The headlining 15.51-carat fancy vivid yellow diamond, set in a ring, is a brilliant-cut diamond, a cutting style known for resulting in a great loss of material.
Phillips that it is “extremely rare” to see brilliant-cut natural colored diamonds, as the value of colored diamonds often results in cutting styles that maximize carat weight yield.
The yellow diamond was the top lot of the auction, which garnered HK$32 million ($4 million).
With 66 lots sold of the 91 lots offered, the auction was sold 73 percent by lot and 76 percent by value.
Phillips Jewels’ Worldwide Head of Jewellery Benoît Repellin and Head of Sale, Hong Kong, Louisa Chan said fancy colored diamonds “commanded the sale.”
An 11.08-carat heart-shaped fancy yellow diamond ring sold for HK$1 million ($133,091), outdoing its pre-sale high estimate of HK$780,000 ($100,000).
This ring featuring an 11-carat heart-shaped fancy yellow diamond between two pear-shaped diamonds mounted in white and yellow gold sold for more than $130,000.
A 2.65-carat fancy intense orangy pink diamond ring fetched HK$2.9 million ($373,304), just below its high estimate of HK$3 million ($400,000).
A nearly 3-carat pear-shaped fancy intense orangy pink diamond between two pear-shaped diamonds, mounted in white and pink gold
Highlighted as a piece expected to sell for up HK$3.5 million ($450,000), a spiraling dome ring featuring a 1.38-carat fancy vivid purplish pink diamond did not find a buyer.
A brilliant-cut colorless 5.53-carat diamond with D color and VVS1 clarity sold within its estimate for HK$1.9 million ($243,459), rounding out to just over $44,000 per carat.
A Van Cleef & Arpels turquoise and diamond necklace, circa 1985, accompanied by a certificate of authenticity from the brand sold for HK$4.6 million ($584,302), four times its high estimate of HK$1.2 million ($150,000).
A necklace from Van Cleef & Arpels set with alternating diamonds and cabochon turquoises sold for four times its estimate
In other colored gemstone jewelry, a ring featuring an oval Paraíba tourmaline of about 6 carats sold for HK$381,000, or approximately $48,689.
A highlight of the preview, a 1.56-carat heart-shaped Paraíba tourmaline, expected to sell for up to HK$350,000, did not sell.
The auction house said it saw notable demand for finest Burmese rubies, emerald and sapphire.
A pair of Harry Winston ear pendants, as well as a 37.08-carat emerald and diamond ring, sold within their estimates.
The designer earrings, featuring 2 pear-shaped emeralds totaling about 10 carats, sold for HK$952,500 ($121,730).
The ring went for HK$825,500 ($105,499), just above its low estimate of HK$800,000 ($100,000).
The final of the top 10 lots, a 16.56-carat sapphire diamond ring, sold for HK$533,400 ($68,169), just above its low estimate of HK$450,000 ($58,000).
Phillips’ is slated for May 13 and will take place following previews in Taipei and Singapore.