Latest news with #Christies
Forbes
a day ago
- Business
- Forbes
Regent Kashmir Sapphire Makes Jewelry History By Reaching $9.5 Million
A Regent Kashmir piece that set a new world record for the per carat price of a sapphire at auction ... More ($271,515 per carat, according to Christie's website, soaring past the previous record of $243,703 per carat, which was for the Jewel of Kashmir sold in 2015 at Sotheby's Hong Kong). On Tuesday, 27 May 2025, an exceptional 35.09-carat Regent Kashmir sapphire made jewelry history at Christie's Hong Kong: it broke the record for price per carat ever fetched for a sapphire at auction. The piece in question achieved $9.5 million, with a colossal per carat price of $271,515 (as per Christie's website). It soared past the previous record of $243,703 per carat, which was achieved by another Kashmir jewel sold in 2015 at Sotheby's Hong Kong. The distinct Regent Kashmir is a unique 35.09-carat antique, unheated and cushion-shaped gemstone—a royal blue Kashmir sapphire. Set in a sapphire and diamond ring, it is mounted in platinum with small round diamonds. A saleroom shot of the International Head of Jewellery at Christie's Hong Kong, Mr. Rahul Kadakia, ... More hammering for this lot According to the Gem Society, sellers at the Tucson Gem Shows have reported that their dealers agree that buyers this year are noticeably calmer, more settled, and less interested in fads. Dealers have also observed that the gem selling the most consistently is the timeless blue sapphire. The London DE Group also state that in the world of luxury and finance, sapphires hold a unique position—not just as one of the most captivating colored gemstones, but also as a valuable investment. Gaia Bespoke Engagement Ring With a diamond-set band that gently tapers to the centre sapphire, the ... More Gaia ring is a treasure of glittering gems. Two diamond clusters frame the centrepiece and elevate your chosen design in a sparkling crown. Available in 18k white gold, 18k yellow gold, 18k rose gold and platinum. Known as September's birthstone, and sometimes referred to as the stone of wisdom, these gems are celebrated for their striking blue color and historical significance. Like the ruby, they belong to the corundum family and are considered one of the world's four precious stones alongside diamonds and emeralds. Sapphires come in several colors, including pink, yellow, purple, orange, and green, but are known mostly for their intense blue shade. The blue sapphire is, in fact, often associated with royalty and nobility. Princess Diana's blue sapphire engagement ring, for example, a 12ct oval Ceylon sapphire surrounded by 14 round diamonds and set in white gold, is regarded as one of the most iconic pieces of jewelry in recent history. Princess Diana Engagement Ring, Wedding Ring (Photo by Tim Graham Photo Library via Getty Images) FEATURED | Frase ByForbes™ Unscramble The Anagram To Reveal The Phrase Pinpoint By Linkedin Guess The Category Queens By Linkedin Crown Each Region Crossclimb By Linkedin Unlock A Trivia Ladder The Kashmir Sapphire Mines, located in a remote part of the snow-capped Zanskar Range of the Himalayas, are known for producing some of the finest blue sapphires in the world. The gems were first discovered there in a mine in 1881, following an avalanche in the region. From 1882 to 1887, this mine was the source of the largest and finest stones ever discovered, making these sapphires among the rarest in the world. As explained by Tobias Kormind, managing director and co-founder of 77 Diamonds, Kashmir sapphires are known for their pure cornflower blue and velvety glow, and are highly prized for both their aesthetics and their rarity. He tells me that natural, unheated Kashmir sapphires often command prices above $1 million. Tobias also informs me me that the previous world record holder for price per carat, for a sapphire sold at auction, is the 27.68 carat Jewel of Kashmir that sold for $6.7 million and achieved the price of $243,703 per carat at Sotheby's Hong Kong in 2015; and the most expensive diamond ever sold at auction (The Pink Star) was also sold in Hong Kong for $71.2 million in 2017 by Sotheby's, setting a precedent for significant jewelry sales taking place in the city. A further detail shared with me by Tobias over email is that the Regent Kashmir sapphire's record-breaking price of $271,515 per carat (with a total price of $9.5 million), is a landmark moment for the sapphire market—proof that