SYDNEY.- Bonhams announced the inaugural preview of highlights from the Bonhams Hong Kong Rare Jewels and Jadeite auction, to be presented to the public in Sydney from 9 until 13 November, ahead of the Hong Kong auction on 25 November. This will be the first time an international jewellery auction has previewed in Australia and marks a stop on the sale’s tour of America and Asia. The preview will feature pieces by Houses such as Bulgari, Carvin, Cartier, Van Cleef and Arpels, presented at the beautiful Bond Building at 36-40 Queen Street in Woollahra.

Director of Bonhams Australia, Merryn Schriever said: “We are delighted to be able to preview these superb quality international items with the Australian public. It is a first for Australia that an international auction house has previewed an international jewellery sale here in Sydney, highlighting the growing Australian collector base and our relationship with the ever-strengthening Asian market.”

The Hong Kong Rare Jewels and Jadeite auction will offer the most important set of Chameleon diamonds ever to be presented at auction. Alongside this piece, the sale features an exceptional range of best-in-class diamonds, coloured gemstones, and signed jewellery including a rare Kashmir Sapphire and diamond ring consigned in Australia. This large Kashmir Sapphire is a remarkable 6.71 carats and, in an incredibly rare occurrence, the second Kashmir Sapphire to be consigned by Bonhams Australia in 2018. Another star lot of the sale is a fancy coloured diamond and diamond ring consigned in Sydney that features a rare blue diamond.

Bonhams Australia Jewellery Specialist, Fiona Frith said: “The standard of this sale is something the Australian public do not generally have access to and the preview offers a rare opportunity to view these diamonds, coloured diamonds, emeralds, sapphires and rare natural pearls first hand.”

The preview exhibition will have toured to New York, Tai-Pei, Singapore, Tokyo, Bangkok and Sydney before ending in Hong Kong where the sale will take place on Sunday 25 November 2018.

Highlight lots on view at Bonhams’ Sydney preview:

• AN EMERALD, SAPPHIRE AND DIAMOND NECKLACE AND EARRING SUITE, The highly articulated necklace diagonally set with circular-cut emeralds, sapphires and brilliant-cut diamonds; the pair of earrings en suite, diamonds approximately 55.10 carats total, emeralds approximately 53.15 carats total, sapphires approximately 63.30 carats total, earring drops detachable, necklace inner circumference 36.5cm, earrings length 6.3cm (2). Lot 531, Estimate AU$48,500 – 68,000.

• A PAIR OF DIAMOND CLUSTER EARRINGS, Of floral design, each centrally set with a brilliant-cut diamond, within a scalloped surround of single-cut diamonds, diamonds approximately 6.00 carats total, French assay marks, length 2.2cm. Lot 535, Estimate AU$27,000 – 45,000.

• AN EMERALD AND DIAMOND RING, The step-cut emerald, weighing 6.18 carats, within a four-claw setting, between trapeze-cut diamond shoulders, to a plain hoop, diamonds approximately 1.50 carats total, ring size 4¾. Lot 540, Estimate AU$50,000 – 65,000.

• A COLOURED DIAMOND AND DIAMOND RING, The cut-cornered rectangular-cut fancy intense yellow diamond, weighing 7.19 carats, between shield-shaped diamonds, to a plain hoop, diamonds approximately 1.10 carats total, ring size 6. Lot 545, AU$162,000 – 198,000.

• A PAIR OF NATURAL PEARL AND DIAMOND PENDENT EARRINGS, BY G. PETOCHI, Each drop-shaped natural baroque pearl, measuring approximately 10.8 - 10.7 x 16.0mm and 11.1 - 11.0 x 17.0mm, to an old brilliant and single-cut diamond cap and surmount, diamonds approximately 1.75 carats total, drops detachable, length 4.0cm. Lot 612, Estimate AU$63,000 – 81,000.

• A GEM-SET NECKLACE, BANGLE AND EARRING SUITE, BY BULGARI, The necklace designed as a series of bi-coloured fancy-links with tied bow detail, alternating with various beads, including amethyst, peridot, citrine, tourmaline, topaz and aquamarine, accompanied by a bangle and a pair of earrings en suite, signed Bulgari, necklace length 40.2cm, bangle inner circumference 20.5cm, earring length 3.2cm (3). Lot 567, Estimate AU$17,000 – 22,000.