HONG KONG.- Phillips announced its 2018 Spring Sale of Jewels and Jadeite in Hong Kong on 28 May 2018 at the Mandarin Oriental Hong Kong. Featuring 156 lots, the sale will be led by a very rare and important unheated Kashmir sapphire and diamond necklace, with the sapphires weighing 52.50 carats. Equally enchanting is a magnificent pair of 14.59 and 12.54-carat Colombian Muzo no-oil emerald and diamond pendent earrings by Harry Winston, which features 23.84 carats of diamonds and an exceptional 21.20-carat unheated Sri Lankan Padparadscha sapphire and diamond ring. Estimated in excess of HKD 170 million, the sale will also offer a broad array of gemstones, signed vintage and period jewellery, important diamonds and jadeites of superb quality, accessible to seasoned collectors, fashionistas and tastemakers alike.

In November 2017, Phillips achieved a 125% increase in value from the inaugural auction of Jewels and Jadeite in November 2016, and a 30% increase in May 2017. This sustained and steady growth demonstrates Phillips’ ability to build a thriving jewellery business and its expanding presence in this area in the region.

Terry Chu, Head of Jewellery, Phillips Asia, said: “Phillips is delighted to offer a dazzling and delightful selection of jewellery this spring in Hong Kong, highlighting both contemporary and vintage examples with a modern sensibility in line with Phillips’ focus on art and design of the 20th and 21st centuries. We are very proud to be entrusted to present a very rare and important Kashmir sapphire and diamond necklace – the first to be offered at auction in the past decade, complemented by a very fine 13.13-carat Burmese ‘Royal Blue’ sapphire and diamond ring by Harry Winston. A line up of truly unique and vibrant pieces includes an Art Deco gem-set and diamond 'Tutti Frutti' double clip brooch by Cartier and a beautiful glassy jadeite cabochon and diamond demi-parure. Following our offering of a highly-coveted emerald and diamond ring in November 2017, this season we are pleased to offer yet another impressive 18.08-carat Colombian emerald and diamond ring by GRAFF, and a magnificent pair of 14.59 and 12.54-carat emerald and diamond pendent earrings by Harry Winston.”

IMPORTANT GEMSTONES AND DIAMONDS
The regal beauty of the sapphire has captured the world’s imagination for generations, heightened by the engagement ring of the Duchess of Cambridge, which previously belonged to Princess Diana. In response to such growing interest, Phillips will offer a very rare and important unheated Kashmir sapphire and diamond necklace, with the sapphires weighing 52.50 carats (estimate: HKD 17 – 23 million). Scintillating and classic, all of the 21 soft and velvety blue sapphires on this necklace hail from Kashmir, specifically in a valley amidst the Himalayan Mountains between Pakistan and China. This remarkable necklace sets itself apart by assembling a selection of the rarest sapphires, composed in a pleasant graduation accentuated by specially-cut diamonds. Each sapphire is cradled by petals of a tulip flower, resembling a treasure held closely in one’s palms.

Padparadscha sapphires belong to the same corundum family where blue sapphires and rubies are from. They made their royal début earlier this year when Princess Eugenie of York of the United Kingdom announced her engagement to Jack Brooksbank with an oval padparadscha ring. Coinciding with this special occasion, Phillips is offering an exceptional and rare 21.20-carat unheated Sri Lankan Padparadscha sapphire and diamond ring (estimate: HKD 6.3 – 7.3 million). A Padparadscha of over ten carats is an extremely rare occurrence in nature. The present oval example which weighs a stunning 21.20 carats, therefore bears exceptional calibre and merit. Certified to be of Sri Lankan origin and completely free of heat treatment, it displays a vibrant pink colour complemented by an orange hue. Its well-proportioned outline and pavilion make it even more desirable.

An impressive 21.05-carat E / IF round diamond will also grace the sale this season (estimate: HKD 15 – 18 million). Its excellent cut, polish and symmetry are combined with an internally flawless clarity, exhibiting an alluring presence of exceptional brilliance, dispersion and sparkles, the finest visual quality of a colourless diamond.

This Spring, Phillips Hong Kong will also present a charming 5.19-carat unheated Burmese Mogok pigeon's blood red ruby and diamond ring (estimate: HKD 3.8 – 5 million) and a very fine, matching pair of 3.50 and 3.24-carat unheated Burmese Mogok pigeon's blood red ruby and diamond pendent earrings (estimate: HKD 4.2 – 5.0 million). All of the rubies come from the Mogok Valley in Myanmar where the best examples of the stone are usually found, and are unheated with a rare natural “pigeon’s blood” vivid red colour - the best colour for rubies and therefore highly desirable. Flanked by brilliant colourless diamonds, the rubies’ intense and majestic red colour is highlighted, culminating in a sumptuous parade of such fiery and captivating talismans.

BRANDED JEWELLERY
An extraordinary selection of branded jewellery by remarkable jewellers will be offered this season. Among them, an ensemble of opulent and glamourous emeralds from Colombia will pique the interest of connoisseurs. An impressive 18.08-carat Colombian Muzo no-oil emerald and diamond ring by GRAFF (estimate: HKD 12 – 14 million) features a natural and no-oil radiant emerald with an enticing green colour and crystalline clarity. Weighing 18.08 carats, an auspicious number in Chinese culture, this gem is believed to deliver blessings of fortune and prosperity.

