Christie’s Magnificent Jewels auction in Hong Kong marked one of its first live sales for the house since the onset of the pandemic.

The auction was led by a 12.11-carat internally flawless marquise-cut fancy intense blue diamond, which sold for $15.9 million, compared with its pre-sale estimate of between $8 million and $12 million, after 15 minutes of bidding, according to Christie’s.

Following behind the blue diamond at No. 2 in the auction results was a 19.53-carat Burmese star ruby pendant, with ruby and diamond accents, by Edmond Chin for Etcetera (pictured below).

The piece garnered $2.7 million at auction Thursday, falling within its pre-sale estimate range.

At No. 3 was a 17.95-carat cut-cornered rectangular step-cut diamond ring accented with tapered baguette-cut diamonds, which went for $1.6 million.

Tied at No. 4 was another blue diamond ring, this one a 2.08-carat fancy intense blue marquise brilliant-cut, and a necklace featuring two oval-cut sapphires weighing 12.81 carats and 6.50 carats.

Both of those pieces went for above their pre-sale estimate high when they sold for $1.5 million Thursday.

This necklace featuring two oval-cut sapphires weighing 12.81 and 6.50 carats, a cushion-shaped sapphire weighing 2.74 carats (not seen here), and pear and circular-cut diamonds in platinum, sold for $1.5 million at Christie’s Hong Kong Thursday.
Rounding out some of the top lots were a 14.70-carat Kashmir sapphire and diamond ring that sold for a little more than $1.3 million; a 6.06-carat Burmese ruby and diamond ring and a pair of jadeite, ruby and diamond earrings, which both went for just under $1.3 million each; and a 10.59-carat diamond ring from Harry Winston for approximately $868,000.

The July 9 Magnificent Jewels auction totaled $39.8 million. For full results, visit Christies.com.