Although the major auction houses plan to offer everything from Tiffany jewels to classic 20th-century watches in their big fall sales, diamonds will be especially well represented. Going on the block in the October 7 Sotheby’s sale in Hong Kong are a small flawless red stone weighing 0.42 carats (est. $HK9–11 million; $1.2–1.4 million) and a flawless 22.18- carat pear-shaped D-color diamond estimated at more than $HK25 million ($3.2 million). Also on offer is a pair of earrings set with star rubies, each with a natural six-ray asterism (est. $HK5.2–6.8 million; $660,000–870,000). “We expect to see a great fall season,” says Lisa Hubbard, the international vice president for Sotheby’s jewelry. “The global market is very strong.”

On October 15, Christie’s New York will put up a 7.02- carat intense blue radiant-cut diamond (est. $3.5 million) and a signed Cartier necklace set with amethysts, diamonds and turquoises (est. $60–80,000). The latter is part of a 100-lot single-owner sale, with a total estimate of $3 million to $4 million, that also includes a selection of Tiffany jewels.

In Geneva on November 18, Phillips de Pury & Company is offering a 12.05-carat cushion-cut natural-color Burmese sapphire set in a diamond necklace signed by Chanel (est. SF65,000–87,000; $60,000–80,000) and a signed Cartier Américaine tank watch (est. SF110–164,000; $100,000–150,000). On November 19, Sotheby’s Geneva will feature a diamond necklace by Sterlé (est. SF1.1– 2.2 million; $1–2 million) and a turn-of-the-century necklace with a 27-carat Kashmir sapphire (est. SF1.9–2.4 million; $1.8–2.2 million). The following day, Christie’s Geneva will showcase its own Kashmir: a 42.28-carat, cushion-shaped sapphire (est. SF2.2–4.1 million; $2–3.8 million).

In its December 2 Hong Kong sale, Christie’s has a rare purplish red, square emerald-cut diamond weighing 1.7 carats (est. $HK8–10 million; $1–1.5 million). “It’s a very sweet color and a fabulous stone,” says Rahul Kadakia, the head of the Christie’s jewelry department. The December 9 Sotheby’s New York sale will include a tribute to the New York jeweler David Webb, famous for his animal-shaped pieces. "A Season Sparkles" originally appeared in the October 2008 issue of Art+Auction. For a complete list of articles from this issue available on ARTINFO, see Art+Auction's October 2008 Table of Contents.