Phillips Presents the Largest Single-Owner Collection of Fine Jewellery in Company History this Fall

Dedicated Live Auction in Hong Kong on 26 November with Concurrent Online Auction Open for Bidding from 23 November – 2 December

Includes the Largest Collection of Zambian Emerald Jewels Ever to Appear at Auction

Phillips Jewels is honoured to present a prestigious Middle Eastern collection with an estimate range of HK$96–134 million/ US$12-17 million in Hong Kong this November. Two dedicated auctions will display the largest single-owner jewellery collection ever to be offered at Phillips, featuring more than 170 exquisite pieces of diamonds, gems, jewellery and watches acquired over three decades by an ardent collector.

Sensational Jewels from a Prominent Middle Eastern Collection will be presented in a live auction on 26 November in Hong Kong after the Jewels & Jadeite sale (11am HKT on 26 November). The collection features over 130 lots of Burmese and Mozambique rubies, Colombian emeralds, Burmese sapphires, colourless and coloured diamonds, among other fine and signed jewels. Alongside the live auction, an online auction entitled Treasures from Zambia: An Exceptional Emerald Collection will be open for bidding from 23 November – 2 December. Comprising over 45 lots of the finest and rarest Zambian emerald jewels, it will be the largest collection of Zambian emeralds ever to be offered at auction.  

Graeme Thompson, Worldwide Head of Jewellery, Phillips, said, “We are absolutely thrilled to have been entrusted by an important Middle Eastern collector with this incredible collection that has been assembled over the last 30 years, presenting some of the finest examples of top grade gemstones and diamonds. These jewellery pieces embody wonderful memories, marking significant chapters of his life, full of colour, travel and encounters. Moreover, such an extensive and fine quality collection of Zambian emerald jewels are a rare sight at auction, so it is incredibly exciting for us to be able to offer this special collection and put one of the most precious gems on earth in the spotlight. We anticipate strong interest in both sales of this incredible single-owner collection, given that it is the most comprehensive collection of jewels ever to come to Phillips. We look forward to achieving successful results and reaching a new milestone for Phillips Jewels.”

Sensational Jewels from a Prominent Middle Eastern Collection: A live auction to take place in Hong Kong on 26 November at 4pm HKT

A Necklace, Ring and Earrings set with Burmese Sapphires and Diamonds

Necklace: Estimate HK$650,000–850,000/ US$83,000-110,000

Earring: Estimate HK$250,000–350,000/ US$30,000-45,000

Ring: Estimate HK$280,000–380,000/ US$35,000-50,000

From one of the world’s most discerning jewellery collectors, this prominent Middle Eastern collection features a diverse range of magnificent jewellery including necklaces, brooches, rings, bracelets and earrings. The collection comprises not only high jewellery pieces, offering exceptional value, but also fine, wearable jewels suitable for all occasions. Highlights include an outstanding necklace, bracelet, ring and earrings set with diamonds and unheated Burmese rubies, with an estimate of HK$1.62 million/ US$204,000 (illustrated page 1), a 7.07 carat D/Flawless diamond ring (estimate HK$3.2– 4.8 million/ US$400,000-600,000, illustrated page 3), and a necklace, ring and earring set featuring beautiful unheated Burmese sapphires and diamonds, with an estimate of HK$1.18 million/ US$150,000 (illustrated right).

Treasures from Zambia: An Exceptional Emerald Collection: An online auction on Phillips.com from 23 November – 2 December

While Colombia has long been the most sought-after in terms of emerald provenance, Zambian emeralds have become increasingly popular in recent years and today are rightly held in near-equal esteem as those of Colombian origin. Headlining this collection is a stunning 56.87 carat no oil emerald and diamond necklace, with an estimate range of HK$6.5–8.5 million/ US$830,000-1,100,000 (illustrated page 1). Other highlights include a 16.48 carat untreated emerald and diamond ring (estimate: HK$950K–1.5 million/ US$120,000-200,000, illustrated page 4) and a pair of 8.13 carat and 8.27 carat untreated emerald and diamond earrings (Estimate: HK$480,000–680,000/ US$61,000-87,000, illustrated page 4)

Part of the proceeds from the sale of Treasures from Zambia: An Exceptional Emerald Collection will benefit Gemfields Foundation, the charitable arm of Gemfields, which directly supports community and conservation projects in Africa. This season, Phillips is also delighted to work with Gemfields - a world-leading supplier of responsibly sourced coloured gemstones – to deliver an educational masterclass in fine Zambian emeralds, that will share expertise and advice on collecting coloured gemstones.

The story behind the single-owner collection

This landmark single-owner collection comes from a passionately knowledgeable private collector in the Middle East, who started his collecting journey some 40 years ago, when his late father gave him an Omega watch. Over the last four decades, he himself had the privilege of travelling extensively across the world and often took the time to visit museums and world-leading exhibitions, while also actively participating in auctions. His personal acquaintances and frequent association with experts from the world of jewellery shaped and sharpened his knowledge to form one of the most comprehensive jewellery collections in the world. 

Over the last 20 years, he devoted half of his working life and time to this passion. His collection comprises the finest, rarest, and probably largest collection of Zambian emeralds in existence, in addition to a variety of diamonds, Colombian emeralds, Burmese and Mozambique rubies. Foreseeing an eventual and inevitable appreciation in the value of top-quality Zambian emeralds, he actively bought to assemble this significant collection of Zambian emeralds, believing that this evolution would be a natural and progressive process, just as interest in and demand for sapphires, migrated from a Kashmir near-monopoly, to include the finest specimens from Burma and Sri Lanka. On a more personal level, he draws parallels from his penchant for cigars and fine wines, as his preference for both only expands over time as new varieties emerge and evolve from around the world. The same applies to his appreciation for diamonds, gemstones, jewellery and watches.

Jewels from the single-owner collection will travel to Taipei, Taichung, New York, Shenzhen, Geneva, Beijing and Shanghai throughout October and November, before returning to Hong Kong for an auction preview at the JW Marriott Hotel from 23 – 26 November. Follow @Phillipsjewels to get latest updates.