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Certified coloured stones will be a feature of the auction at O’Reilly’s, Francis St., Dublin on September 3. The catalogue for this auction of over 300 lots is online. Here is a small selection:

A FINE QUALITY DIAMOND AND SAPPHIRE THREE STONE RING, the oval sapphire to two brilliant cut diamonds, mounted in white gold. Together with coloured gemstone report stating the sapphire to be; 3.90 ct, of Burmese origin with no evidence of heat treatment (18,000-22,000)

A FINE QUALITY JADEITE CARVED PENDANT, in the form of an ampoule with foliage, tourmaline detail, on a silver chain. Together with a coloured gemstone report stating the jadiete to be of natural origin with no treatment (5,000-6,000)

A DIAMOND CLUSTER RING, the rectangular brilliant fancy yellow diamond, to a brilliant cut diamond surround. Together with EGL coloured diamond report stating the diamond to be; 2.01 ct, Fancy Vivid yellow, VS2 cl (20,000-22,000)

Shanghai Ampire Building

The importance of Asia in the international world of art and antiques cannot be overstated. Christie’s today announced the opening of a new home and multi-purpose art space at Shanghai’s historic Bund.  With its combination of heritage and style the location is considered to be a perfect match for the global auction house.  Located in the heart of The Bund – the symbol of the city, Christie’s Shanghai is based in the Ampire Building, built in 1907 and part of the urban landscape over the past century.  The Shanghai autumn auctions on October 24 will feature a new category of Chinese Contemporary Design as well as an evening sale of Asian and Western 20th Century and Contemporary Art and a Prestigious Lifestyle sale. A private selling exhibition, The Art of The Horse, is to be the opening exhibition at Christie’s Shanghai on October 21.  It will tour and to Hong Kong in November.  Here are some examples from the Chinese Contemporary Design sale.

Echo – a white eggshell porcelain bowl

One of a pair of Da Tian Di Bo Luo lacquered carbon fibre chairs

DA TIAN DI (SKY AND EARTH) LUOHAN BED

A summer on-line auction of vintage and modern pieces – Statement Jewels – gets underway at Christie’s today and runs to September 3.  The collection will feature everyday wearable pieces, from coloured gems to classic jadeite and pearls, and timepieces.

Vickie Sek, Deputy Chairman of Christie’s Asia and Director and Head of Jewellery and Jadeite Department said: “We have put together a selection that offers something for everyone. The online sale platform means our clients will be able to view and purchase the statement pieces that we have on offer from anywhere in the world and best of all, at accessible prices.”

Two signed sapphire & diamond rings (Van Cleef & Arpels & Boucheron) (US$5,000-7,000).

Two signed sapphire & diamond rings (Van Cleef & Arpels & Boucheron)

A jadeite, diamond, onyx and ruby brooch (US$1,000-1,500).

A pair of diamond and emerald ear pendants (US$2,500-3,800).

A gold bracelet by Van Cleef and Arpels (US$1,000-1,500).

The 8.41-Carat Pear-shape Internally Flawless (IF) Fancy Vivid Purple-Pink Diamond.

AN 8.41-carat pear-shape internally flawless (IF) fancy vivid purple-pink diamond  comes up at Sotheby’s in Hong Kong on October 7.  Cut from a 19.54 carat rough it ranks amongst the rarest and most desirable of coloured diamonds ever seen at auction.

Internally Flawless clarity is extremely rare in pink diamonds, and virtually unseen in any significant pink diamond of Fancy Vivid or Fancy Intense colour grading ever sold at auction. It was mined by the world’s leading diamond corporation De Beers. The final cutting was completed in New York.  It is estimated at US$12.8-15.4 million.

The stone will be previewed in Singapore, Taipei, New York, London, Geneva and Hong Kong.

UPDATE: IT MADE A WORLD RECORD PRICE OF US$17.77 MILLION

An Enigma Cipher machine is one of the more unusual offerings at Christie’s second annual Out of the Ordinary sale in South Kensington, London on September 3.   The three rotor machine was the standard German ciphering machine widely used in World War II.  In several variants it was used, among others, by the German Navy, the Wehrmacht, the Luftwaffe and the Abwehr (Intelligence). It was regarded by the Germans as too complex to be broken. Its decipherment at Bletchley Park is credited in some quarters are shortening World War II by two years.  This version is estimated at £40,000-60,000.

The top lot in the sale is a late medieval broadsword with an earlier Viking blade bearing the arms of the De Bohun family (£80,000-120,000).  Christie’s say it was possibly captured at the Battle of Hastings by Humphrey De Bohun.  Unusual pop memorabilia in the sale include the front door of Sir Paul McCartney’s childhood home, 20 Forthlin Road, Allerton, Liverpool (£6,000-8,000). Out of the Ordinary comprises over 180 lots with estimates from 500 to £120,000. A portion of the sale will be offered exclusively at Christie’s on-line with bidding from  August 27 to September 10.  Highlights of the online version include an elephant bird egg.

A THREE-ROTOR ENIGMA CIPHER MACHINE c1939
Number A-4127 (£40,000-60,000). Courtesy Christie’s Images Ltd., 2014.

AN EXTREMELY RARE LATE MEDIEVAL BROADSWORD WITH EARLIER VIKING BLADE AND BEARING THE ARMS OF THE DE BOHUN FAMILY, EARLS OF HEREFORD AND ESSEX (£80,000-120,000). Courtesy Christie’s Images Ltd., 2014

A wooden front door, late 1950s, removed from 20 Forthlin Road, Allerton, Liverpool, the childhood home of Paul McCartney (£6,000-8,000). Courtesy Christie’s Images Ltd., 2014.

A VERY RARE RADFORD MINI DE VILLE
BY HAROLD RADFORD COACHBUILDERS LTD., 1964 (£40,000-50,000). Courtesy Christie’s Images Ltd., 2014

The Black Label Ballerina Butterfly brooch.

The link between jewellery designer Cindy Chao, actress Sarah Jessica Parker and the New York City Ballet is the Ballerina Butterfly brooch to be auctioned in October.  Sotheby’s will sell the brooch, designed by Chao and Parker, to benefit the New York City Ballet in Hong Kong on October 7.  The Black Label Ballerina Butterfly brooch was completed over the course of two years, melding together Chao’s exceptional craftsmanship along with Parker’s discerning eye for style and design. The resulting creation is a diamond and conch pearl brooch featuring a 26.27 carat cushion-cut fancy brown diamond, three rough brown diamond slices, three pieces of conch pearls surrounded by 4,698 diamonds and fancy coloured diamonds. Inspired by the graceful beauty of ballet it can be worn either right-side up or upside-down to create two silhouettes.  It is estimated at US$750,000-950,000.

The Black Label Masterpiece Butterflies are one of Chao’s coveted motifs and revered by collectors worldwide. This is Chao’s first art jewel collaboration.  “Sarah Jessica and I are two very different creative minds sharing the same artistic vision and passion” Chao said. “She truly appreciates the essence and soul of my creations, and I admire her innovative yet classic view of fashion and style”.

UPDATE: IT MADE HK$9.4 million.