Phillips to Sell Rare Pink Diamond Collection

RAPAPORT... Rare pink diamonds from Rio Tinto's Argylemine in Australia will lead the upcoming Hong Kong Jewels and Jadeite auction atPhillips next month. The collection comprises 16 jewelry pieces,each incorporating stones from the Argyle deposit, which is the only knownsource of pink diamonds and is due to close next year. Chief among these willbe a ring that can be converted into a pair of ear studs. The piece, which featurestwo heart-shaped, fancy-intense-purplish-pink diamonds, has a presale estimateof HKD 5.8 million to HKD 6.8 million ($739,860 to $867,423). Other items include a pair of fancy pinkdiamond, seed pearl and white diamond earrings designed by London-based jewelerSarah Ho, which is expected to fetch HKD 110,000 to HKD 150,000 ($14,031 to$19,134). A ring by Singapore-based gemologist Paige Parker, featuring pink,yellow and white diamonds, has a presale estimate of HKD 260,000 to HKD 320,000($33,166 to $40,820). Another ring by Hong Kong jewelry designer Karen Suen, inwhich pink and white diamonds are set around a conch pearl, is meanwhile valuedat up to HKD 620,000 ($79,087). Two further items from the collection, alsoup for auction, feature Columbian Muzo emeralds alongside Argyle pink diamonds.A necklace, expected to garner up to HKD 2.2 million ($280, 640), will go underthe hammer alongside a pair of emerald, white and pink diamond pendant earringswith a presale estimate of up to HKD 630,000 ($80,367). Additional pieces, outside of the pinkdiamond collection, include a jadeite bead and diamond necklace, which isexpected to fetch between HKD 8.5 million and HKD 11 million ($1.1 million to$1.4 million). A rare Van Cleef & Arpels zip necklace, includingdiamonds, sapphires and lapis lazuli, is expected to net up to HKD4.5 million ($574,042). The auction will take place at the JW Marriott inHong Kong on November 25. It will be preceded by a three-day public exhibitionat the same location. Image: Argyle pink diamond earrings. (Phillips)