the rarest gems still command unstoppable power. He tells me that the previous record was $243,703 per carat, for The Jewel of Kashmir, sold in 2015 at Sotheby's Hong Kong and that 'while the region of Kashmir continues to be conflict-ridden, nature's glittering gifts are still there to be discovered'. He adds that when it comes to sapphires, the old property adage holds true: it's all location, location, location. Due to its history, the geographical origin is as important as the quality itself, so, as in this case, you have both a truly royal blue Kashmir sapphire that is unheated, clean and large in size, and you also have something incredibly rare that collectors truly desire. 'Gemstones of this calibre continue to be sought after and go up in value," he concludes. Gaia ring by 77 Diamonds Orion cocktail ring by 77 Diamonds
Globe and Mail
3 days ago
- Business
- Globe and Mail
From Fitness Metaverse to Financial Mastery: Code of Bounty Redefines Wealth Creation in the Digital Age
Dallas, TX - CODE OF BOUNTY: Wealth Creation for Athletes and Artists by Elvis Swifty is not just a story—it's a revolutionary roadmap for building wealth at the intersection of technology, art, and sport. Drawing inspiration from George S. Clason's The Richest Man in Babylon, Swifty reimagines time-tested principles through the lens of XR (Extended Reality), gamified fitness, and narrative branding. THE XR REVOLUTION: WHERE ATHLETICISM BECOMES ART AND ENTERPRISE In Swifty's immersive world, the XR Revolution transforms physical movement into economic momentum. Through virtual landscapes, biometric workouts, and interactive tools like the Icaros™ flying machine, readers explore a new creative economy where athleticism meets innovation. The fitness metaverse, as presented through the ThriveXR studio, becomes both playground and platform for scalable wealth. Swifty illustrates how bold storytelling unlocks new levels of value. A YouTube megastar develops an unexpected bond with a Tesla Optimus robot; a high-stakes auction at Christie's sees a celebrity investor bid $450 million for a single painting. These cultural flashpoints represent how emotion, tech, and branding now drive economic gravity. GUIDING LIGHT: MINDSET AS A CATALYST FOR PROSPERITY Through "Guiding Light" mantras placed at the end of each chapter, Swifty encourages readers to embrace an internal transformation. These affirmations equip athletes and creators to rewire limiting beliefs and unlock lasting prosperity—a mindset shift essential in an age where AI, avatars, and immersive platforms dominate. FUTURE-FACING STRATEGIES FOR A NEW GENERATION OF CREATORS Swifty builds on Elon Musk's projections for 2028, forecasting a world where AI-enhanced platforms and XR interfaces are core to influence and income. CODE OF BOUNTY provides both a compelling story and actionable frameworks for leveraging future trends. Highlighting immersive events like the Sensational Art & Athletic Tournament with real-world cash prizes, the book shows how competition and creativity can coexist in profit-driven ecosystems. Swifty also investigates timeless mysteries through a contemporary lens. In the chapter Mona Lisa's Secret Revealed, he deconstructs how myth, perception, and storytelling turned one painting into a global phenomenon—a metaphor for how creators can elevate their personal brands. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Elvis Swifty is an award-winning entrepreneur and creative force known for blending financial insight with visionary storytelling. A graduate of Stanford University and St. Mark's School of Texas, Swifty is also the founder and CEO of BeTells Creative, the world's top-ranked reality TV agency. His innovative approach has made him a respected figure across entertainment, technology, and business. An Oscar winner and high school inspiration to global icon Coco Oprahprada, Swifty now plays a pivotal role in her creative ventures. CODE OF BOUNTY is his debut book, a testament to his passion for AI, financial literacy, and immersive storytelling. CODE OF BOUNTY: Wealth Creation for Athletes and Artists is now available on: Stay connected for updates, insights, and inspiration. Connect with Elvis Swifty at: Email: jc@ Phone: (214) 363-3400 Media Contact Company Name: US Books Publisher Contact Person: Elvis Swifty Email: Send Email Phone: 954-852-7004 City: Dallas State: TX Country: United States Website:
South China Morning Post
3 days ago
- Business
- South China Morning Post
