Sotheby’s Magnificent Jewels and Jadeite Autumn on Oct 6 has several amazing pieces. The highlight is a rare Van Cleef & Arpels 6.43-carat fancy vivid pink diamond and diamond ring, and there is a delightful selection of gemstones. But my eyes were really caught by a Tutti Frutti-inspired necklace and a pair of matching earrings by Cartier. Produced between the early 1920s and late 1930s, Cartier’s famed Tutti Frutti jewels took inspiration from exotic Indian jewellery, and is characteristic of the jewellery house’s highly sought-after Art Deco designs. This specific necklace was created in 1937 and mirrors the lavish colour contrast of the Tutti Frutti jewels, while the earrings were made to match by Cartier London in 1956. Another highlight is a very fine pair of Colombian emerald, jadeite cabochon and diamond earrings designed by Hong Kong jewellery designer Dickson Yewn.
Unusually for Hong Kong, the sale will also offer some heirloom pieces, including a delicate diamond butterfly brooch, circa 1890, which was previously in the collection of Mary, Princess Royal and Countess of Harewood, the third child of King George V and Queen Mary of England. The brooch was a gift to Princess Mary from her grandmother Queen Alexandra, who originally received it as a silver wedding anniversary gift in 1888. Of great historical importance and a work of superb craftsmanship and elegance, the diamond butterfly brooch is a true treasure for period jewellery connoisseurs. These pieces are usually offered in London or Geneva, but the fact thatthey're now starting to be auctioned in Hong Kong as well indicates the rising interest of Asian collectors for this type of period jewels.