The Sale To Lead Them All? Sotheby's Hong Kong 'Magnificent Jewels and Jadeite' Auction Promises a Feast for the Eyes

Photo © Sotheby's. Jewelry collectors and enthusiasts eagerly await Sotheby's upcoming Magnificent Jewels and Jadeite auction. Slated to begin on October 7, 2013, in Hong Kong, the sale has been carefully curated to present what Head of Jewelry at Sotheby's Asia, Quen Chin Yeow calls "an enchanting feast for discerning collectors" {cited}.

White & Blue Diamonds Lead the Sale

Leading the sale is an incredible white diamond, hailed by the sales team as "the greatest white diamond ever to appear at auction." Weighing in at 118.28 carats, the D-Flawless, oval-shaped diamond was meticulously extracted from a colossal piece of rough of "exceptional quality and beauty" {cited}. Discovered in Southern Africa in 2011, the mother stone of this magnificent diamond weighed 299 carats and represents one of recent history's most significant diamond discoveries. This 'Magnificent Oval Diamond of Supreme Importance' is expected to realize $28 to $35 million. Already the world's largest D-Flawless diamond ever to appear at auction, the stone is expected to soon become one of the world's most expensive diamonds ever sold at auction. The sale will also offer collectors the exclusive opportunity to contend for the world's largest round Fancy Vivid Blue diamond. The Premier Blue, a 7.5-carat stone is expected to secure a new per-carat record. Estimates are available upon request from Sotheby's.

Two Jadeite Bead Necklaces

Alongside these amazing diamonds, Sotheby's offers three more pieces rich in history and significance. The first is an exquisite set of two jadeite bead necklaces dating back  to the Republican Era (1912-1949) in China. Set with 254 uniformly colored jadeite jade beads "that glow with superb emerald green colour and fine translucency" {cited}. The necklace was secured 70 years ago by a prominent Chinese family who traded them for a Shanghai mansion. The pre-sale exhibition will be the very first time these splendid jewels will be on public display. Sotheby's expects the necklace to attain a price of between $2.8 and $3.8 million.

'Pigeon's Blood' Burmese Ruby Ring

The second is an 8.03-carat, cushion-shaped natural 'Pigeon's Blood' Burmese Ruby Ring designed by Cindy Chao. The celebrated Asian jewelry designer creates her pieces with the passion of abandonment. "My hands work smoothly and I become the wax I am sculpting. The piece begins to take on the form of the emotions I feel in my heart..." {cited}. Combining the essence of architecture and sculpture, Ms. Chao draws on the heritage and wisdom of her grandfather and father to present to the world works of art in miniature. In partnership with Sotheby's Hong Kong, to celebrate the auction house's 40th year in Asia, Cindy Chao transformed one of the most stunning 'Pigeon's Blood' Burmese rubies into a "continuous paved ribbon that seems to have been caught within a fleeting moment" {1}. The ribbon "wraps around and cradles the ruby and diamonds, complementing both the wearer and the stones" {2}. Sotheby's has listed the estimate for this ring at $3.5-4.2 million.

Ji Ing Soong's Light Pink Diamond Ring

The final jewel of note is a 13.19-carat, emerald-cut Light Pink Diamond & Diamond Ring from the estate of Ji Ing Soong. The stately pink diamond is accented by two natural white tapered baguette diamonds flanking platinum shoulders. Made by Cartier, the ring is expected to attain between $600,000 and $800,000. During the 1940s, two generations of Soongs worked tirelessly alongside each other to forge a powerful relationship with the United States in an effort to secure China's Republic. Charlie Jones Soong, a Methodist minister turned political activist, encouraged all six of his children to pursue their studies in the United States. His three daughters attended Wesleyan and "became China’s most powerful women" {cited}. His three sons governed prominently over the economic affairs of China. His youngest son, T.A. Soong, served as chairman of the board of directors for the Bank of Canton. He maintained a residence in San Francisco and traveled frequently between the US and Hong Kong for business {3}. On December 20, 1941, Life Magazine reported on the wedding of "the youngest of China's great family," T.A. Soong {4}. The beautiful bride, Ji Ing Woo, was born in Shanghai in 1920 and graduated with a degree in History and Asian Studies from UC Berkeley and attended Summer Seminar at Oxford University. Mrs. Soong worked tirelessly on behalf of eduation, the arts, and women's issues. She served on numerous boards from her San Francisco home, and in 1970 established T.A. and Ji Ing Soong Gallery at the San Francisco Art Museum. All told, Sotheby's Hong Kong Magnificent Jewels and Jadeite sale is expected to break several records, including a record for the largest jewelry auction ever {cited}. With over 300 stunning lots going under the hammer next Saturday, the sale is estimated at over $110 million. For more information, we invite you to visit Sotheby's website.

Notes

1. Sotheby's. Magnificent Jewels and Jadeite, Hong Kong Catalog, 2013.
2. Ibid.
3. Boorman, Howard L. and Richard C. Howard, eds. Biographical Dictionary of Republican China, Volume 3. New York: Columbia University Press, 1970.
4. Goldner, Ellen J. and Safiya Henderson, Holmes, eds. Racing and (E)Racing Language. Syracuse, New York: Syracuse University Press, 2001.