Admiring the bijoux at Christie’s Hong Kong Autumn Auction, The Magnificent Jewels & The Pink Supreme, we gaze through the facets of precious gemstones, covet the tales they whisper and “dress” an It-girl heiress.
Our city is preparing to shine with the brilliance of a thousand suns on November 27, when Christie’s Hong Kong reveals its Magnificent Jewels & The Pink Supreme auction at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, with a curation of more than 110 lots. Not getting lost amid the dazzling diamonds, gorgeous gemstones and captivating creations from the renowned jewellery houses won’t be easy. Christie’s Magnificent Jewels has always been a highly anticipated event on the auction calendar, and this year’s is even more special: The Pink Supreme joins the title of the sale, highlighting the importance of this extremely rare and precious pink diamond.
“As we continue our legacy of introducing rare and coveted diamonds to the world, we’re delighted to spotlight The Pink Supreme alongside the extraordinary 40.05-carat Golconda Diamond this season,” says Vickie Sek, chairman of the Jewellery Department at Christie’s Asia Pacific. “These remarkable jewels, together with a hand- picked selection of jadeites, sapphires, rubies and emeralds, underscore our unyielding commitment to quality.”
The Golconda Diamond is another highlight at Magnificent Jewels. The 40.05- carats D colour Internally Flawless Golconda Diamond is presented in a mesmerising necklace with pink diamonds. Golconda is an esteemed name in the diamond industry, referring to the unprecedented intensity, clarity and luminosity of the stone, which gives
it the quality of pristine mountain water. It also signifies the provenance of the diamond, namely the historic kingdom of Golconda, now in modern-day eastern India. The astounding 40.05 carats make this fabulous precious stone the largest Golconda Diamond to appear at auction in the last decade and, given how exhausted the mine where it came from is, it could well be the very last stone of such weight. For Christie’s, this is an extremely important lot.
Before the doors open to enthusiasts and connoisseurs and bidding begins on November 27, we’ve been presented with the opportunity to showcase these exceptional jewels. To carry such masterpieces is none other than Eleanor Lam, a figure of certain taste, appreciation for finery and the art of dress. Or, to her legions of admirers, affecionately, Elly.
On the cover, we spotlight an 88.08-carat Fancy Intense Yellow and Internally Flawless Diamond and Diamond Bracelet. A veritable work of art, if we say so ourselves, the whopping intense yellow diamond is cut into an alluring cushion shape. Stones of such a vibrant colour and internally flawless structure are a rarity – they gain their unique hue from traces of nitrogen altering their molecular structure during the formation process (which most likely happened be-zillions of years ago). A yellow diamond of this size in particular, is an even rarer occurence.
We’ve complemented that extraordinary yellow diamond bracelet with a paragon of artistry – a pair of 11.09- and 10.17-carat D colour Flawless Type IIa diamond earrings by Harry Winston that showcase the house’s mastery in diamonds. Winston is called the “King of Diamonds” after all, a name coined by Cosmopolitan magazine in 1947 that stuck.
The quality of these gemstones in the diamond earrings is unprecedented (these are, after all, D-colour flawless type-IIa diamonds – the most chemically pure), and are pieces that can be immediately appreciated by those in the know. Connoisseurs will note Harry Winston’s signature “cluster” design, which typically involves pear- or marquise-cut diamonds sitting at the clasp with minimal metal in-between, a technique inaugurated by Winston himself in the 1940s.
The next piece that draws our attention is a three-tiered masterpiece, strung with No Heat Burmese Pigeon Blood rubies and fancy-cut diamonds that we believe, will inevitably transform an editorial photograph into an heirloom portrait found in a distant turn-of-the-century European palace. And when the necklace whisper-kisses its way around Lam’s neck, the room stands to attention. She’s a vision in red with rubies and diamonds dripping down her dermis and plateauing just above her silk Dolce & Gabbana dress.
Lam’s silhouette wouldn’t be complete without a soupçon of pink – but of course – and thus, we’ve draped a heavy silk overcoat of blush and feathered bishop sleeves on her like an ethereal spirit. You’ve heard of The Birth of Venus, now try The Rest of Venus. Christie’s Magnificent Jewels auction has an array of the most stunning gemstones in pink – naturellement. There’s a stunning pendant necklace, for example, that features a briolette-cut pink topaz set in a diamond-encrusted white-gold frame, and a matching pair of earrings.
Such fancy cuts date to 17th-century India, where the French gem merchant and adventurer Jean-Baptiste Tavernier sold two briolette diamonds to King Louis XIV (as documented in his book Six Voyages of Jean-Baptiste Tavernier). Some jewellery historians speculate this design originated from a double-rose cut, which normally takes a tear shape.
Next, our starlet dons a magnificent ring set with pink and blue cushion-cut diamonds. The ring features a Fancy Vivid Blue Diamond of 2.01 carats and a Fancy Vivid Pink Diamond of 2.00 carats, a Fancy Intense Purplish Pink diamond of 1.01 carats and a Fancy Intense Blue Diamond of 1.01 carats. A jewel fit for royalty, and yet … what
do we know about such coloured diamonds, and why do we keep seeing more of them? Although still not a prominent fixture in popular culture, blue diamonds have become the most sought-after gems at auctions.
And pink diamonds even more enigmatic. These are some of the rarest diamond hues in the market and their popularity is a recent phenomenon.
After all, Christie’s Magnificent Jewels is auctioning both stones. The Pink Supreme is reportedly “the largest fancy intense pink internally flawless diamond to ever appear at auction”. The 15.48-carat stone carries the Gemmological Institute of America (GIA)’s Type IIa classification and represents less than 2 percent of all gem diamonds. Dare we say legendary? There is also a bewitching 3.51-carat fancy vivid blue VS diamond, cut into a beautiful tear shape, that is also a highly anticipated lot in the auction.
The marvels of gemmology don’t cease here. These pages are simply inadequate to encompass the full spectrum of gleaming treasures that Christie’s Hong Kong has curated for the upcoming Magnificent Jewel & Pink Supreme auction, scheduled for November 27. From vibrant and colourless diamonds to resplendent rubies and sapphires, jadeite, and peerless emeralds, each piece is a testament to the art of gemmology. It remains indisputable that Christie’s, the esteemed auction house, is poised yet again to inscribe its name in the annals of history through this splendid assortment of jewels. Christie’s Hong Kong cordially invites you to enrich your collecting journey by joining the prestigious auction house 2023 Autumn Auctions, featuring masterpieces from arts and luxury clusters, from November 24 to December 2, as well as participating in our online auctions and private sales. Be a part of this momentous event, as Christie’s Hong Kong continues to make history, one extraordinary object at a time.
CHRISTIEʼS HONG KONG 2023 AUTUMN AUCTIONS
Handbags & Accessories: November 25
Important Watches and The OAK Collection: November 26
Magnificent Jewels & The Pink Supreme: November 27
PUBLIC PREVIEW DATES:
Alexandra House: November 15-18
Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre: November 24-27
Refer to christies.com/hk to view e-catalogue and register to bid