The Inaugural Jewellery Sale at Phillips’ New Asia Headquarters in the West Kowloon Cultural District on 23 May to Feature an Exquisite Selection of Signed Jewellery, Coloured Gemstones and Diamonds
Led by a Magnificent Sapphire and Diamond Necklace by Bulgari
Further to the recent announcement of a magnificent sapphire and diamond necklace by Bulgari, which is set with an unheated Ceylon sapphire with ‘royal blue’ colour weighing 118.35 carats, Phillips has unveiled additional highlights from the Jewels & Jadeite Spring Auction in Hong Kong.
The sale will be held on 23 May at the company’s new Asia headquarters in Hong Kong’s West Kowloon Cultural District. It comprises a wide range of thoughtfully curated coloured diamonds and gemstones, as well as iconic signed pieces by leading jewellery makers including Van Cleef & Arpels, Cartier, Tiffany & Co., and Chanel, among others.
Sapphire necklace by Bulgari
Charlene Lau, Head of Department, Hong Kong, Phillips Jewels, said: “Following the success of the unveiling event in Hong Kong in March to announce the star lot, Phillips is delighted to reveal other highlights from our first jewellery sale taking place at the company’s new Asia headquarters in West Kowloon. In addition to the exceptional Bulgari sapphire and diamond necklace to lead this season’s sale, Phillips are delighted to offer an array of iconic signed pieces such as the ‘Zip’ necklace by Van Cleef & Arpels and the vintage ‘Tutti Frutti’ Brooches by Cartier.
The sale also highlighted by a selection of the finest Burmese rubies and rare coloured diamonds that are highly sought after in the market. We have witnessed a significant growth with unprecedented participation and sell through rates last season, and we look forward to carrying on this sturdy buying momentum to our new saleroom in Hong Kong this May.”
Iconic Signed Jewels
Like a discreet homage to Paris, the city of elegance, Van Cleef & Arpels links ‘Haute Couture’ with ‘Haute Joaillerie’ through the invention of its iconic ‘Zip’.
The Duchess of Windsor allegedly inspired Renée Puissant, then artistic director of Van Cleef & Arpels and daughter of the Maison’s founding couple, to transform the ordinary zipper into an exceptional piece of jewellery.
This undertaking was proven to be very ambitious and challenging. With the assistance of jewellery designer Réne-Sim Lacaze, the iconic Zip necklace was finally realized more than a decade later in 1950. Till this very day, anywhere from 400 to 1,200 hours are required by skilled craftsmen to create one Zip necklace.
This necklace presented in this season’s sale in warm pink gold is a fine example of the classic ‘Zip’ necklace design which highlights the chevrons and an understated chain tassel. With alternating pink sapphires and diamonds, it exudes a feminine aura that is also powerful and bold — a dream for all serious jewellery collectors.
‘Zip’ necklace by Van Cleef & Arpels
This season’s Jewels & Jadeite Sale offers two flowerpot brooches by Cartier made in the 1920s, that are quintessential ‘Tutti Frutti’ style jewellery of the Art Deco period, employing rock crystal, a very popular material found on brooches, onyx and diamonds for the monochrome palette, and carved gemstones for their explosive colours.
Patented by Cartier in 1989, ‘Tutti Frutti’ is used to describe the interpretation of Indian style with polychrome theme depicting leaves, berries and blossoms. ‘Tutti Frutti’ jewellery pieces were extremely popular among the most discerning collectors and continued to fetch extraordinary prices at international auctions.
Each ‘Tutti Frutti’ creation is completely unique and although these two brooches come as a pair, they are singular in their design and overtones.
