A 5-carat fancy vivid blue diamond and diamond ring was sold for HK$108m after premium, leading Sotheby’s Magnificent Jewels and Jadeite sale this autumn in Hong Kong. It became the fourth item passing the HK$100m mark this autumn season, following Zao Wou-ki’s Juin-Octobre 1985, a Qianlong reticulated vase and a Qianlong Falangcai poppy bowl.
A 5-carat fancy vivid blue diamond and diamond ring
Fancy vivid blue diamond is very rare. For every 33,000 gem-quality diamonds uncovered, only one possess the brilliance and blue colour most sought after. The formation of a beautiful blue diamond takes place far beneath the depths of the earth’s mantle, where the scarce trace elements of boron can be found from the ancient oceans providing the diamond with its unrivalled colour.
This diamond ring is set with a step-cut fancy vivid blue diamond weighing 5 carats, decorated with baguette diamonds, mounted in 18 karat white gold, size 6. It carried an estimate between HK$98m and HK$120m. It was sold for HK$108m after premium, slightly passing the low estimate.
It is accompanied by GIA report stating that the diamond is Fancy Vivid Blue, Natural Colour, VS2 Clarity
It is accompanied by GIA report stating that the diamond is Fancy Vivid Blue, Natural Colour, VS2 Clarity
In 2015, an internally flawless 12.03 carat fancy vivid blue diamond was sold in Geneva for a record US$48.4m. The buyer was Hong Kong businessman Joseph Lau, who renamed the diamond ‘Blue Moon of Josephine” after his daughter.
The Blue Moon, a 12.03 carat fancy vivid blue diamond
The sale realised a 65% sold by lot of all 283 lots offered. One of the highlights of the sale, a jadeite bead and diamond necklace, was bought-in despite carrying high pre-sale estimate. The necklace is composed of fifty-one jadeite beads of brilliant emerald green colour to the diamond-set clasp. The length is approximately 560mm. The earrings are set with three oval jadeite cabochons of brilliant emerald green colour on each side, decorated by brilliant-cut diamonds.
Earlier this year, Sotheby’s offered a HK$100m jadeite bangle this spring sales but the jadeite bangle also failed to sell. Meanwhile, many high-valued jadeite items offered across different auction houses this autumn were bought-in. Is it an indicator for the changes in the jadeite market? Or the estimate was simply too ambitious?
A jadeite bead and diamond necklace, clasp signed Chaumet
A jadeite bangle
Jadeite Bead and Diamond Necklace, clasp signed Chaumet, clasp by Chaumet
Lot no.: 1863
Length: 560mm
Beads: approximately 11.71 - 9.83 mm
Estimate upon request
Bought-in
Top three lots
Fancy Vivid Blue Diamond and Diamond Ring｜Step-cut, 5 carats, Natural Colour, VS2 Clarity
Lot no.: 1892
Estimate: HK$98,000,000 - 120,000,000
Price realised: HK$108,447,000
Fancy Intense Blue Diamond Ring｜Pear-shaped, 3.47 carats, Natural Colour, VS1 Clarity
Lot no.: 1856
Estimate: HK$21,000,000 - 28,000,000
Price realised: HK$24,120,000
A Diamond Ring｜Step-cut, 18.45 carats, D Colour, VVS2 Clarity
Lot no.: 1891
Estimate: HK$9,800,000 - 14,000,000
Price realised: HK$18,120,000
Auction summary
Auction house: Sotheby’s Hong Kong
Sale: Magnificent Jewels and Jadeite
Sale date: 2018/10/3
Lots offered: 283
Sold: 183
Unsold: 100
Sold by lot: 65%
Sale total: HK$315,247,000