A magnificent pair of 14.59 and 12.54-carat Colombian Muzo no-oil emerald and diamond pendent earrings by Harry Winston (estimate: HKD 13.8 – 17 million) boasts two mesmerizing emeralds in lush green colour, suspended from surmounts with one of the most iconic and resplendent designs in the world of high jewellery - the Winston Cluster© whereby diamonds of various shapes are set at different angles with minimal platinum to heighten the scintillation. The diamonds, totaling 23.84 carats, on these earrings are D to F colour, graded from Internally Flawless to VS2, further accompanied by grading reports from GIA and letter from GRAFF that guarantee their superb quality.

Modern Burmese mines yield very few sapphires of gem-quality, even fewer of which exceeds 10 carats after cutting and polishing. Also from Harry Winston, the present sapphire and diamond ring boasts an over 13-carat step-cut unheated sapphire (estimate: HKD 2.3 – 3 million) certified to be of “Royal Blue” colour, possessing the best colour of a sapphire. Despite the challenging step-cut that masks a gemstone’s fire in general, this sapphire shines with the most elegant and vivacious blue flashes, making it a highly collectable piece.

Bvlgari’s fine pair of 9.07 and 8.09-carat unheated Burmese Royal Blue sapphire and diamond earrings (estimate: HKD 3.8 – 4.8 million) speaks volume with its boldness and splendor. Matching in shape and size, both sapphires are free from heat treatment and certified by SSEF to be “Royal Blue” in colour. Set with diamonds of superb quality, the importance of the two impressive blue sapphires is enhanced, radiating a saturated vivid blue glow with classic glamour and elegance.

VINTAGE AND PERIOD JEWELLERY
Collecting vintage and period jewellery has become a current trend among seasoned collectors and fashionistas who desire unique, storied pieces. Phillips will present a unique Art Deco gem-set and diamond 'Tutti Frutti' double clip brooch by Cartier (estimate: HKD 1.4 – 2 million). Based on Indian influences and meticulously designed by employing gemstone materials from India, Tutti Frutti jewels form an assemblage of colours – mainly in red, green and blue - and gemstones, making it a signature Cartier design. Every Tutti Frutti jewel is truly unique, owing to the singular nature of the components and thus their composition - the present whimsical, polychromatic brooch is no exception. Designed and hand-made by Henri Picq, one of the most prominent Parisian workshops that executed gem-set platinum jewellery for Cartier in the early 20th century through to the late 20s, the versatile brooch can be worn as two separate clip brooches, demonstrating Henri Picq’s technical supremacy in platinum treatment and exceptional finesse in realising some of Cartier’s pioneering designs at the time.

Also by Cartier, a natural seed pearl and diamond sautoir necklace (estimate: HKD 1.1 – 1.3 million) reflects the delicate craftsmanship from the early 1900s of the House. This long chain of natural seed pearl bead, linked by platinum wire with diamond millegrain setting, was created circa 1910 when chokers were no longer in vogue. The triumphal progress began in late 1920s when this form of jewellery particularly suited the new fashion of simple dresses of straight vertical line. Even without using large diamonds or gemstones, the superb design and brilliant skills by the House are enough to create the most striking jewels with exquisite tiny pearls that exude time-transcending style.

ESTATE JEWELLERY – The Collection of Betty Warner Sheinbaum –
A Hollywood Jewel Box
Phillips has been entrusted with a collection of 17 jewels belonging to Betty Warner Sheinbaum, the youngest daughter of Harry and Rea Warner and heiress to one of the most successful motion picture and television dynasties in the world, Warner Bros.

Betty Warner Sheinbaum was an accomplished artist, a voracious collector of contemporary art and a political activist alongside her second husband Stanley Sheinbaum. Her collection of jewels evokes a sense of the ‘Golden Age of Hollywood’, representing the changing landscape of styles which took place on and off screen from the early 20th century until the 1950s. An Art Deco diamond bracelet set with three oval cabochon rubies against a background of staggered baguette-cut diamonds (circa 1930s) is a perfect example. An enchanting Art Deco 6.21-carat Columbian emerald and diamond ring (circa 1925) and a 5.57-carat marquise-shaped diamond ring (circa 1912) are also featured in this collection.

JADEITE
Any jadeite connoisseur will agree that colour, texture and translucency determine the quality and value of natural jadeites. This season, Phillips will introduce jadeite jewellery pieces with such superlatives, offering a prime opportunity to collect jadeite masterpieces. A very fine and superb glassy jadeite cabochon and diamond demi-parure (estimate: HKD 19 – 30 million) is set with 33 jadeite cabochons in superb quality, whereby their fine glassy texture was further heightened by the even colour and excellent clarity. The collection of perfect cabochons of matching quality and size is hard to come by, and to create a suite of jewellery or a magnificent necklace takes years of perseverance and immense luck, making this necklace a very rare find. Paired with earrings set with cabochons of comparable quality, this demi-parure is destined to be sought after by the most discerning collectors around the world.

The jadeite cabochon centered in the present impressive and fine jadeite cabochon and diamond ring (illustrated next page; estimate: HKD 8.8 - 10 million) displays excellent colour, fine texture and high translucency. This jadeite double-cabochon measures 25.15 x 20.52 x 12.57mm, with an impressive size comes an even more impressive thickness. Flanked by two heart-shaped diamonds of superb quality, the cabochon’s watery lustre was contrasted with the scintillating fire of the white stones, heightening the elegance, simplicity and subtle beauty of natural jadeite. Such a gemstone possesses all the qualities of the best examples available in the present market.