Isabella Yan provides an exclusive look into the highly anticipated Bonas gemstone tender, an event set to captivate the global fine jewelry market. This prestigious tender will take place at the Hong Kong SkyCity Marriott Hotel, running from Saturday, September 14th to Wednesday, September 18th, 2019. Strategically coinciding with the renowned September Hong Kong Gem and Jewellery Show, this timing ensures maximum visibility and access for discerning buyers from around the world.
Bonas, an internationally recognized diamond brokerage firm, is celebrated for its unparalleled access to and curation of the world’s most extraordinary gemstones. This September, they are poised to offer an exquisite collection tailored for high-end retailers, luxury jewelry designers, and private collectors seeking truly special pieces to elevate their inventories or personal collections. The tender boasts an impressive selection of 460 meticulously chosen examples of precious colored gemstones. This diverse offering spans a wide spectrum of types, sizes, colors, and clarities, with many remarkable pieces making their debut appearance on the market. Attendees can anticipate a spectacular array of breathtaking sapphires, historically significant rubies, vibrant emeralds, serene aquamarines, radiant spinels, deep garnets, and captivating tourmalines, each selected for its exceptional quality and unique appeal.
Leading this remarkable sale are three exceedingly rare unheated Burmese rubies, treasures from a region historically revered for producing the finest specimens. Two of these magnificent gems originate from Burma, are entirely unheated, and come with prestigious GRS certifications, affirming their authenticity and natural beauty. The first is an astonishing 17.14 carat cushion-shaped ruby (Fig. 1 Lot 264), radiating a profound crimson hue. Complementing this is Lot 305, weighing 5.15 carats, an equally stunning ruby that showcases an intense and beautiful red color saturation, characteristic of its Burmese origin. These two gems are prime examples of nature’s artistry. Further enhancing the ruby offering, Lot 300 will spotlight an exceptional 8.06 carat Burmese “Pigeon’s Blood” ruby. This iconic term refers to a specific, highly coveted shade of red, often described as a vivid, slightly purplish-red with exceptional transparency and fluorescence, a quality that is certain to command significant attention from connoisseurs and investors alike (Fig. 3 Lot 300). Beyond these Burmese marvels, the tender also features other notable rubies, including a vivid unheated ruby of 4.09 carats from Mozambique (Fig. 4 Lot 311). This particular stone boasts remarkable brilliancy, clarity, and its own precious “Pigeon’s Blood” color, proving that exceptional rubies can emerge from diverse origins, each with its unique character and allure.
Among the tender’s most significant highlights is an extraordinary spinel. Lot 419 presents a truly stunning oval-shaped spinel from Tanzania, weighing an impressive 16.50 carats (Fig. 5 Lot 419). This magnificent gemstone exhibits a captivating reddish-pink hue, a highly sought-after color in the spinel family. What makes this particular stone exceptionally rare is its substantial size combined with its remarkable brightness and transparency, qualities that are increasingly difficult to encounter, especially from this specific locality. According to leading gemological experts, spinels originating from the Mahenge region of Tanzania are particularly prized. The global demand for Mahenge spinels, especially those exhibiting vibrant orange, intense red, and delicate pink colors, continues to soar, making this 16.50-carat specimen a truly remarkable find and a potential investment piece for any serious collector.
Continuing the enchanting theme of warm, sunset-inspired hues, the Bonas tender proudly showcases a superb example of a Padparadscha sapphire. This exquisite variety is one of the rarest and most coveted sapphires, distinguished by its unique color palette. Named after the “lotus blossom,” the Padparadscha sapphire displays a delicate and harmonious blend of pink and orange, evoking the serene beauty of a tropical sunset. Lot 175 features a breathtaking 8.10 carat cushion-cut Padparadscha sapphire (Fig. 6 Lot 175). This particular gem is not merely a stone but a collector’s masterpiece, originating from an exemplary private collection. Its provenance is further solidified by a comprehensive report from GRS, which certifies its Sri Lankan origin and, crucially, confirms that it shows no signs of heat or other treatments, ensuring its natural purity and exceptional value to discerning buyers worldwide.
Furthermore, the Bonas tender is set to unveil an impressive and diverse assortment of richly colored sapphires, spanning the entire spectrum from classic blues to vibrant pinks, coveted padparadschas, sunny yellows, and a captivating range of fancy colored varieties. Among the most unique and significant offerings is Lot 18, an extraordinary 33-piece sapphire set. This meticulously matched collection boasts a combined weight of 69.35 carats. Special sapphire sets of this caliber and uniformity are exceedingly rare to appear on the market. What makes Lot 18 truly exceptional is its consistent and mesmerizing “Royal Blue” color, its completely untreated status, and its certification as originating from the legendary mines of Burma. Each sapphire in this set has been expertly cut and sized to achieve perfect harmony, making it ideally suited to be crafted into an elegant and breathtaking sapphire parure, a testament to timeless luxury and exceptional craftsmanship (Fig. 7 Lot 18). Meanwhile, Lot 34 presents another magnificent blue sapphire from Sri Lanka, weighing 12.26 carats. Classified as an illustrious “Royal Blue,” this unheated sapphire is particularly aesthetically pleasing, thanks to its superb color and unique octagon cut. This specific cut was chosen to maximize its brilliance and enhance its inherent appeal, magnificently showcasing the splendor of its rich color (Fig. 8 Lot 34). Other remarkable blue sapphires from the renowned Sri Lankan origin include Lot 11, a 10.03 carat cushion cut (Fig. 9 Lot 11), and Lot 45, a 15.09 carat oval-shaped gem (Fig. 10 Lot 45), both accompanied by detailed reports from the GRS, guaranteeing their quality and natural characteristics.
