Sotheby's sale offers first-ever '$13m' Hong Kong-auctioned pink diamond

 

 

Sotheby's Hong Kong is continuing to conjure up excitement. Following on from the announcement of its Modern and Contemporary Southeast Asian Paintings Autumn Sale of 2011 October 3, the international auctioneer's Asia branch is holding a massive jewellery sale two days later.

The Magnificent Jewels and Jadeite Autumn Sale 2011 will take place on October 5 2011 at Hall 3, Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre.

The sale will be led by Jewels of India, a fascinating array of magnificent and extremely rare jewellery associated with the exotic Mogul Kingdom of old.

These include ethereal diamonds from the ancient mine of Golconda. Among them is the Golconda Pink, a Highly Important and Rare 9.27-Carat Golconda Fancy Vivid Pink Diamond and Diamond Ring (estimated at HK$100-150m/ US$13-19m).

First discovered in India centuries ago, Golconda diamonds were the choice adornment of kings and royalty of old, and of Type IIa quality (almost or entirely devoid of impurities and usually colourless).

 


The Golconda Pink, a Highly Important and Rare 9.27-Carat
Golconda Fancy Vivid Pink Diamond and Diamond Ring


With only a handful existing today as the legendary mine has long ceased production, Golconda diamonds are considered an extreme rarity and highly sought after by true connoisseurs for their prized optical translucency and purity.

The auction's extraordinary jewels will reportedly be complemented by an important selection of colourless and coloured diamonds, gemstones, natural pearls and jadeite of superb quality.

Altogether the sale will offer 359 lots estimated to achieve a total of HK$660m or US$85m (these estimates don't include buyer's premium).

"The market in China and Asia for jewellery looks to remain strong," said QUEK Chin Yeow, Deputy Chairman and Head of Jewellery Department, Sotheby's Asia.

"We are also thrilled to be offering for auction the Golconda Pink diamond which will be the first jewel to carry a HK$100m/US$13m pre-sale estimate in a Hong Kong auction." 

 

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