Two Fancy Colored Heart-Shaped Diamonds Could Fetch $18.5 Million
Two hearts, one blue, the other pink, will appear at Sotheby’s Hong Kong Magnificent Jewels auction as if they were always meant to be together. They will be sold separately during the July 10 sale at the Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Centre. Combined, their high estimate is $18.5 million.
The first is a 5.04-carat fancy vivid blue heart modified brilliant-cut diamond. The gem has a VS2 clarity grade, according to its lab report. The heart-shaped gem is mounted on a platinum ring flanked by two pear-shaped diamonds. Its estimate is $7.7 million – $9.7 million.
Its would-be partner is a 4.49-carat heart modified brilliant-cut, internally flawless, fancy vivid pink diamond. It’s mounted on an 18k white gold ring flanked by pear-shaped diamonds. Its estimate is $7.5 million – $8.8 million.
These two heart-shaped gems are among a diverse offering of 203 lots that includes a variety of colorless and colored diamonds, iconic designs from historic and contemporary jewelry houses, pieces of royal provenance, statement colored gems and imperial green jadeite.
In keeping with the hearts theme, the auction house is offering a pair of flawless heart-shaped colorless diamonds, each weighing 10.51 carats. The unmounted stones are both D color, with excellent polish and symmetry, according to the lab report. The estimate for the pair is $1.8 million - $2 million.
What may end up being the top lot of the sale is an “exceptionally rare” Imperial Jade necklace composed of 37 jadeite beads originating from the same rough. According to two lab reports the jadeite beads are graded as “A Jade” and “Imperial Jade.” The latter term refers to the finest specimen of Type A jadeite. The total weight of the jade is 700 carats and the beads possess a “brilliant emerald green color, suffused with intense emerald green streaks,” according to the auction house. The necklace also has a single cabochon ruby surrounded by diamond pavé. Price estimate is upon request.
One of the most publicized items in the sale is a bracelet owned and often worn by Princess Margaret (1930 - 2002), the sister of Queen Elizabeth II. The antique diamond bracelet by London-based jeweler to the British crown, Garrard, was a gift on her 21st Birthday. The yellow gold and silver bracelet is set with rose- and old-mine-cut diamond floral clusters, complementing the blue enamel and rose-cut diamond-set links. Princess Margaret was spotted wearing this 19th-century bracelet many times in public as illustrated in photographs. Its estimate is $49,000 - $64,500.
Among signed jewels in the auction, there are a few standouts. For example, there’s a pair of emerald and diamond earrings by Harry Winston featuring pear-shaped Colombian emeralds weighing 18.69 and 20.27 carats. The emeralds are suspended from clusters of pear-shaped diamonds and surrounded by marquise-shaped diamonds. Its estimate is $1.6 million - $1.9 million.
Other signed jewels include:
* An iconic “Tutti Frutti” brooch by Cartier, 1930s, created with carved rubies, sapphires, emeralds and diamonds in a foliate design. Its estimate is $155,000 – $207,000
* An iconic “Zip” necklace by Van Cleef & Arpels set with brilliant-cut diamonds, mounted in 18k yellow gold and platinum. It can be worn open as a necklace or closed as a bracelet. Its estimate is $310,000 – $451,000.
* A ruby and diamond ring, by contemporary high jewelry artist, Wallace Chan. The jewel is centered with an 8.11-carat cushion-shaped ruby embellished with cabochon rubies and brilliant-cut diamonds and mounted in titanium, Chan’s signature material. Its estimate is $516,073 - $709,600.