Vibrant examples of tanzanite also promise to capture significant attention at the tender. Lot 421 features an exceptionally fine cushion-shaped tanzanite, weighing an astounding 155.02 carats (Fig. 11 Lot 421). This colossal gemstone displays an excellent saturation of color, gracefully transitioning from deep, mesmerizing violet to rich, velvety blue, a testament to tanzanite’s renowned pleochroism. Both the clarity and the lustre of this magnificent stone are simply outstanding, allowing light to dance through its facets with unparalleled brilliance. According to gemological experts, the vast majority of tanzanites commercially available typically range in smaller sizes and often exhibit a paler violet hue. Therefore, encountering a tanzanite of this monumental size, combined with such intense and vibrant color saturation, is an exceedingly rare phenomenon in nature, marking Lot 421 as an extraordinary collector’s piece.
A number of vivid green Tsavorites are also poised to sparkle brilliantly at the sale, promising to ignite keen interest among gemstone enthusiasts. Lot 437, an impressive 37.87 carat Tsavorite, stands out with its exceptional hue, remarkable clarity, and magnificent lustre (Fig. 12 Lot 437). Experts in the field consider Tsavorites of such substantial size to be highly coveted collector’s items. Their inherent quality and rarity are expected to draw significant attention from seasoned collectors and investors across the globe, making this an unparalleled opportunity. Similarly, Lot 439, weighing 9.10 carats, showcases an exemplary hue: a rich, vibrant leaf-green color that is both captivating and deeply saturated (Fig. 13 Lot 439). Tsavorites, known for their superior brilliance and dispersion compared to emeralds, offer a unique and dazzling alternative in the realm of green gemstones, with these particular examples representing the pinnacle of their beauty.
In total, the Bonas gemstone tender will present an expansive offering of 460 meticulously curated parcels, ensuring a diverse selection for every buyer. This comprehensive collection includes approximately 7 parcels of serene Aquamarine, 87 parcels of classic blue sapphire, 39 parcels encompassing a spectrum of green, orange, pink, and white sapphire varieties, and 34 parcels of tourmaline in a myriad of captivating colors. The sale further features 4 parcels of rare Demantoid garnets, 4 parcels of verdant Emeralds, 3 parcels of elegant Green Beryl, 3 parcels of delicate Kunzite, 4 parcels of vibrant Mandarin Garnet, 1 parcel of mystical Moonstone, 7 parcels of soft Morganite, and a coveted 1 parcel of Padparadscha sapphire. For collectors of unique tourmalines, there are 49 parcels of highly sought-after Paraiba Tourmaline, alongside 9 parcels of refreshing Peridot, 1 parcel of rich Rhodalite, 8 parcels of striking Rubellite, and an extensive offering of 146 parcels of rubies. Completing this exceptional tender are 13 parcels of radiant Spinel, 8 parcels of vivid Tsavorite, 1 parcel of brilliant Zircon, and 25 parcels dedicated to unique fancy colored sapphires. This vast and varied selection underscores Bonas’s commitment to presenting a truly global and comprehensive gemstone market opportunity.
Highlights of this exceptional tender include:
- Lot 34 – Royal Blue Sapphire, Octagon cut, unheated, 12.26ct, accompanied by Gubelin & GRS reports confirming its Royal Blue classification.
- Lot 18 – Parcel of Blue Sapphire, comprising 33 cushion-cut stones, totaling 69.35cts, all unheated and originating from Burma.
- Lot 175 – Padparadscha Sapphire, cushion cut, unheated, 8.10ct, from Sri Lanka, with a GRS report.
- Lot 421 – Tanzanite, cushion cut, an impressive 155.02ct.
- Lot 437 – Tsavorite, oval cut, 37.87cts.
- Lot 419 – Spinel, oval cut, 16.50cts, originating from Tanzania.
- Lot 264 – Ruby, cushion cut, 17.14ct, unheated, from Burma, with a GRS report.
- Lot 305 – Ruby, oval cut, unheated, 5.15ct, from Burma, with a GRS report.
- Lot 300 – Ruby, oval cut, 8.06ct, from Burma, with a GRS report.
- Lot 311 – Ruby, oval cut, unheated, 4.09ct, from Mozambique.
- Lot 11 – Blue Sapphire, cushion cut, 10.03ct, from Sri Lanka, with a GRS report.
- Lot 44 – Blue Sapphire, oval cut, 15.24ct, with a GRS report.
- Lot 45 – Blue Sapphire, oval cut, 15.09ct, from Sri Lanka, with a GRS report.
- Lot 439 – Tsavorite, oval cut, 9.10cts, unheated, from Africa, with a GRS report.
Viewings for this exclusive Bonas gemstone tender will be held at the elegant Hong Kong SkyCity Marriott Hotel. Prospective buyers are invited to examine these magnificent gemstones daily from Saturday, September 14th to Wednesday, September 18th, 2019, with viewing hours from 9:30 AM until 5:30 PM. For international buyers or those unable to attend in person, bids can conveniently be placed online via the official website: www.bonascolouredgems.com. This hybrid approach ensures that collectors and trade professionals worldwide have the opportunity to participate in this significant event.