Buyers are adding more and more coloured gemstones to their jewellery boxes as an ever-discerning market increasingly favours a touch of colour, history and diversity in their fine jewellery collections.

Demand remains steady for the coloured gemstone trio of emeralds, rubies and sapphires amid challenging times. Market appetite has historically been strong, as evidenced by top-performing gems at auctions.

These include the Sunrise Ruby ring by Cartier, adorned with a 25.59-carat cushion-cut Burmese ruby, which sold for US$30.4 million at Sotheby’s Geneva in 2014; the Blue Belle of Asia, embellished with a 392.52-carat Ceylon sapphire, which fetched US$17.5 million at Christie’s Geneva in 2014; and the 18.04-carat Rockefeller Emerald, which generated US$5.51 million at Christie’s New York in 2017.

There is also increasing interest in other gem options, led by Paraiba tourmaline, spinel and aquamarine, among other consumer favourites.