A rare and important 9.08-carat Pigeon’s Blood Burmese Ruby and Diamond Ring, Cartier, 1956 (Est. HK$24 - 30 million / US$3 – 3.8 million. Photo: Sotheby's

HONG KONG.- Sotheby’s Hong Kong announced today that the Magnificent Jewels and Jadeite Autumn Sale 2012 will take place on 9 October at Hall 3, Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre. The sale will highlight an important selection of colourless and coloured diamonds, Burmese rubies, Colombian emeralds, Kashmir sapphires and natural pearls – all of exceptional quality – as well as a special and auspicious assemblage of dragon-themed jadeite properties. Altogether the sale will offer approximately 390 lots estimated to achieve in excess of HK$500 million / US$64 million*. 

QUEK Chin Yeow, Deputy Chairman and Head of Jewellery Department, Sotheby’s Asia, said, “The classic cut of round diamonds has withstood the test of time and fashion. Simple and perfect diamonds have always been highly sought after in the auction market by buyers with either collection or investment in mind. We are thrilled to present several fine examples, including a superb diamond necklace composed of 36 round internally flawless D-colour, Type IIa diamonds, all of Excellent Cut, Polish and Symmetry. Perfection does not come any better. Classicism continues with a ‘pigeon’s blood’ Burmese ruby in a classic vintage mount by Cartier. Sophisticated collectors can expect a delightful feast of superlative jewels.” 

HIGHLIGHTS 
DIAMONDS 
PURE PERFECTION 
An extremely rare collecting opportunity arises this season as Sotheby’s offers as top lot of the sale an exceptionally important and auspicious D/IF Riviere Diamond Necklace by Nirav Modi, totalling 88.88 carats (Est. HK$35 – 50 million / US$4.5 – 6.4 million) - a numerical symbol of prosperity and fortune in Chinese culture. Attaining the highest grading in all attributes - the most desirable D-colour, Internally Flawless clarity, Excellent Cut, Polish and Symmetry (Triple Excellent), all 36 main diamonds, ranging from 1.25 to 6 carats, are of Type IIa purity – a rare quality found in less than 2% of all gem-quality diamonds that denotes the gem is free of nitrogen. Painstakingly amassed, such a highly desirable strand of pure perfection is rare in the market. 

Catering to the market’s insatiable demand for high colour flawless diamonds, this season Sotheby’s will present an exceptional selection, including two major white diamonds: an exceptional 15.02-carat Brilliant-round D/IF Forevermark™ Diamond Ring (Est. HK$20 – 24 million / US$2.6 – 3 million) has the attributes of the highest colour and clarity grading – D colour and Internally Flawless. This beautiful treasure features a Forevermark™ diamond of Excellent Cut, Polish and Symmetry (Triple Excellent), and Type IIa quality with no florescence. Crafted by Dali Diamond from a 45.22-carat rough, this unique diamond is inscribed with the Forevermark™ icon and individual number visible only through a special Forevermark™ viewer. This inscription is proof of Forevermark’s™ promise of beauty, rarity and responsible sourcing. Equally rare and desirable is an important Unmounted 20.22- carat Round Brilliant-cut D/IF Diamond (Est. HK$28 - 32 million / US$3.5 – 4 million) of Excellent Cut, Polish and Symmetry and Type IIa quality. 

ENCHANTING PINK 
This season Sotheby’s is delighted to offer a rare 10.15-carat Fancy Pink Diamond and Diamond Ring (Est. HK$18 – 23 million / US$2.3 – 2.9 million). Pink diamonds of over 10 carats are exceedingly rare and at 10.15 carats, this beautiful gem is one such example. Of a lovely and soft pink hue, well-proportioned classic pear shape and flanked by gleaming white diamonds, this elegant jewel is the epitome of feminine grace. 

