Under the hammer – Fab Four Auction Sales (August 2024)
Four amazing lots that wowed bidders at recent auctions include a spectacular pink diamond, a rare Leica camera, an amazing Patek Philippe wristwatch, and a masterpiece by Picasso.
Garden of Eden: Pink diamond radiates pure beauty
A spectacular pure pink diamond drew gasps of appreciation from across the globe at Christie’s recent Magnificent Jewels auction in New York. This was a truly international sale for a beautiful round brilliant internally flawless fancy intense stone weighing 10.2 carats called The Eden Rose, and bids came in from the Americas, Europe, Asia-Pacific and the Middle East. Such intense demand drove up the final price to a whopping US$13.3 million (HK$103.9 million), with the prized lot going to an anonymous bidder.
Rahul Kadakia, Christie’s International Head of Jewellery, expressed his pleasure at the outcome: “Christie’s was proud to present The Eden Rose, an extraordinary gem which had never before been offered at auction. The 10.2-carat fancy intense pink internally flawless gem surpassed all expectations, fetching well beyond its high estimate.”
The Magnificent Jewels auction accumulated US$44.4 million in sales, with bidders paying strong prices for rare coloured gemstones and natural pearls in particular. The natural pink hue of The Eden Rose has a complete absence of any secondary colour, endowing it with the purest hue of pink and amazing clarity and radiance.
Camera Sky-high: Collector snaps up coveted black Leica
A rare Leica camera was the outstanding lot at a summer auction held by Leitz Photographica Auction at Leitz-Park in Wetzlar, Germany. Going for an astonishing 1.56 million euros (about HK$13.23 million), the camera that wowed bidders represents one of only six black-paint versions of the Leica MP2 made by the renowned camera manufacturer. Its final price easily surpassed the pre-auction estimate of 700,000 to 800,000 euros.
Dating from 1958, the prized item is a good example of historic rangefinder cameras particularly coveted by collectors, especially given its black coat of paint. Only 27 MP2 cameras were made as part of a test series from the late 1950s. Part of the appeal of this model, especially for photojournalists at the time, is a special electric motor drive that facilitated the ability to take 3.5 photos per second.
“We are particularly pleased that our auction house was able to achieve a result of 1.56 million euros for this Leica MP2 on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the legendary Leica M,” said Alexander Sedlak, Managing Director of Leitz Photographica Auction. “It emphasises the exceptional popularity that the Leica M system still enjoys today, both among collectors and professional photographers.”
Perfect Picasso: Self-reflective masterpiece inspires awe
A superb painting laid down by Pablo Picasso in the 1960s caused a major stir at a Hong Kong auction house, with the hammer eventually falling on a bid of HK$78.7 million (US$10 million) from an Asian collector. The painting was one of the highlights of Sotheby’s Modern & Contemporary Evening Auction and the final asking price fell firmly within the pre-auction estimate of HK$66 million to $90 million.
Le Peintre (The Painter) was inked in 1963 by the revered artist during one of his most creative periods and is considered by many as a late autobiographical masterpiece. Brimming with verve and movement, it portrays an artist at work, a common theme in Picasso’s final years as he explored self-identity – in this instance with the figure exceedingly close to the canvas. The duality of the painter is portrayed by splitting his face in two. Another distinctive quality of his oeuvre during this period was the use of teal blue as part of a strikingly intense colour code.
Felix Kwok, Head of Modern Art at Sotheby’s Asia, noted that the subject of Le Peintre enriches and broadens the themes of the works by Picasso brought to the Asian auction market over recent years.
Map Maker: Rare Patek breaks world-time record
An amazing and extremely rare Patek Philippe wristwatch enthused avid collectors at an auction held by Christie’s in Hong Kong, such that the final selling price of HK$65.5 million (US$8.4 million) smashed a world record. The sale of the Patek Philippe Ref. 2523J was part of a series incorporating two single-owner watch collections.
The 18-carat gold two-crown world-time wristwatch, manufactured in 1953, is considered by some as one of the world’s great vintage Patek wristwatches. A standout feature is a unique dial featuring cloisonné enamel depicting the Eurasian map. No two cloisonné enamel dials are the same since they are created individually by skilled craftsmen – in this case at the workshop of famed dial-maker Stern Frères. The hot firing process results in slight differences in the hues of the enamel colours.
“It was a true privilege to present the fabled Patek Philippe 2523J, one of several treasures entrusted to us,” said Alexandre Bigler, Senior Vice President and Head of Watches at Christie’s Asia Pacific, adding that the demand in Asia for rare and exceptional timepieces remains strong.
