Bonhams to auction jewellery worth millions in celebration of coloured gems

In Bonhams’ upcoming Rare Jewels and Jadeite auction, the spotlight is focused on the beauty of coloured stones and is presented under the theme “The Jewels of the World Collection”.

Apart from Burmese rubies, Colombian emeralds and Kashmir sapphires, all of which boast highly coveted provenances, gemstones from the far-flung corners of the gemmology world, including Kenya, Tajikistan and Brazil, will also be up for auction.

One of the highlighted lots with an unusual provenance is a ring with a 10.06ct step-cut Kenyan ruby as the centre stone. The ruby from Kenya, says Graeme Thompson, the director of jewellery for Bonhams Asia, is “extremely rare”.

Despite hailing from East Africa, the Kenyan ruby boasts a lovely pinkish hue that puts it on par with some of the finest ruby finds from Burmese mines.

“What’s important about Kenyan rubies is that their deposits are marble-bearing, so they are chromium-rich which is the exact same as [Burmese rubies],” Thompson says. “If this was Burmese, it would probably be US$1.5 million per carat, [but] this is US$18,000 per carat.” The ring is estimated at HK$1.5 million to HK$2 million.

Other highlights include a Brazilian emerald ring, a Sri Lankan sapphire ring, and a Mozambique ruby ring. The auction will take place on May 31 in Hong Kong.

STYLE caught up with Graeme Thompson, director of jewellery for Bonhams Asia.

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