Editor’s Note
A rare 181.61-carat Paraíba-type tourmaline from Mozambique sold for HK$3.8 million at a recent Bonhams auction in Hong Kong, achieving a price at the lower end of its pre-sale estimate.
Hong Kong—A rare 181.61-carat Paraíba-type tourmaline from Mozambique sold for HK$3.8 million, or approximately $487,000, at Bonhams’ recent Hong Kong Jewels and Jadeite auction.
The internally flawless, unheated and untreated gemstone has a greenish-blue hue and was expected to fetch between HK$3 million and HK$5 million, meaning it sold at the low end of its estimated range.
It was named “The Kat Florence Lumina” after jewelry designer Kat Florence, whose husband, gem hunter Don Kogen, recovered the original 830-carat rough crystal in Mozambique in 2003.
Kogen originally estimated the rough could yield a clean stone of about 300 carats but left it untouched until Florence encouraged him to revisit the crystal this year.
The initial result was a 315-carat gemstone that was later recut to improve its brilliance, resulting in a cushion-shaped gemstone with a weight of 181.61 carats.
It is one of the largest Paraíba-type tourmalines of its kind, according to Bonhams.
The loose stone was accompanied by reports from four gem labs.
An appendix letter from American Gemological Laboratories stated the above. It also received a 95.4-point rating from Gübelin, categorizing it as “exceptional.” Only 1 to 3 percent of stones submitted for testing annually receive this rating, the auction house noted.
Bonhams’ 132-lot jewelry auction also included fancy colored diamonds and gemstones, as well as rubies, sapphires and emeralds from notable brands.
The top lot was a ring featuring a 1.08-carat internally flawless fancy vivid pink diamond that sold for HK$4.4 million, or approximately $568,000.
Also notable was the sale of a Cartier diamond and sapphire “Panthère” bracelet, which achieved HK$2 million, or approximately $260,000.
A pair of Harry Winston diamond earrings with no-heat Burmese rubies weighing about 7 carats each sold for HK$3.6 million ($463,000).
Stewart Young, Bonhams director of jewelry and head of jewelry for Asia, said this. He added:
