5 Highlights from Sotheby’s April 2013 Magnificent Jewels Auction
March 17th, 2013 by Noam Flint
The upcoming Sotheby’s magnificent jewels auction in Hong Kong will take place on the 8th of April. These diamond auctions often set the tone for the high-end jewelry and diamond prices. During the last couple of years the diamond auctions held by both Christie’s and Sotheby’s often exceeded expectation – a blue diamond sold for over a million dollar per carat breaking deep blue world record, the Martian pink diamond sold for 17.4 Million dollars (almost twice the expected amount) and many more…
Here are five pieces I found very interesting while browsing through the auction catalog and thought were worth following:
- Fancy Colored Diamond Necklace – a necklace made of 29 heart shaped colored diamonds of all hues weighing a total of 22.89 carats with the estimated worth of $540,000-$640,000.
- A set of two colored diamond rings -
We often stated that finding a pair of matching colored diamonds is extremely difficult. This is multiplied many times over when it comes to rare diamonds such as a 2.50 carat pink diamond. The designer of this piece had created two rings made of completely different colored diamonds that even though their colors are unrelated they look amazingly together. The first is mounted with a 2.50 carats pear shaped fancy orangy pink diamond and the other with a 3.01 carat intense yellow pear with vs2 clarity. Both diamonds have GIA certificates and the rings are estimated at $280,000 – $330,000.
- Fancy Orangy Pink Diamond Ring -
A second pear shaped fancy orangy pink diamond ring, only this time it weighs an astounding 6.37 carats. It has a very unique setting, surrounded by white oval, pear shape and heart shaped diamonds weighing approx. 3.10 carats. Due to its irregular size it is estimated at $940,000-$1,100,000.
Fancy Orangy Pink Diamond Ring
(picture Sothebys)
- Pink Diamond Earrings -
The center pieces are two rounded corners radiant pink diamonds, one weighing 4.24 carat and the other 4.42 carats. Those are surrounded by 6.95 carats of smaller pink diamonds and white diamonds. Expected sale price ranges $1,930,000 – $2,320,000.
- Fancy Intense Blue Diamond Ring -
An intense blue diamond weighing 3.04 carats mounted on a special ring alongside with small pink diamonds and colorless diamonds. This is one of the main pieces in the show with an estimated worth of $2,060,000 – $2,575,000. To view the piece at sotheby’s click here
Fancy Intense Blue Diamond Ring
(picture Sothebys)
Are Champagne Diamonds Starting to get their Recognition?
What I found exceptionally intriguing is actually the relatively lower cost colored diamond jewelry that is presented. Over the last few months I was contacted several times by private collectors looking to invest in colored diamonds. Investing in diamonds is hardly new but what was interesting was that while most buyers consider investment grade diamonds those in the high price levels with colors like green, blue, pink and reds, lately I was asked more and more about champagne colored diamonds. The explanation was that these diamonds are known to be more common and therefore you can get very interesting diamonds for affordable prices.
This is why when looking through the full Sotheby’s auction catalog I focused on what seemed to me a relatively high number of light colored yellow diamonds and champagne diamonds.
Take for example the Light Brown Diamond Necklace with a center piece of light yellowish brown weighing 9.50 carats and estimated “only” for $32,000. Also, the two beautiful rings – Emerald cut fancy yellow brown diamond ring weighing 21.50 carats (valued at $130,000-$180,000) and 25.11 carats fancy deep brownish yellow diamond ring (estimated worth of $320,000-$450,000).
Whether it is a current trend or finally champagne diamonds receive their well-deserved recognition – only time will tell.
