Cartier Tutti Frutti Necklace Smashes Estimate at Christie’s

An India tutti frutti necklace by Cartier was the top-selling item from Hong Kong Luxury Week at Christie’s, where it brought in $8.7 million. 

The multi-gem jewel, which contained carved rubies, emeralds, sapphires, as well as round diamonds, shot past its $4.9 million high estimate at the May 27 Magnificent Jewels sale, Christie’s said Tuesday. The company saw more than 10 minutes of competitive bidding for the piece at the sale, which took place after the May 25 handbags and accessories and May 26 watch auctions. 

In total, the sale realized $60.5 million, with nearly 90% of items on offer finding buyers. Colored diamonds and jewels by well-known design houses including Harry Winston, Van Cleef & Arpels, and Bulgari also performed well. 

Here are the rest of the items rounding out the top 10: 

Burmese ruby ring, Christies image
This oval modified mixed-cut, 8.01-carat, pigeon’s blood Burmese ruby and diamond ring raked in $802,922 per carat for a total of $6.4 million, double its $3.2 million high estimate.
Cut-cornered rectangular ring, Christies image
A ring with a cut-cornered rectangular mixed-cut, 2.68-carat, fancy-vivid-purplish-pink, internally flawless diamond, surrounded by kite-shaped and round diamonds, achieved $4.3 million, or $1.6 million per carat, within its presale price range. 
Emerald-cut, 9.17-carat diamond ring, Christies image
Christie’s sold this emerald-cut, 9.17-carat, fancy-light-purplish-pink, VVS1-clarity diamond ring for $2.9 million, nearly nine times its $320,000 upper estimate.
Cushion modified brilliant-cut, 3.33-carat diamond ring, Christies image
A ring set with a cushion modified brilliant-cut, 3.33-carat, fancy-deep-blue, internally flawless center stone featured at the auction. The piece, flanked by two pear brilliant-cut diamonds —a 0.18-carat, fancy-intense-purple-pink and a 0.17-carat, fancy-intense-purplish-pink — brought in $2.2 million, within its presale price range.
20.69-carat, Colombian emerald and diamond ring, Christies image
This octagonal step-cut, 20.69-carat, Colombian emerald and diamond ring by Gimel went for $2.2 million. That total was within its presale price range.
D-flawless diamond earrings by Harry Winston, image
A pair of earrings by Harry Winston, containing pear brilliant-cut, D-flawless diamonds weighing 10.47 and 10.40 carats, also performed well, fetching $2.1 million against a $2.3 million high estimate.
29.49-carat, fancy-vivid-yellow diamond ring, Christies image
The auction house sold this cut-cornered square step-cut, 29.49-carat, fancy-vivid-yellow, VVS1-clarity diamond ring for $2 million, within its estimated range.
20.70-carat, D-flawless diamond pendant, Christies image
A necklace bearing a pear brilliant-cut, 20.70-carat, D-flawless diamond pendant, a pear brilliant-cut, 10.02-carat, D-color, internally flawless diamond, and pink diamonds garnered $2 million, hitting its low estimate.
Marquise cut diamond ring image
This marquise brilliant-cut, 20.09-carat, D-flawless diamond ring by Harry Winston made $1.6 million, in the middle of its presale price range.

Main image: The Cartier Tutti-Frutti necklace. (Christie’s)

Cartier Tutti Frutti Necklace Smashes Estimate at Christie’s

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