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H ong Kong’s Luxury Edit celebrates the finest examples of jewels, watches, handbags, and sneakers, brought together in an unusual and delightful assortment of design and beauty. We invite Sotheby’s experts from across categories to select highlights among the very best examples in each discipline – wonders of nature, treasures of creativity and marvels of engineering, all elevating luxury to the level of art. Read ahead to see their picks amid this trove of rare delights, from Fine Watches and Rare Sneakers (24 June–8 July) and Important Jewels & Handbags (9 July).
John Chan, Watches Specialist
F.P. Journe. The highly anticipated sale of Fine Watches and Rare Sneakers offers a superb selection of chronometers. This is a golden opportunity to own one of F.P. Journe’s most coveted models. François-Paul Journe’s meticulous attention to every step of his creations makes them distinct and limited, and what makes the Tourbillon Souverain avec seconde morte offered in the sale even rarer is its uncommon 38mm case and matching platinum bracelet.
The Holy Trinity, Porthole Design. The auction presents a strong showing from Patek Philippe such as its celebrated Nautilus Reference 5711 with a textured blue-black dial, and an eccentric variation of the Reference 3710, with its famous Jumbo Nautilus case. Almost half a century after its debut, Audemars Piguet’s Royal Oak remains one of the most iconic watches ever, with ever growing popularity among celebrities. This auction features a limited edition Royal Oak made for professional golfer Nick Faldo. Completing the “Holy Trinity” is a Vacheron Constantin Overseas chronograph from 2008 from the original 222 collection, which was the watchmaker’s answer to the Royal Oak and the Nautilus.
Rolex. No sale would be complete without the Rolex Daytona, and here we have the highly desirable and rare “Big Red” 6263 in black with floating Daytona signature and preserved in attractive condition. The Daytona was made famous by Paul Newman in the 1970s, and today the “Big Red” ranks among the most desirable wristwatches on the market. To celebrate the anniversary of the cult-favourite Submariner in 2010, Rolex put a unique twist on the classic model. Thus the “Hulk” was created, with its iconic metallic green dial and bezel. Discontinued ten years after its release, the present piece was among the last remaining batch of Hulks ever produced by Rolex.
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Brahm Wachter, Head of Streetwear and Modern Collectables
The Air Force 1 is one of the most iconic silhouettes for Nike, and has been consistently over time, one of the company’s top selling models. The AF1 was the first basketball shoe with Nike Air cushioning. Debuting in 1982, it garnered cult status before being discontinued just two years after, and owing to a devoted fan base was reintroduced in 1986. Since then, the sneaker has undergone different incarnations, with various cuts, materials and design flourishes. All of the sneakers chosen for the Fine Watches and Rare Sneakers auction are some of the most coveted by collectors worldwide. The designs span entertainment, art, athletics, food and more.
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Diana Chang, Jewellery Specialist
Versatility. When it comes to jewellery, versatility is always appealing to me. Certain earrings like the pair of fancy deep brownish yellowish orange diamonds can also be worn as a special pair of studs or styled with a floral jacket for a more dressed up occasion. A diamond tiara created in the late 19th century can also be worn as a necklace. These jewels allow you to use your imagination to be beautiful in many ways.
Colours. What can be lovelier than the full rainbow hues of a diamond bracelet? Or the mesmerizing "Royal Blue" of a Burmese sapphire? Or the glow of emeralds, full of nature’s mysteries? Fine "Le Jardin" in emeralds are natural inclusions that impart unique character, allowing you to marvel at nature's intentions. A lapis lazuli and diamond necklace from a modern Cartier Panther collection is reminiscent of the blue hour of the night sky, and by looking at the stone we may be inspired as the ancient Egyptians were by its heavenly hues.
Classics. A stunning 12.12 carat emerald-cut diamond demonstrates that diamonds are indeed “a girl's best friend”, as the saying goes, though this has been true throughout the centuries for women and men. For the showstopper, a jadeite bangle is a phenomenon unto itself. The rough material required to carve a jadeite bangle is impressive to say the least. From a Chinese cultural perspective, a jadeite bangle is symbolic of blessings and protection.
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Shanne Ng, Jewellery Specialist
Van Cleef & Arpels. The auction features several delightful pieces by Van Cleef & Arpels, including a “scarecrow” brooch, likely from the 1960s, a design currently on featured in the maison’s exhibition “Comic Interlude - the Sparkling Wit of Jewelry” at the Place Vendome. The Cooper Hewitt Museum owns a Hanakarakusa brooch created in collaboration with lacquer artisan Junichi Hakose, and incorporates elements of Japanese aesthetics. We see that in the delicate scenes of serenity in a limited-edition "Alhambra" pendant. Another iconic collection is Rose de Noël, which showcases many different gemstones and materials, of which hardwood is a personal favourite, shown to beautiful effect in a pair of ear clips. A ruby, sapphire and diamond bracelet comes from the retro Hawaii collection, which met with great success during the post-war period.
Jadeite. An adorable demi-parure brings to mind the phrase “two peas in a pod”, evoking the idea of perfect harmony with its beautifully matched peapod carvings. In Chinese culture, peapods symbolise prosperity, wealth and longevity. Jadeite can come in many colours, but the most sought-after is a deep emerald green that is found almost exclusively in Myanmar jadeite. Revered and rare, this colour is often called “imperial green” exemplified by a pair of earrings in the sale.
Magnificent Rings. Rounding out the highlights are two stunning rings. The first features a top quality ruby of 15.45 carats from Madagascar, nearly flawless to the naked eye and displaying a highly saturated purplish red colour. The other is a yellow diamond that appears to have captured within the stone rays of sunshine, evoking a sense of joy and happiness.
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Morgane Halimi, Head of Handbags & Accessories
The colourful Hermès handbags in this curated selection represent a perfect celebration of summer, offering some of the most exclusive designs by Hermès: the special orders. These handbags are reserved for Hermes VIPs and can take as long as three years to realise. Each piece has been created with unique features and combinations, so the auction is an amazing opportunity for collectors who want to stand out from the crowd to own a one-of-a-kind piece. Our selection includes a custom made Shiny Niloticus Crocodile Birkin that joins two of the most sought-after colors: Vert Emeraude and Rose Scheherazade.
Collectors who are looking for the masterpiece of their collection will be thrilled to know that we will be offering the White Himalaya Birkin in size 30. This may be considered the holy grail of handbags by most collectors. It is truly a wearable piece of art, pairing rarity with the excellence of Hermès craftmanship.
