Fine jadeite and exceptional fancy colour diamonds were the stars of Christie’s Magnificent Jewels Spring Auction in Hong Kong, which achieved total sales of HK$439.7 million (around US$56.27 million). 

According to the auction house, the May 25 event had solid sell-through rates of 85 per cent by lot and 83 per cent by value and drew global participation from 13 countries across four continents.

The top lot was a jadeite bead necklace, which sold for HK$69.03 million (around US$8.83 million) to a collector by telephone.

Vickie Sek, chairman of Christie’s Asia Pacific Department of Jewellery, commented, “Our Hong Kong saleroom exhibited market vibrancy and strong buying momentum.” Sek added that strong prices were achieved across a diverse selection of fine jadeite, rare fancy colour and colourless diamonds as well as important coloured gemstones.

Other star lots were a ring by Moussaieff adorned with a rectangular-cut fancy vivid blue IF diamond of 3.06 carats, which fetched HK$38.85 million (around US$5 million); and an emerald-cut fancy intense orangey-pink VVS1 diamond ring of 13.32 carats, which sold for HK$34.05 million (around US$4.35 million).