EditorsNov 06, 2026
The Spectrum Pieces I Can’t Stop Thinking AboutFrom a Betta fish brooch to a “dragon’s trove” of zircon eggs, here are seven pieces that’ve stuck with Associate Editor Lauren McLemore.
AuctionsAug 10, 2016
Christie’s Hong Kong auction sets two records
Christie’s recent jewelry auction set two world records, though the Golconda diamond necklace expected to fetch as much as $10 million did not sell.
Leading the auction, which was held May 27 in Hong Kong, was a pair of pear-shaped diamond earrings that sold for nearly $10 million. The D color, flawless type IIa ear pendants, weighing 25.49 and 25.31 carats, set a record when a private buyer paid $9.7 million for them.
The other record-setting lot was a cushion-cut fancy intense green diamond ring that sold for $3.6 million, or $594,510 per carat, setting a new world record auction price for an intense green diamond.
Lots rounding out the top 10 included a fancy intense pink diamond ring selling for $6 million, a jadeite bangle that fetched $5.2 million, and three brilliant cut flawless type IIa diamonds, which fetched between $4.7 million and $5 million.
Additionally, a cushion-cut 28.88-carat Colombian emerald sold for $4.2 million, a suite of Burmese pigeon’s blood ruby and diamond jewelry went for $4.8 million, and a Harry Winston rectangular-shaped fancy orange pink diamond garnered $3.6 million.
The auction sold 81 percent by lot and 73 percent by value, totaling $92 million.
However, the necklace featuring two Golconda diamonds that was expected to fetch as much as $10 million and lead the auction failed to find a buyer. The “Eye of Golconda” pendant necklace featured two D color internally flawless type IIa Golconda diamonds, sized at 40.05 and 6.76 carats.
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