A TOUCH OF JADE

The top lot of Sotheby’s Hong Kong’s recent jewellery auction was a Nicholas Lieou imperial green jadeite bead necklace, which was offered without a public estimate and fetched an eye-watering US$8.1 million. All of its 43 jadeite beads, weighing a total of 630 carats, are examples of the finest specimen Type A jadeite, each boasting a vibrant emerald green colour that’s almost translucent. The necklace is elevated with a clasp set with brilliant- and baguette-cut diamonds. Necklace set with jadeite beads and diamonds; ring in white and pink gold set with jadeite, a purplish-pink diamond and white diamonds, both by Nicholas Lieou