Is there a place for AI art? These Hong Kong artists say yes
In spite of an open letter signed by over 6,500 artists, demanding the cancellation of Augmented Intelligence – Christie's artificial intelligence (AI) art auction that ran from February 20 to March 5 – the event was a commercial success, bringing in more than US$728,000, with 28 of the 34 displayed pieces sold. The letter, written to auction hosts Nicole Sales Giles and Sebastian Sanchez, stated: 'Many of the artworks you plan to auction were created using AI models that are known to be trained on copyrighted work without a licence. These models … exploit human artists, using their work without permission or payment to build commercial AI products that compete with them. 'Your support of these models … rewards and further incentivises AI companies' mass theft of human artists' work.' This work by Bianca Tse used AI to generate an impression of the Kowloon Walled City in Hong Kong. Photo: Handout But it should be said that not all artists are against the use of AI – there are those in Hong Kong who fully embrace it and even make it their primary creative medium. Bianca Tse, for instance, believes there is a lot of misunderstanding surrounding AI art and the technology behind it. For example, high-profile artists like Refik Anadol, whose work was featured in the auction, train their models using their own work or data sets, where the copyright claims should 'clearly' belong to the artist. 'My understanding of commercial AI models is that they don't target specific artists' works, but are trained on vast data sets comprising trillions of images from various sources,' Tse explains. 'The AI learns to imagine and create – much like how a human artist learns by observing and interpreting the world around them.' Tse, who graduated from the Hong Kong Polytechnic University School of Design, says her big turning point came when she stopped seeing AI as a threat and started viewing it as a 'powerful creative partner'. Liza Dorrer. Photo: Handout Liza Dorrer, who is completing her PhD at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST), and teaches specialised courses on AI image-generation tools Midjourney and Stable Diffusion for interior designers and architects, believes that the debate on whether AI art is 'real' art comes down to the technology behind the tools.
CBS News
4 days ago
- Business
- CBS News
Pink diamond tied to Marie Antoinette expected to sell for up to $5 million at auction
A large pink diamond believed to have been passed down from France's Queen Marie Antoinette to her daughter is going up for auction in New York next month — and is expected to sell for millions of dollars. The rare 10-carat diamond is set in a ring designed by jeweler Joel Arthur Rosenthal. It will be a part of the "Magnificent Jewels" live auction at Christie's Rockefeller Center location on June 17. The kite-shaped jewel is believed to date back to the mid-18th century and was once owned by Antoinette's daughter, Duchess Marie-Thérèse, the auction house said. A large pink diamond with royal heritage is going up for auction next month. Alice Fung / The Associated Press "According to royal lore, Queen Marie Antoinette entrusted her most treasured jewels to her faithful coiffeur on the eve of her failed escape from Paris in 1791, hoping to one day reclaim them," Christie's said in a news release. That did not happen, but the jewels were passed down to Marie-Thérèse. While it's not certain, it's believed the pink diamond was part of the jewels passed down. The diamond continued to be passed down for generations until it was sold at auction in 1996 in Geneva, Christie's said. It has remained out of public view since then. Rahul Kadakia, the international head of jewelry at Christie's, called the jewel a "very special diamond." "It is a fancy purple-pink diamond from the 18th century and most likely from the Golconda mines in India," Kadakia told The Associated Press. It is estimated to sell for $3 million to $5 million at the auction.
Bloomberg
23-05-2025
- Business
- Bloomberg
Hong Kong Property Tycoon Fetches $9.3 Million in Wine Auction
Hong Kong businessman Joseph Lau sold a collection of fine wine for HK$72.9 million ($9.3 million) in an auction, fetching more than $41,000 a bottle for some rare French vintages. All of the wine lots sold, and the amount raised exceeded the $4.5 million estimate from Christie's, according to a statement Thursday from the auction house.
