Under the hammer – Fab Four Auction Sales (August 2024)

Four amazing lots that wowed bidders at recent auctions include a spectacular pink diamond, a rare Leica camera, an amazing Patek Philippe wristwatch, and a masterpiece by Picasso.

Garden of Eden: Pink diamond radiates pure beauty

A spectacular pure pink diamond drew gasps of appreciation from across the globe at Christie’s recent Magnificent Jewels auction in New York. This was a truly international sale for a beautiful round brilliant internally flawless fancy intense stone weighing 10.2 carats called The Eden Rose, and bids came in from the Americas, Europe, Asia-Pacific and the Middle East. Such intense demand drove up the final price to a whopping US$13.3 million (HK$103.9 million), with the prized lot going to an anonymous bidder.

Rahul Kadakia, Christie’s International Head of Jewellery, expressed his pleasure at the outcome: “Christie’s was proud to present The Eden Rose, an extraordinary gem which had never before been offered at auction. The 10.2-carat fancy intense pink internally flawless gem surpassed all expectations, fetching well beyond its high estimate.”

The Magnificent Jewels auction accumulated US$44.4 million in sales, with bidders paying strong prices for rare coloured gemstones and natural pearls in particular. The natural pink hue of The Eden Rose has a complete absence of any secondary colour, endowing it with the purest hue of pink and amazing clarity and radiance.

Camera Sky-high: Collector snaps up coveted black Leica

A rare Leica camera was the outstanding lot at a summer auction held by Leitz Photographica Auction at Leitz-Park in Wetzlar, Germany. Going for an astonishing 1.56 million euros (about HK$13.23 million), the camera that wowed bidders represents one of only six black-paint versions of the Leica MP2 made by the renowned camera manufacturer. Its final price easily surpassed the pre-auction estimate of 700,000 to 800,000 euros.

Dating from 1958, the prized item is a good example of historic rangefinder cameras particularly coveted by collectors, especially given its black coat of paint. Only 27 MP2 cameras were made as part of a test series from the late 1950s. Part of the appeal of this model, especially for photojournalists at the time, is a special electric motor drive that facilitated the ability to take 3.5 photos per second.

“We are particularly pleased that our auction house was able to achieve a result of 1.56 million euros for this Leica MP2 on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the legendary Leica M,” said Alexander Sedlak, Managing Director of Leitz Photographica Auction. “It emphasises the exceptional popularity that the Leica M system still enjoys today, both among collectors and professional photographers.”

Perfect Picasso: Self-reflective masterpiece inspires awe

A superb painting laid down by Pablo Picasso in the 1960s caused a major stir at a Hong Kong auction house, with the hammer eventually falling on a bid of HK$78.7 million (US$10 million) from an Asian collector. The painting was one of the highlights of Sotheby’s Modern & Contemporary Evening Auction and the final asking price fell firmly within the pre-auction estimate of HK$66 million to $90 million.

Le Peintre (The Painter) was inked in 1963 by the revered artist during one of his most creative periods and is considered by many as a late autobiographical masterpiece. Brimming with verve and movement, it portrays an artist at work, a common theme in Picasso’s final years as he explored self-identity – in this instance with the figure exceedingly close to the canvas. The duality of the painter is portrayed by splitting his face in two. Another distinctive quality of his oeuvre during this period was the use of teal blue as part of a strikingly intense colour code.

Felix Kwok, Head of Modern Art at Sotheby’s Asia, noted that the subject of Le Peintre enriches and broadens the themes of the works by Picasso brought to the Asian auction market over recent years.

Map Maker: Rare Patek breaks world-time record

An amazing and extremely rare Patek Philippe wristwatch enthused avid collectors at an auction held by Christie’s in Hong Kong, such that the final selling price of HK$65.5 million (US$8.4 million) smashed a world record. The sale of the Patek Philippe Ref. 2523J was part of a series incorporating two single-owner watch collections.

The 18-carat gold two-crown world-time wristwatch, manufactured in 1953, is considered by some as one of the world’s great vintage Patek wristwatches. A standout feature is a unique dial featuring cloisonné enamel depicting the Eurasian map. No two cloisonné enamel dials are the same since they are created individually by skilled craftsmen – in this case at the workshop of famed dial-maker Stern Frères. The hot firing process results in slight differences in the hues of the enamel colours.

