Bubble gum will headline the upcoming Magnificent Jewels spring sale at Christie’s Hong Kong. The piece featured in the cover is a 3.43-carat cushion modified brilliant-cut diamond ring entitled The Bubble Gum Pink, which of course, gets its nickname from its resemblance to the classic bubble gum. Apart from its superb colour, the clarity of the stone is internally flawless and is by the Moussaieff luxury jewellery London. It is expected to fetch between HK$46.8m - 65m (US$6m-8.2m).
According to the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) report, The Bubble Gum Pink weighs 3.44 carats. The colour is naturally purplish pink with the top grading of fancy vivid and is evenly distributed throughout. Surrounding the gem are pear-shaped pink diamonds and marquise-cut white diamonds, all D colour.
Designed by Moussaieff luxury jewellery in London, The Bubble Gum Pink was coined by Queen of Diamonds, Alisa Moussaief. Alisa married into the Moussaief family when she was 18 years old and has been running the jewellery business with her husband, Shlomo Moussaief. Shlomo retired in 2004 while Alisa continues to oversee sales, designs and acquisitions. Last May, a 8-carat fancy vivid blue diamond pendant necklace designed by Moussaief sold for HK$160m.
Alisa Moussaief
Moussaieff
The vivid blue diamond pendant necklace previously offered at Christie's Hong Kong was designed by Moussaieff
Another highlight of the Magnificent Jewels sale is a 3.01-carat fancy vivid blue diamond ring. The blue diamond is cut-cornered rectangular step-cut with an Excellent polish grading and VS1 clarity grading according to the 2018 GIA report. The two diamonds to its side are a 0.24 carats, fancy intense purplish pink colour (VS1 clarity and Excellent polish) and a 0.21-carats fancy intense purple-pink colour (SI2 clarity). The ring is expected to fetch between HK$38m - 55m (US$4.8m - 7m).
Another notable lot is a 26.41-carat Kashmir sapphire and diamond brooch. Kashmir sapphire is the finest type of blue sapphire. It became popular for its rich and velvety blue tone giving it a radiant appearance in all sources of light. Most were mined during the 18th century but because of excessive mining, the source was nearly depleted by early 19th century. Therefore, Kashmir sapphire is extremely rare especially more than 25 carats. The 26.41 carats Kashmir sapphire in this brooch is cushion-shaped with no indications of heating (GIA report, 2011). The pre-sale estimate of the brooch is valued at HK$32m - 50m (US$4m - 6.37m).
The Sapphire and Diamond Brooch weighs 26.41 carats
The Jewel of Kashmir
The auction record (price per carat) for a Kashmir sapphire piece goes back to 2015, when a 27.68-carat Kashmir sapphire and diamond ring, The Jewel of Kashmir sold for HK$52.28 m (HK$1.88m per carat) at Sotheby’s Hong Kong Magnificent Jewels and Jadeite Autumn sale. If the brooch can fetch more than HK$49.9m, it will set a new auction record for Kashmir sapphire for price per carat.
Top three lots (by estimate)
Superb Coloured Diamond and Diamond Ring, Moussaieff
Lot no.: 2051
GIA report no.: 1152126470
Weight: 3.44 carats
Colour: Fancy Vivid Purplish Pink
Clarity: Internally Flawless
Polish: Very Good
Symmetry: Good
Estimate: HK$46,800,000 - 65,000,000
Elegant Coloured Diamond Ring
Lot no.: 2043
GIA report no.: 5191488274
Carat: 3.01 carats
Colour: Fancy Vivid Blue
Clarity: VS1
Polish: Excellent
Symmetry: Good
Estimate: HK$38,000,000 - 55,000,000
Superb Sapphire and Diamond Brooch
Lot no. :2065
Weight: 26.41 Carats
SSEF report no.: 60825
Estimate: HK$32,000,000 - 50,000,000
Auction details
Auction house; Christie's Hong Kong
Sale: Hong Kong Magnificent Jewels
Venue: Hong Kong Exhibition Centre
Auction: 28 May 2019 1:00pm