What is Hong Kong’s jewellery investment outlook for 2023? The Williamson Pink Star and De Beers Blue sold for millions at Sotheby’s while Rosamund Kwan auctioned off gems too

In October, a bidding frenzy at Sotheby’s Hong Kong saw one of the purest and most saturated pink diamonds in the world sell for a price of US$57.7 million (HK$453.2 million). The well-attended live auction for the 11.15-carat Williamson Pink Star set a record price per carat for any diamond or gemstone at auction, according to Sotheby’s. It is also the second most valuable jewel or gemstone ever sold at an auction. “Coloured diamonds continue to see a robust performance this year due to their rarity and aesthetic appeal,” said Regine Ngan, the head of the jewellery department at Sotheby’s Asia. Such an astonishing price is not limited to pink diamonds. In April, the De Beers Blue, a 15.1-carat fancy vivid blue diamond, sold for US$57 million (HK$451 million) at a Sotheby’s auction after an eight-minute bidding war between four bidders. Why Harry and Meghan are about to ruin the royals’ Christmas “The De Beers Blue was crowned the most valuable lot of the whole Hong Kong spring season,” said Ngan, noting that the Williamson Pink Star was naturally the most valuable lot of the autumn season. The record price for a jewel or stone of any colour was US$71 million (HK$553 million) for the Pink Star, an oval-shaped, 59.6-carat fancy vivid pink diamond, sold at Sotheby’s Hong Kong in 2017. And there are more pink gems on the way. Rahul Kadakia, the international head of Christie’s jewellery department, said the 18.18-carat Fortune Pink – the largest pear-shaped fancy vivid pink diamond auctioned – was offered at Geneva Magnificent Jewels on November 8. “In Hong Kong, on November 28, the Magnificent Jewels sale also [had] a strong line-up featuring the collection of Rosamund Kwan,” Kadakia said. Clearly, the appetite for gems and jewellery is there and with prices comparable to those before the pandemic hit. “Our jewellery sales have been well attended since we reopened our live saleroom, and we look forward to achieving another strong autumn season,” Kadakia said. Others are expecting strong sales, too. Ngan said Sotheby’s core luxury sales were up 20 per cent in the first half of 2022, cementing the division as the fastest growing area of the auction house’s business. “We have transformed our luxury division in recent years by expanding the categories it offers collectors and continuing to develop its online capabilities such as jewellery pieces with ‘no reserve’ and new concepts of NFT, to attract a new generation of bidders,” Ngan said, adding that as a result, 49 per cent of bidders were new to Sotheby’s. The De Beers Blue was crowned the most valuable lot of the whole Hong Kong spring season Regine Ngan, head of jewellery, Sotheby’s Asia. “For jewellery, global auction sales are up by 14 per cent year on year, average lot value saw a 30 per cent increase year on year, and a quarter of our bidders and buyers are new to Sotheby’s,” said Ngan. She noted that Asian collectors acquired half of all the jewellery sold by value, including the sale of the De Beers Blue. Inside the uninhabited Indonesian islands near Bali that are up for auction Another trend among collectors is for high jewellery. “Alongside exquisite quality stones such as diamonds and coloured gemstones, signed high jewellery pieces by global jewellery houses are gaining in popularity as more collectors look for design-oriented pieces,” Ngan said. “In general, when it comes to jewellery or high jewellery, collectors steer towards one-of-a-kind pieces. More importantly, they come with a provenance, a history of ownership that can make them all the more alluring,” she added. The Hong Kong Trade and Development Council has organised annual events for collectors, such as the HKTDC Hong Kong International Jewellery Show and the HKTDC Hong Kong International Diamond, Gem & Pearl Show. According to the HKTDC, it surveyed more than 1,000 exhibitors and visitors during its twin jewellery shows in August. The results showed that the most popular purchases were diamond jewellery, followed by gemstones and jade. Glitz and glam: how high jewellery became a permanent fixture in Hollywood But luxury cannot exist in a bubble, as the materials for making these pieces are vulnerable to global fluctuations. “Gold prices shot up in 2022, as the Ukraine war increased geopolitical risks and drove investor demand for gold as a safe investment. High prices along with lower disposable income [as inflation rose around the world] have so far prevented a strong bounce back in demand for gold jewellery in 2022,” said Barsali Bhattacharyya, a manager at the Economist Intelligence Unit’s Industry Briefing operations. “In 2023, investor demand for gold is likely to weaken as central banks around the world increase interest rates to rein in inflation. While this will reduce prices of gold jewellery, sales growth will be limited by a cost-of-living crisis in many markets, quick drawdown of household savings accumulated during the pandemic and falling consumer confidence,” Bhattacharyya said. Economic challenges in China, the world’s largest market for gold jewellery, will be a big challenge in 2023. Bhattacharyya expects sales in China to fall by 1.4 per cent this year, in line with the overall sluggishness in consumer spending, as the government maintain its zero-Covid policy. In 2023, investor demand for gold is likely to weaken as central banks around the world increase interest rates Barsali Bhattacharyya, manager, Economist Intelligence Unit’s Industry Briefing operations She said while jewellery sales in some Middle Eastern countries such as Saudi Arabia and the UAE, where high oil prices have provided an economic boost, are expected to shine, it will not be enough to offset sluggishness in China. “Asia accounts for nearly 18 per cent of the world’s high-net-worth population in 2023, with China contributing a third of the region’s total,” Bhattacharyya said. A spokesperson for the HKTDC suggested Hong Kong jewellery makers can sell their wares in Southeast Asia. “With the rapid economic development in Southeast Asia and the increasing purchasing power of consumers, coupled with the recognition of Hong Kong jewellery brands in the region, Hong Kong companies can actively expand into emerging markets such as Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam,” they said. The jewellery industry in Hong Kong seems robust now at least, with record auction prices, strong event participation and export optimism. According to the HKTDC, for the third quarter of 2022, the HKTDC Export Index – a metric designed to gauge the prospects of the near-term export performance of Hong Kong traders – increased by 1.9 points to 32.8, an improvement on the 30.9 recorded for second quarter and 24.7 for first quarter of 2022. “This indicates that many Hong Kong exporters are gradually becoming more optimistic with regard to their short-term prospects,” the HKTDC said. New blood for Prada? The arrival of Andrea Guerra, senior adviser of LVMH Overall, the jewellery sector had the highest sub-index at 44.2, followed by toys at 37.0. It also enjoyed the largest improvement in sentiment, recording a 9.9-point increase over the previous quarter, while the electronics sector gained 2.3 points to 32.7. “The city’s exports of fine jewellery recorded a 4.2 per cent year-on-year decline in the first three quarters of 2022,” said the HKTDC. “Looking ahead, Hong Kong’s export performance will remain under pressure, as elevated inflation in major advanced economies and more aggressive tightening of monetary policies in response continue to dampen global demand,” it said. Want more stories like this? Follow STYLE on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and Twitter.