A sapphire and diamond pendant led the recent Sotheby’s sale in Hong Kong, where it more than doubled its high estimate to achieve HKD 1.8 million ($228,472).
The piece, a pear-shaped, 44.90-carat Ceylon sapphire in a surround of around 17 carats of brilliant-cut diamonds, beat its HKD 700,000 ($89,245) upper price at the September 23 Fine Jewelry sale, according to the Sotheby’s website.
In total, the sale raked in HKD 58.8 million ($7.5 million). More than 290 lots found buyers, including jewels from famous maisons including Graff, Hermès and Bulgari. Gemstones such as aquamarine, rubies, spinel and garnets also went under the hammer.
Here are the rest of the top five pieces:
Estimate: HKD 1 million to HKD 2 million ($127,493 to $254,984)
A pair of earrings sold without reserve comprises a pear-shaped, 2.08-carat, light pink diamond and a pear-shaped, 2.21-carat, very-light-pink, VVS1-clarity stone. They are embellished by brilliant-cut diamonds of pink tint as well as kite-shaped ones. The surmounts contain brilliant-cut diamonds in faint and very light pink hues.
Estimate: HKD 650,000 to HKD 950,000 ($82,871 to $ 121,119)
An unmounted brilliant-cut, 5.13-carat, F-color, VVS2 diamond.
Estimate: HKD 550,000 to HKD 800,000 ($70,121 to $101,994)
A Graff pendant necklace is set throughout with 27.60 carats of pear-shaped and brilliant-cut, G to H, predominantly VS diamonds.
Estimate: HKD 280,000 to HKD 450,000 ($35,698 to $57,372)
A detachable pendant centering a brilliant-cut, 11.08-carat, W to X, VVS2 diamond within a tapered baguette diamond frame, suspended from a brilliant-cut diamond necklace.
Image: The 44.90-carat sapphire-and-diamond pendant that led the sale. (Sotheby’s)