DROP OF GOLD 
Another head-turning jewel offered is a 21.43-carat Fancy Vivid Yellow Diamond and Diamond Ring (Est. HK$9 – 11 million / US$1.2 – 1.4 million). Of an impressive size of 21.43 carats, this stunning gem gleams with a saturated and pure Fancy Vivid Yellow colour, rated by the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) as the most desirable in a yellow diamond, and is certain to shine in the most glamorous of occasions. 

COLOURED GEMSTONES 
FIERY RUBIES 
Asia’s growing demand for superlative natural gemstones, especially Burmese rubies, is increasingly apparent in recent seasons at Sotheby’s, be it a “loupe-clean” 5.01-carat Burmese Ruby and Diamond Ring fetching an impressive HK$12.42 million / US$1.6 million in April 2012 in Hong Kong, or a Burmese Ruby and Diamond Necklace set with rubies totalling 53.07-carat that achieved HK$24.18 million / US$3.1 million in the same evening. 

This season Sotheby’s Hong Kong presents to sophisticated connoisseurs a rare and important 9.08-carat Pigeon’s Blood Burmese Ruby and Diamond Ring, Cartier, 1956 (Est. HK$24 - 30 million / US$3 – 3.8 million). Of an impressive size of over 9 carats, high clarity and a saturated and homogeneous ‘pigeon’s blood’ crimson colour, the natural and unheated centre stone, from the fabled mine in Mogok Valley, Burma, is certainly a marvelous treasure in itself. Mogok rubies also exhibit a velvety softness caused by minute needle inclusions that scatter light onto the facets. Coupled with the inimitable glamour of Cartier’s classic daisy-motif design from 1956, this exquisite ring will certainly stir intense bidding. This is complemented by a unique suite by renowned American jewellery designer James W. Currens: a Pigeon’s Blood Burmese Cabochon Ruby and Diamond “Fireworks” Necklace and Pair of Matching Earrings, Faidee by James W. Currens, with 20 Rubies on Necklace Totalling 108.13 Carats, and 4 Rubies on Earrings Totalling 27.39 Carats (Est. HK$17 - 25 million / US$2.15 – 3.2 million) and a matching Pigeon’s Blood Burmese Cabochon Ruby and Diamond “Fireworks” Bracelet, Faidee by James W. Currens, with 7 Rubies Totalling 42.55 Carats (Est. HK$5 – 7 million / US$640,000 – 900,000). Set with fine and rare unheated Mogok Burmese rubies and sparking diamonds, the suite dazzles with a fiery flare akin to that of a spectacular firework display, which was the inspiration behind the design. 

ENTICING EMERALD 
This immaculate Pair of 30.26 and 30.09-carat Colombian Emerald Drop and Diamond Pendent Earrings, Van Cleef & Arpels (Est. HK$10 – 12 million / US$1.3 – 1.5 million) features two matching drops of intense and saturated old-mine emeralds of Colombian origin embellished by swirls of diamonds totalling approximately 10 carats, embracing Van Cleef & Arpel’s timeless spirit that is at once elegant and sublime. These sophisticated earrings are a superb example of the technical mastery, stylish design, glamour and femininity of an iconic Van Cleef & Arpels jewel from the 1950’s, an era which launched the stunning “New Look” fashion. 

REGAL SAPPHIRE 
A symbol of style, royalty and romance, sapphire has become a favourite among the most sophisticated jewellery lovers. This natural and unheated 8-carat Kashmir Sapphire and Diamond Ring (Est. HK$4.3 - 5 million / US$550,000 – 640,000) of superior clarity glows with a soft and velvety blue hue unique to sapphires of Kashmir origin, which is best complemented with the gleaming diamonds on its side. 

NATURAL PEARLS 
A gemstone created wholly in a live organism that shines on its own with minimum human craft, natural pearls are a true miracle of Nature’s serendipity and highly treasured for its great beauty and grace. It was said that Vitellius, a Roman general, financed his entire military campaign on just one pearl from his mother’s earrings. Only one single pearl is naturally yielded in approximately 10,000 oysters and only a minority of which will be of desirable shape, size and lustre. Nowadays, pearl oysters are no longer commercially fished and natural pearls are but a mere 1% of the world’s pearl production. 

