Billed as the most important pigeon's blood ruby to be offered at auction in Asia, the 15.04-carat "Crimson Flame" is the star of Christie’s Magnificent Jewels Sale, which will take place in Hong Kong on December 1. The auction house expects the gem to fetch between $10.1 million and $15.5 million.
The cushion-shaped ruby is mounted in a white gold ring that features a dramatic surround of smaller cushion-shaped white diamonds. A report by the Swiss Gemmological Institute affirmed that the gem is of Burmese origin and exhibits a vivid, saturated crimson color — also known as pigeon's blood red. The report goes on to state that a natural ruby of this size and quality is very rare and should be considered an "exceptional treasure."
Christie's obvious agreed, as the "Crimson Flame" earned the cover shot of the auction's official catalog.
Other notable lots also shine the spotlight on rubies...
“Mogok’s Fiery Red” suite by Faidee will be split into individual lots and sold separately. The first item is a ruby-and-diamond necklace carrying an estimated selling price of $6.2 million to $8.5 million. The second lot is a pair of ruby-and-diamond ear pendants with an estimate of $2.9 million to $4.1 million. The rubies of both items boast the coveted pigeon's blood color.
The graduated necklace features 32 cushion-shaped rubies — ranging from 1.04 to 5.05 carats — alternating with cushion-shaped diamonds. They're mounted in platinum and gold with the largest gems in the front and smallest in the back.
Each ear pendant is designed as a line of two cushion-shaped rubies, spaced by a cushion-shaped diamond. The larger rubies weigh a bit over 5 carats, while the smaller ruby of each ear pendant weighs about 2.5 carats. The diamonds in the middle weigh about 1.5 carats.
“Ruby appears to be a real star at Christie’s Hong Kong jewelry auctions this year,” said Vickie Sek, deputy chairman and director of Christie’s Asia jewellery department. “Following the record-breaking results achieved last spring by a fabulous Burmese ruby-and-diamond necklace by Etcetera, we will present the sensational Crimson Flame, undoubtedly the most important pigeon’s-blood ruby to come to auction in Asia.”
Back in June, the 120-carat ruby-and-diamond necklace by Etcetera sold for $13 million, setting a world auction record for a ruby necklace.
Credit: Christie's
No comments:
Post a Comment