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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 colour 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 colour purplish-pink diamond – was excepted 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 colour 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The diamond was expected to fetch $US25 million ($AU37.2 million), however, it was withdrawn without explanation prior to the Christie’s Magnificent Jewels auction.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 jewellery of bad spirits.”
More reading
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Stunning Patek Phillipe sets new world record at auction
Fortune Pink fails to reach high estimate
Golden Canary becomes third most valuable yellow diamond sold
Psychic link to mystery pink diamond at Christie’s auction
Graff diamond ring expected fetch more than $7 million
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