Sotheby’s Magnificent Jewels auction in Hong Kong generated more than $US49 million ($AU73 million) in sales despite the surprise withdrawal of a number of headline items.
Hosted on 4 April, the lead item was a pair of earrings featuring pear-shaped fancy pink color diamonds weighing 11.1 and 10.8 carats. Swiss company Diacore purchased the earrings for $US6.1 million ($AU9.1 million).
Sotheby’s also hosted the 50th Anniversary Luxury Evening auction on 5 April, and of note was the sale of the Emperor’s Treasure, a jadeite, ruby, and diamond necklace for a return of $US7.8 million ($AU11.6 million)– comfortable exceeding the pre-auction estimate of $US5 million.
The Pink Dawn – a 10-carat fancy color purplish-pink diamond – was expected to return more than $US21 million ($AU31.3 million); however, the piece was absent from the Magnificent Jewels auction.
The Algieba Star, a 113-carat fancy color yellow diamond was expected to return more than $US8.9 million ($AU13.2 million) at the evening auction; however, it was likewise absent.
According to reporting from Rapaport News, A spokesperson for Sotheby’s did not respond to a request for comment on why the items did not feature at their respective auctions.
In December the mysterious withdrawal of a pink diamond from an auction in New York generated international media attention after it was revealed the diamond was reported as stolen property.
The diamond was expected to fetch $US25 million ($AU37.2 million), however, it was withdrawn without explanation prior to the Christie’s Magnificent Jewels auction.
Court documents would later reveal the pink diamond was stolen from its owner in Qatar by a psychic under the guise of “cleansing the jewelry of bad spirits.”
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