reports from 2018-2019 in respect of 24 diamonds weighing 0.71 to 0.40 carats state that the diamonds are D to F color and VS1 clarity.

LOT 1938 - SUPERB SAPPHIRE AND DIAMOND RING
LOT 1938 – SUPERB SAPPHIRE AND DIAMOND RING

LOT 1938 – SUPERB SAPPHIRE AND DIAMOND RING – with a pre-sale estimate of HKD 4,000,000 – HKD 6,000,000 (USD 518,572 – USD 777,857) is among the first ten lots of the sale. Ring size 5 ¾ yellow-gold ring is double claw-set with a cushion-shaped blue sapphire, weighing 14.70 carats, flanked by a triangular-cut colorless diamond on the shoulders, and two rows of circular-cut diamonds on the girdle and upper shank of the ring.

SSEF report dated 2018, bearing no. 98932, states that the 14.70-carat blue sapphire is of Kashmir origin with no indications of heating.

Gubelin report also from 2018 bearing no. 18040006, states that the 14.70-carat blue sapphire is of Kashmir origin with no indications of heating.

LOT 1924 - JADEITE, RUBY AND DIAMOND EARRINGS

Another significant Jadeite Lot is LOT 1924 – JADEITE, RUBY AND DIAMOND EARRINGS – with a pre-sale estimate of HKD 3,800,000 – HKD 5,800,000 (USD 492,643 – USD 751,929). Each of the pair of Jadeite hoop earrings is of length 3.5 cm, the Jadeite hoop having a diameter of 23.7 mm and thickness of 6.5 mm, suspended by a yellow-gold loop, set with circular-cut diamonds, from a rectangular surmount collet-set with a sugar-loaf ruby. Hong Kong Jade & Stone Lab report dated year 2020, bearing Nos. KJ 101692 and 101693 state the Jadeite hoop is natural color Fei Cui (Jadeite-Jade), without resin.

Among the highlights of Emerald lots is LOT 1937 – An IMPORTANT EMERALD AND DIAMOND RING, by HARRY WINSTON, with a pre-sale estimate of HKD 3,200,000 – HKD 4,800,000 (USD 414,857 – USD 622,286). Ring size 7 ¼ platinum ring, signed Winston with Jacques Timey maker’s mark, is double claw-set with a cushion-shaped emerald weighing 9.55 carats flanked by triangular-cut colorless diamonds on the shoulders of the ring. 

LOT 1937 – An IMPORTANT EMERALD AND DIAMOND RING, by HARRY WINSTON
LOT 1937 – An IMPORTANT EMERALD AND DIAMOND RING, by HARRY WINSTON

SSEF 2017 Report bearing No. 94899 states that the 9.552-carat emerald is of Colombia origin with no indications of clarity enhancement.

AGL 2015 Report bearing No. CS 63350 states that the 9.552-carat emerald is of Colombia origin with no indications of clarity modification,

One thought on “Christies First Live Online Jewelry Auction Since The Coronavirus Lockdown

  1. Deepak says:

    Dr. Larif,

    Very nice coverage of details with good quality picture. Please keep up the good work.

    Deepak

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