Hong Kong’s autumn live jewellery auction season this year was kicked off with the spectacular sale of the Williamson Pink Star, an 11.15-carat, cushion-shaped, fancy vivid pink and internally flawless diamond, in early October. After frenzied bidding, a private buyer in the United States secured the pink diamond for US$58 million. The hammer price makes the Williamson Pink Star the second most valuable jewel or gemstone ever sold at an auction, just behind the record-breaking 59.60-carat CTF Pink Star, which went for US$71.2 million in 2017. The Williamson Pink Star also established a world record price per carat (US$5.18 million) for any diamond or gemstone.

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At the Poly Auction Hong Kong’s autumn sale, also held in October, which marked the 10th anniversary of the auction house, a whopping US$7.3 million was paid for a ring mounted with a spectacular 8.388-carat Burmese ruby in modified oval shape, accentuated with diamonds. The ring was crafted by Cartier. Accompanying gemological reports issued by well-established gem labs SSEF and Gübelin in Switzerland indicate that the gemstone has not undergone any heat treatment.

Meanwhile a jadeite and diamond necklace fetched US$6.4 million at the auction. The necklace consists of 43 jadeite beads of evenly intense green colour with high translucency, ranging from 13.59 to 11.42mm in diameter.

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Equally appealing pieces will be on offer at coming auctions. Christie’s will soon hold the “Magnificent Jewels from the Collection of Rosamund Kwan” auction, as part of its Magnificent Jewels live auction in Hong Kong on November 28. Among the many pieces from top-notch jewellers is a ring set with an unheated Burmese ruby of 12.64 carats and diamonds, at an estimate from US$2.8 million to US$4.4 million. The jeweller is Boghossian.

Bonhams’s “Jewels and Jadeite Sale” in Hong Kong on November 27 will feature highly sought-after pieces designed by Jean Schlumberger for Tiffany & Co. They include a handcrafted tulip necklace in 18-karat gold, estimated to be worth up to US$192,000.

This lively design showcases vivid tulip pieces, interspersed with delicate gold bows, scrolls of pave-set diamonds and diamond-set butterflies and dragonflies. Schlumberger has been widely considered one of the most gifted jewellery designers ever. Many discerning collectors regard his collaboration with Tiffany as the most creative period in his professional career.