Sotheby’s to Sell 119ct. Sapphire in Hong Kong

The 118.88-carat Burmese sapphire and the 6.41-carat pigeon’s blood Burmese ruby.

 Sotheby’s will sell a 118.88-carat, royal-blue, unheated Burmese sapphire in Hong Kong next week, the largest of its kind the auction house has offered in 20 years.

The cushion-shaped stone, surrounded by pear-shaped diamonds weighing a total of 16.06 carats, will lead the October 7 Magnificent Jewels sale, Sotheby’s said Monday.

A pear-shaped, 4.84-carat, fancy-vivid-blue, internally flawless diamond ring is also set to go under the hammer. The piece, which also features two brilliant-cut diamonds, each weighing 1.10 carats, has a high estimate of $8.5 million.

Also up for auction are a pair of pendant earrings featuring brilliant-cut, fancy-intense-blue diamonds weighing 1.95 and 1.63 carats. Those stones suspend two pear-shaped, D-color, internally flawless, type IIa diamonds weighing 5.95 and 5.24-carats. The set has a presale value of up to $4.6 million.

In addition, Sotheby’s will feature a cushion-shaped, 6.41-carat, pigeon’s blood Burmese ruby ring surrounded by French-cut white diamonds. The jewel, which was designed and mounted by Hong Kong-based jeweler Forms, carries an upper estimate of $2.9 million. Meanwhile, a ring containing a cut-cornered rectangular modified brilliant-cut, 18.68-carat, fancy-light-purplish-pink diamond is set to fetch up to $2.2 million at the Hong Kong sale.

“The jewelry market has proven to be highly resilient, with our clients in Asia eyeing the best quality jewels on offer,” said Wenhao Yu, Sotheby’s deputy chairman of jewelry for Asia.

Sotheby’s will showcase the pieces in Hong Kong from October 3 to 6 prior to the sale.

Source: diamonds.net

Anna Hu’s 100 Carat Yellow Diamond Necklace

ANNA HU The Dunhuang Pipa Necklace

Five pieces created by contemporary high jewelry artist, Anna Hu, will be among the jewels being offered at Sotheby’s Hong Kong Magnificent Jewels and Jadeite sale on October 7.

The high jewels on offer will come from Hu’s latest collection, “Silk Road Music Collection.” Unveiled in Paris during the first week of July, it consists of a group of about a dozen jewels inspired by musical and cultural exchanges that took place on the Silk Road – an ancient trade route connecting the eastern and western parts of the world.

Leading the five pieces at the upcoming auction is the “Dunhuang Pipa Necklace,” set with a 100.02 carat fancy intense yellow diamond provided by Sotheby’s. Its estimate is $5 million – $6.25 million. The silhouette of this necklace resembles a Chinese pipa a four stringed Chinese lute attached to lines of a western musical staff in 18k white gold that flows in twists and waves, and sparkles with pavé diamond along the neckline.

Hu was inspired by images of women playing the pipa depicted on murals in Dunhuang, considered an oasis for travelers in China’s northwest desert area along the Silk Road. The necklace can be transformed into a brooch and earring.

“It is absolutely a pleasure to collaborate with Sotheby’s on this project and be given the opportunity to work with the 100.02 carat yellow diamond, which is a true gift from nature,” Hu said.

Yvonne Chu, acting head of department, Jewellery, Sotheby’s, said this necklace “is one of the most important jewelry pieces on offer this season.”

As with much of Hu’s work, this latest collection combines her passion for music and western art with the Chinese themes from her upbringing in Taiwan. A resident of New York for many years, Hu’s brand is known for creating one-of-a-kind pieces with rare gemstones crafted by skilled French-trained artisans.

Source: forbes