There was a world auction record for a natural grey pearl necklace when The Cowdray Pearls sold for US$5,266,667 at Sotheby’s in Hong Kong today. The Jewel of Kashmir, a 27.68 carat Kashmir sapphire and diamond ring achieved a world auction record price per carat of US$242,145 when it made US$6,702,654.
The previous world auction record for a natural grey pearl necklace was held by The Cowdray Pearls which sold for for US$3,353,661 in London in June 2012. The previous record per carat for a Kashmir sapphire was US$240,381 established in Hong Kong last May when a circular cut ring of 10.33 carats sold for US2,483,136.
Sotheby’s five day series of sales in Hong Kong brought in US$342.2 million. A total of 2,974 lots were sold. The top lot of the series was an Imperial painting of Chinhui, the Qianlong Emperor’s favourite consort, by Giuseppe Castiglione which sold for US$17.6 million,.
(See post on antiquesandartireland.com for September 10, 2015).
The Cowdray Pearls sold for US$5,266,667
This emerald cut sapphire and diamond ring sold for US$6.7 million
Sotheby’s Nicholas Chow showing an Imperial painting of Chunhui, the Qianlong Emperor’s favourite Consort, by Court Artist Giuseppe Castiglione which sold for US$17.6 million.