“It was a true privilege to present the fabled Patek Philippe 2523J, one of several treasures entrusted to us,” said Alexandre Bigler, Senior Vice President and Head of Watches at Christie’s Asia Pacific, adding that the demand in Asia for rare and exceptional timepieces remains strong.

Under the hammer – Fab Four Auction Sales (April 2024)

Four breathtaking lots that wowed bidders at recent auctions include a painting by the Beatles, a fantastic supercar, a rare Leica camera and a collection of prints by Katsushika Hokusai.

Snap Happy: Original Leica captures imagination

An extremely rare 100-year-old Leica camera sold for a whopping 3.5 million euros (HK$29.6 million) at the fifth Wetzlar Camera Auctions to be held in the German city. The final bid price for this 1923 Leica prototype, part of the iconic 0-series, was by far the highest clinched among an array of more than 250 historical cameras and accessories on the auction block. Fittingly, the majority of items sold were Leica cameras – Wetzlar is the home of the legendary German camera company.

This historic model is one of 22-25 prototypes made for testing purposes, then released as a limited series in 1924, the year before Leica’s birth. The whereabouts of just 16 of these ‘firsts’ are known; this one was part of an Italian private collection. Its black paint finish is in fine condition and it boasts the original leather lens cap with fastening cord and the original spool.

The 35mm camera, designed by Oskar Barnack, instigated a revolution in photography, and this prototype became the model for all 35mm Leicas. Wetzlar Camera Auctions has made a name for itself in recent years for achieving substantial prices for particularly rare photographica.

Fab Work: Beatles’ Japan painting a huge hit

An amazing painting laid down by all four Beatles grabbed the attention of dedicated fans at a recent Christie’s sale in New York. Bidders drove the price of their collective psychedelic handiwork up to US$1.74 million (HK$13.64 million), a figure far in excess of the pre-auction estimate of US$400,000-600,000. The piece, Images of a Woman, was created by John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr in a Tokyo hotel room in 1966 during their concert tour of Japan.

The work is unique in the sense that it is the only time all four Beatles contributed to the same artwork, and it was also created during one of their last concert tours before the pressures of stardom forced them to quit performing live. Commenting on the auction’s success, Christie’s International Specialist Head Casey Rogers said: “It’s been a thrill to witness another magnificent performance by The Beatles. I am proud of the way we told the story of this one-of-a-kind object that is both a work of art and an intimate piece of memorabilia signed in order by John, Paul, George and Ringo.”

The Beatles produced this wonderful piece using watercolours and oil paints on fine Japanese art paper.

Great View: Collection of prints sets record

A series of prints by Katsushika Hokusai set a world record for the renowned artist at a recent Christie’s auction held in New York during Asian Art Week. The final sales price reached US$3,559,000 for the complete set of Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji which were featured as prized lots of the Japanese and Korean Art section of the sale. The enthusiastic bidding during the auction smashed the previous record set for the artist following a Christie’s auction in 2023.

The Head of Christie’s Japanese and Korean Art Department, Takaaki Murakami, enthused: “It is a once-in-a-generation honour to offer a complete set of Hokusai’s monumental Fuji series. The record-setting result we achieved for the Thirty-Six Views, and the strong prices for other important Hokusai prints, continue our proud tradition of being the leading auction house for this artist.”

Published during 1830 to 1834, all the prints have Mount Fuji featuring in some form in various landscapes, seasons and weather conditions and often acting as a magnificent backdrop to various kinds of human activity. The mountain played an important part in Buddhism in Japan, partly explaining the popularity of the series.

Car Crazy: Fantastic supercar sends bids roaring

A unique hypercar from 2021 sporting a groundbreaking hybrid-drive powertrain went for an astonishing €2.42 million (HK$20.75 million) at a recent auction held by RM Sotheby’s in Paris. The Koenigsegg Regera is considered by automotive experts as a technological tour de force. Capable of zooming to 400 km/h in less than 29 seconds, it is one of the fastest cars out there. Just 80 were made, and the sleek specimen on the auction block was particularly attractive, with a single previous owner and an odometer recording just 522 kilometres.

The wonder model was first unveiled in concept form to an awe-inspired public at the Geneva International Motor Show in 2015, with production commencing a year later. Each Regera boasts a high level of personalisation – this one is finished in moon silver with blue stripes and has steel blue brake callipers and carbon Kevlar 11-spoke Dymag Spider wheels. Furthermore, the series is noted for its close attention to detail, such as constellation-style daytime running lights using a tranche of LEDs set against a polished carbon backdrop.