To be offered is a magnificent matching pair of Natural Pearl Drop and Golconda Diamond Pendent Earrings, set with two Golconda diamonds weighing 6.43 and 6.23 carats respectively (Est. HK$16 – 20 million / US$2 – 2.5 million) of perfect proportions and sublime elegance. Complementing the fine lustre of natural pearls is the magnificent luminosity of legendary Golconda diamonds, mined centuries ago from the ancient Kingdom of Golconda in today’s India, which had begotten some of the most important diamonds in history. Described as “brighter than bright” and “whiter than white”, Golconda is synonymous with chemically pure Type IIa diamonds free of nitrogen impurities, a classification granted to less than 2% of the finest diamonds. This is complemented by a Double-Stranded Natural Pearl And Diamond Necklace (Est. HK$4.8 – 6 million / US$600,000 – 750,000), composed of 128 meticulously assembled gleaming natural saltwater pearls measuring approximately 4.80 to 10.30mm, a necklace of classic charm and great elegance, finished with a clasp by Cartier London. 

JADEITE 
Sotheby’s will offer a selection of fine treasures encompassing fine jadeite, attractive lavender jadeite jewellery and an assemblage of auspicious carved jadeite inspired by the dragon. 

Of significant thickness, fine translucency and intense emerald green colour, this Jadeite Carved “Magnolia” and Diamond Pendant (Est. HK$6.8 – 7.5 million / US$870,000 – 950,000) bears the likeness of a blooming magnolia, a symbol of purity that best represents the natural grace of this jewel. 

Lavender jadeite, one of the beautiful and rare colours of jadeite, is a result of mineral content of the soil, which is rich in magnesium and relatively low in iron oxide. Lavender jadeite comes in a range of tones, commonly ranging from pastel blue violet to pastel pink violet. The vibrant purple lavender colour in this exquisite Jadeite, Lavender Jadeite and Diamond Pendant Necklace (Est. HK$3.5 – 4 million / US$450,000 –500,000) to be offered is a desirable shade and the most highly valued because of its unique beauty. Finely complemented with a superb emerald green jadeite cabochon of exceptional translucency, this charming pendant will certainly captivate the eyes of jadeite connoisseurs. Lovers of bangles will also be delighted by a Pair of Jadeite and Lavender Jadeite Bangles (Est. HK$6 – 7 million / US$770,000 –900,000) of fine and matching translucency and softly captivating pastel colours. 

A symbol of power, luck, prosperity and imperial divinity, the dragon is absolute in terms of all auspicious symbols in Chinese culture. This season Sotheby’s presents a fine and varied selection of jadeite properties featuring the dragon imagery in different forms and from a wide span of time from late Qing to modern day. Fashioned in jadeite - an exquisite gemstone prized in China for its connotations of virtue, beauty and protection from evil - these properties are set to bestow good fortune onto the wearer. A highlight of this themed collection is a Pair of Dragon Belt Hooks from late Qing Dynasty (Est. HK$800,000 – 1.2 million / US$100,000 – 150,000), ingenious belt ornaments, demonstrating the exquisite craftsmanship of ancient China. The distinguished motif which gives the belt hooks their intriguing name is the hornless dragon known as “chilong”, which is a beast of great power and audacity according to Chinese mythology. This unique pair of dragon belt hooks offered is of antique jadeite, one in red and the other in green - a clever play on the two Chinese characters that together “jadeite” (「翡」、「翠」), which describes this precious gemstone’s red and green hues respectively. This is complemented by more recent creations including a Jadeite “Dragon” Plaque Pendant (Est. HK$3.5 – 4.2 million / US$450,000 – 550,000). 

*Estimates do not include buyer’s premium