GradingMar 06, 2026
Tom Moses Leaving GIA After Nearly 50 YearsMoses, who started at GIA’s Santa Monica lab in 1976, will leave the Gemological Institute of America in May.
AuctionsOct 11, 2016
Another Top Lot Fails to Sell, This Time at Sotheby’s HK
A jadeite bangle predicted to go for up to $9 million didn’t sell at the Oct. 4 auction, just two weeks after a headlining piece in New York also failed to meet its reserve price.
This circular jadeite bangle of high translucency and intense emerald green color, which Sotheby’s called “highly important,” was estimated to sell for up to $9 million. It failed to meet its reserve price Oct. 4 in Hong Kong.
Hong Kong--It appears the buyers at auction and the experts giving the jewelry lots their pre-sale estimates are on different pages these days.
For the second time in about a two-week period, the predicted top lot of a jewelry auction failed to sell.
At the Magnificent Jewels and Jadeite sale held at Sotheby’s Hong Kong Oct. 4, the auction house predicted that a “highly important” jadeite bangle would lead the event with a pre-sale estimate of between $6.4 million and $9 million.
Instead, it failed to meet its reserve price, just like a 27-carat oval diamond ring recently did at Sotheby’s New York.
Sotheby’s Hong Kong did not respond to a request for comment on the failed sale by press time.
The top lot of the sale turned out to be a colored gemstone, also mirroring the results of the New York sale.
A ring featuring a 5.07-carat ruby surrounded by four pear-shaped diamonds weighing 7.56 total carats, accented with circular-cut diamonds and mounted in platinum and 18-karat yellow gold, sold for about $1.9 million.
Following the ruby ring were more colored stones, with a matching Bulgari set comprising an emerald and diamond necklace and earrings falling just behind when it garnered approximately $1.8 million, surpassing its pre-sale estimate of $1 million.
A Cartier ring set with a 13.60-carat cut-cornered rectangular step-cut diamond sold for $1.7 million, a VS2 clarity oval fancy vivid yellow diamond of 10.81 carats followed behind at $1.2 million, and two brilliant-cut unmounted diamonds weighing 5.96 and 5.86 carats garnered $1.1 million.
A natural 5.07-carat Burmese ruby, surrounded by four pear-shaped diamonds weighing 7.56 carats in total, accented with circular-cut diamonds, led the Sotheby’s Hong Kong Magnificent Jewels and Jadeite sale Oct. 4 when it sold for $1.9 million.
This Bulgari demi-parure (matching set) comprises a necklace with three graduated step-cut emeralds weighing 12, 10.14 and 6.91 carats, with smaller step-cut emeralds and diamonds, and a pair of matching earrings, each set with a step-cut emerald weighing 6.01 and 5.92 carats, as well as additional smaller emerald and diamond accents. It garnered approximately $1.8 million.
This Cartier ring is set with a cut-cornered rectangular step-cut diamond weighing 13.60 carats, flanked by two baguette diamonds and mounted in platinum. The D color, flawless stone sold for $1.7 million.
A VS2 clarity oval fancy vivid yellow diamond weighing 10.81 carats went for $1.2 million.
Two jadeite pieces did appear in the top lots--a pair of highly translucent jadeite double hoop earrings surmounted by an oval diamond each weighing 1.01 carats went for approximately $815,000, and a necklace composed of 47 translucent jadeite beads with a clasp set with circular-cut diamonds and calibré-cut rubies sold for about $737,000.
Rounding out the top 10 were a pair of earrings featuring pear-shaped diamonds weighing 5.10 and 5.07 carats that garnered about $691,000; a bracelet comprised of 28 emerald-cut diamonds weighing 57.75 carats total that sold for about $614,000; and a fancy intense yellow, fancy yellow, fancy light yellow and white diamond necklace and earring matching set from Graff that also went for about $614,000.
The sale generated revenues of more than $24.8 million but was only 60 percent sold by lot, with 115 out of 192 lots on offer finding buyers.
The
More on Auctions
The Latest
Lab-GrownMar 06, 2026
Charles & Colvard Files for Bankruptcy, Citing Price PressuresIncreased competition, falling lab-grown diamond and moissanite prices, and the rising cost of gold took a toll on the moissanite maker.
CollectionsMar 06, 2026
Zome’s ‘Solara’ Earrings Embody Celestial BeautyThe earrings, our Piece of the Week, feature pink tourmalines as planets orbiting around an aquamarine center set in 18-karat rose gold.