The driving force behind the marque is Christian von Koenigsegg, the Swedish automotive engineer, inventor and supercar enthusiast.

Gadgets Galore

Two great gadgets designed to bring joy – a bike with enhanced features that will make any workout a sheer delight and a camera that can save and print digital images.

Instant Print

Shots that leave a legacy

Leica have updated their printed photo and camera specifications with the Sofort 2, an enhanced version of the Leica Sofort 1 which has proved such a resounding success. This new product has just come onto the market and looks set to offer camera consumers additional benefits for those who love instant printed photos. The love affair with instant prints took off in the 1970s and 1980s, and though the onset of the digital age seemed to push the instant print to the sidelines temporarily, the demand endures and this new hybrid model offers the advantage of combining both digital and analogue technology with greater flexibility.

The Leica Sofort 2 enhanced features allow users to permanently save digital images and choose the best photos before making the plunge to print them. This facility is available for all photos taken on your smartphone as well those shot with other Leica cameras and stored in the Leica FOTOS App containing a gallery of shots. Sofort 2 weighs 320 grams and has a RGB colour filter, its file size is around 1.2MB and has an image output time of around 16 seconds.

The camera is available in black, red or white options and offers a range of fun features to aid the creative process. The camera also has numerous accessories such as wooden picture frames to showcase the prints. Costs US$389.

Pedal Power

Cycle your way to pleasure

The Peloton Bike+ has incorporated improved features allowing those keen to get in their full resistance and endurance training every opportunity to push themselves to the limit in style and without any hindrance. For instance, the ability of a new and much larger touchscreen to swivel outwards allows someone keen to combine workouts the opportunity to undertake other strength and cardio routines.

The speakers are also of higher quality, such that the effect of these powerful built-in speakers is to make those engaged in heart-pumping activity feel closer to the action and the enhanced quality can cancel out all distractions, meaning the user is supremely focused on the activity class during sweaty workouts. In addition, an automatic resistance setting reduces the need to think about making correct settings and allows users to train stress-free.

The monitor offers a variety of classes with different instructors and other classes such as yoga, boxing and weights are options using the range of accessories. Users can connect to live classes in other parts of the world such as Sydney, New York and London and feel the warmth of the community. Other additional features include an upgraded front-facing camera from 5MP to 8MP, a slightly changed handlebar design and power cables are now all internally routed. Price from US$2,040.

Spring Accessories: Seasonal must-have items to add to your collection

With the long-awaited arrival of spring finally here, discerning fashionistas can look forward to revamping their collections to inject a welcome seasonal flourish. To help get you started, we’ve curated a selection of sophisticated spring accessories to add an unmistakable flair to any occasion.

Mythic Pens
For nearly five years now, the luxury German accessories company Montblanc has released an annual collection in honour of oriental culture. This year, the brand celebrates Eastern beliefs through three limited-edition pens – The Rat Limited Edition 512, which pays homage to the zodiac animal of the year, and the Vermillion Dragon Edition 8 and the Vermillion Dragon Edition 88, with both featuring stunning carvings of the mythological creature. The collection also comes complete with a glass bottle of golden colour ink and a notebook in gold Saffiano leather.

Ace Cases
For this Spring 2020 season, the high-end luxury travel and lifestyle accessories brand Tumi has focused on creativity and practicality in its line of bags and suitcases. Combining luxury and innovation, TUMI’s new seasonal offerings also include the 19 Degree Aluminum collection available in two colors – blush and bright lime. With the corners curved in perfect angle, these travel cases are both functional and stylish.

Luxury Luggage
The European luxury house Byredo has perennially committed itself to producing the best in fashion and this is more than evident in its latest leather collection. By using a variety of different leathers in the collection, the brand effortlessly showcases its take on classic craftsmanship. A high point here is the Blueprint Bag, made of contrasting calfskin and lambskin and complete with silver or gold brass hardware straps. Available in a range of colours, including black, white, blue, yellow and more, the bag comes in two sizes – mini and medium.

Focal Points
The German manufacturer Leica Camera AG has launched three new takes on its range of M lenses. These include the APO-Summicron-M 75 f/2 ASPH in silver, which is perfect for clicking portraits, and the limited-editions Summicron-M 28 f/2 ASPH and APO-Summicron-M 90 f/2 ASPH in olive green. With markings in red and white on these olive-green lenses and red and black on the anodised silver lens, good clarity is said to be ensured in every item.

