JNA March/April 2025 | 13 FOCUS 焦点 Since its opening, the maison has welcomed over 400,000 visitors, 10 times more compared to 2023, as Sotheby’s was able to interact with existing and potential clients more conveniently and regularly. While physical presence is critical to growing the market, digital transformation remains a high priority for Sotheby’s too. These include stronger engagement strategies that leverage social media and influencer partnerships to attract younger buyers. Kim explained, “The jewellery auction market is poised for continued growth as it embraces technological advancements and shifts in consumer behaviour. Luxury spending remains strong.” Meanwhile, the year 2025 marks a significant milestone for Phillips as it celebrates its 10th anniversary in Asia. Lam of Phillips said the goal this year is to offer a diverse range of items to attract different buyer segments and tailor auction offerings to satisfy local preferences. Echoing the need to tap into new markets, Chiang of Poly Auction revealed that the company will focus on branding and expanding its customer base in mainland China and Hong Kong in 2025. The year ahead Lam said the auction market faced volatility in 2024 arising from economic and geopolitical instability, and fluctuating consumer demand. However, the key to mitigating potential headwinds was securing top consignments from seasoned collectors. Fine gems and investment-grade jewellery remain resilient to business uncertainties as these are always highly favoured by connoisseurs, shared Lam. Additionally, the auction market is increasingly becoming more competitive, with several auction houses vying for prominent consignments and buyers. Other stakeholders echoed this sentiment. Chiang remarked that 2025 will continue to be a challenging year due to macroeconomic uncertainties. More and more people, however, are viewing jewellery as a valuable investment. This also brings to the fore the importance of consigning high-quality jewellery for buyers, which is a major priority for Poly Auction. Hsu, for his part, noted that sourcing private collections with unique pieces at competitive prices remains a significant challenge. High-quality collections that come to auction and are meticulously curated often lead to remarkable results, he added. As such, Christie’s is focusing on consignment strategies critical to building an exceptional sale. “Jewellery and gemstones have an enduring appeal and, following the demand witnessed at Christie's throughout 2024, we enter 2025 with cautious optimism,” stated Hsu. “Securing extraordinary pieces at competitive estimates will be vital for our auction success in 2025. This strategy not only attracts bidders but also enhances our reputation as market leader.” Hsu added that robust pricing trends in the gemstone market over the past year, which indicates strong demand and limited supply, are likely to persist, reinforcing the stability of gemstone investments. Meanwhile, Ghika of Bonhams remains upbeat about further growth in 2025, adding that the market is buoyant for fancy colour and antique, old-cut diamonds as well as rare period jewellery, particularly from major houses. “In our December New York Jewels sale, we saw early indications of a return to white diamonds with the top lot being a 10.22-carat heart-shaped diamond pendant, which sold for US$343,400,” revealed Ghika. The market is becoming more selective in its acquisitions yet the appetite for exceptional jewellery pieces remains as strong as ever, particularly in Asia where there have been significantly more sophisticated collectors over the past 30 to 40 years. – Janet Lam, senior specialist at Phillips Jewels Paraiba-type tourmaline and diamond pendant necklace by Kat Florence, which sold for US$539,500 at Bonhams Hong Kong Kat Florence帕拉依巴碧玺配钻石吊坠项链，于邦瀚斯香港地区 拍卖会上以539,500美元售出
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy NjAxOTU=