Brought to you by
Is This You? Every Jeweler Has This Problem; We Have the Solution.Every jeweler faces the same challenge: helping customers protect what they love. Here’s the solution designed for today’s jewelry business.
MajorsMar 06, 2026
Pomellato’s 2026 IWD Campaign Spotlights Economic Abuse“The Price of Freedom” campaign video for International Women’s Day confronts the quiet violence of financial control.
Weekly QuizMar 05, 2026
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
Policies & IssuesMar 05, 2026
Tariffs to Increase to 15% This Week, Treasury Secretary Says Also, a federal judge has ordered that companies that paid tariffs implemented under the IEEPA are entitled to refunds.
CollectionsMar 05, 2026
Common Era Honors ‘Difficult Women’ in CollectionThe ever-growing collection, which just expanded with the addition of Olga of Kyiv, features cameos of 12 women from history.
Brought to you by
DCA Enters a New Chapter in Jewelry EducationWith refreshed branding, a new website, updated courses, and a pathway for growth, DCA is dedicated to supporting retail staff development.
TrendsMar 05, 2026
Engagement Ring Trends 2026: What’s In, and WhyWe asked a jewelry historian, designer, bridal director, and wedding expert what’s trending in engagement rings. Here’s what they said.
Events & AwardsMar 05, 2026
AGS Announces Conclave 2026 Speaker LineupThe annual event will be held in Orlando, Florida, from Sept. 14-17.
TrendsMar 05, 2026
Caitríona Balfe Fronts Only Natural Diamonds CoverThe “Outlander” star modeled for the digital cover of the magazine’s spring issue, which features a story on her relationship with jewelry.
MajorsMar 05, 2026
Registration Opens for CIBJO Centenary CongressThis year’s annual congress, which will mark the confederation’s 100th anniversary, will take place this fall in Italy.
MajorsMar 04, 2026
Michael M Opens First StoreBeverly Hills was chosen as the location for the brand’s first store, designed as a “private residence for modern monarchs.”
Policies & IssuesMar 04, 2026
Luxury Brands Temporarily Shutter Middle East StoresKering, Apple, and other retailers have reportedly temporarily closed stores in the Middle East region in light of the recent conflicts.
EditorsMar 04, 2026
Q&A: Brilliant Earth’s CEO on the New Beverly Hills StoreBeth Gerstein discusses the vibe of the new store, what customers want when fine jewelry shopping today, and the details of “Date Night.”
Events & AwardsMar 04, 2026
JIS Miami Spring Show to Feature New Gifts Pavilion, Pop-Up Trends TalksNearly half of buyers are prioritizing silver and fashion collections this season, organizers said.
TrendsMar 04, 2026
Spinelli Kilcollin Rides Free In Year of the Horse CampaignThe “Live Now. Polish Later.” campaign features equestrians wearing the brand’s jewels while galloping across the icy plains of Kazakhstan.
MajorsMar 04, 2026
LeachGarner Names New Brand DirectorThe precious metals provider has promoted Jennifer Ashworth to the role.
Events & AwardsMar 03, 2026
Johnny Nelson Wins David Yurman Gem Awards GrantNelson will be honored as the inaugural grant winner at the Gem Awards gala on March 13.
SourcingMar 03, 2026
7 Trends That Could Define the Diamond Industry’s FutureExperts from India weigh in the politics, policies, and market dynamics for diamantaires to monitor in 2026 and beyond.
MajorsMar 03, 2026
Swiss Refiner Completes Acquisition of Gannon & ScottThe American precious metals refiner’s day-to-day operations remain the same post-acquisition.
TrendsMar 03, 2026
Amanda’s Style File: AquatopiaThese aquamarine jewels channel the calming energy of the March birthstone.
Events & AwardsMar 03, 2026
AGTA Adds Another New Category for SpectrumThe “Innovative Design” category and award will debut in the Spectrum division of this year’s AGTA Spectrum & Cutting Edge Awards.
EditorsMar 02, 2026
Jewelry at the Actor Awards: Reimagining Hollywood GlamourDiamond jewelry was the star of the event formerly known as the SAG Awards.
SurveysMar 02, 2026
Consumer Confidence Edges Up in FebruaryConsumers were somewhat less worried about the future, though concerns about rising prices and politics remained.
Events & AwardsMar 02, 2026
JVC to Honor Rebecca Foerster at Annual LuncheonFoerster is this year’s Stanley Schechter Award recipient.
Events & AwardsMar 02, 2026
JFC Names 2026 ‘Facets’ Honorees Sponsorships and tickets to the annual fundraising event, set for May 31, are available now.