Blue for You
With America’s Pantone announcing ‘classic blue’ as the 2020 colour of the year, luxury label Il Bisonte’s selection of blue bags represents a style statement quite in keeping with this thrilling trend. From crossbody bags to wallets, there is a huge selection on offer, with something here for every taste. If you prefer something edgy and bold, then keep a particular look out for the Ciprea in leather – a revolutionary round-shaped bag.

Geek Pick: Four new gadgets that we’re eyeing in 2019

With technology changing so rapidly, gadgets purchased even a year back may have become oh-so-passé. So the new year seems a perfect time to upgrade our digitalwares, so check out these four gadgets that we’re eyeing ourselves.

First up is Ember, a temperature-controlled travel mug, that allows you to have just the perfect drink anytime, anywhere. With a dial that can change temperatures to an LED display which shows the current temperature and the mug’s remaining battery life, this seems like the ideal companion, whether at home or at work.

For shutterbugs on the go, Leica is offering a Street Kit – a set with a compact Leica CL camera and a Leica Summicron-TL 23 mm f/2 ASPH. lens. With an equivalent focal length of 35 mm in 35 mm format, it’s great for street-style photography in all kinds of light. Ideal as lightweight luggage, the ‘Street Kit’ set is completely in black and includes a handgrip, a leather carrying strap and a second camera battery.

The next-generation smart wallet is here, courtesy, OraSaifu, a smart tech company headquarted in Japan. Described as “your digital asset management guru” by the makers, in plainspeak it means it will store digitized versions of all your business cards, credit cards, club membership cards and even cryptocurrencies. Said to have anti-theft measures and bank-level security chips, this is meant to make your wallet as safe as it is slender.

Meanwhile, pet lovers are in for some good news as well. Pet camera and treat dispenser Pawbo helps you monitor your pets with its two-way audio system and one-way video streaming in 720p. While we’re not entirely sold on the video quality, it has other redeeming features to make it a reliable companion for your pets while you are away. Besides the aforementioned treat dispenser – which you can control with a tap on your phone – it also has an interactive laser function which can give your furry friend some good exercise. The laser jumps around the room while your pet chases it. Pretty cool, we say!

Special-edition Leica Q ‘Khaki’ camera is both vintage and cutting-edge

For well over a century now – ever since Oskar Barnack invented the world’s first 35mm camera, the Ur-Leica – the renowned German camera brand Leica has been setting the benchmark for photo quality and image capturing technology. Across the intervening decades, its cameras have stood at the frontier of unfolding historic events, capturing iconic moments that have become world-famous.

To pay tribute to this long legacy, a nostalgic, special-edition Leica Q ‘Khaki’ has just been released. This classic model features a genuine leather trim and a matching strap in a nostalgic khaki reminiscent of WWII-esque army camouflage fatigues. The engraving of the classic Leica script at the top plate has also been accented in the same hue.

But don’t be fooled by its vintage-looking exterior. In terms of mechanics, the Leica Q ‘Khaki’ boasts the same technical specs as a standard Leica Q – a speedy Leica Summilux 28mm f/1.7ASPH lens, a full-frame sensor, an integrated viewfinder with a 3.68MB resolution, full HD-quality video recording of up to 60 frames per second and WiFi capabilities for remote control and digital file transfers. Merging the classic with the high-tech, this 495-piece limited edition Leica Q ‘Khaki’ is almost sure to be a guaranteed collectors’ item for any vintage Leica lover.

Lights, Camera, Auction: How much would you like a Leica?

Leica, the renowned German camera manufacturer, has an admirable reputation when it comes to shattering world records. At the recently concluded 32nd WestLicht camera auction in Vienna, for instance, a 1923 Leica 0-series no. 122 became the most expensive camera ever sold at auction, after being bought by an Asia-based private collector for a staggering US$2.95 million.

Perhaps predictably, the previous world record was also held by a Leica 0-series camera, one that sold for $1.5million in 2011 and was then resold for $2.6 million in 2012. With just 31 of this particular model ever made, it is understandably viewed as something of a Holy Grail among photography enthusiasts.

What makes it even more sought-after is the fact that each handcrafted model is considered to be among the most successful compact camera prototypes ever made. They also featured the first practical application of the 35mm film recorder, an innovation that subsequently became the global standard. It’s hard to imagine today’s range of mass-market smartphones, no matter how highly-specced their inbuilt cameras, ever attracting such a boundary breaking bid.