GEM SET, JADE AND DIAMOND PENDENT EARRINGS, WALLACE CHAN

Of organic design, pavé-set with tsavorite garnets and brilliant-cut diamonds, linked by a jade hoop, branches suspending variously shaped emeralds, oval tsavorite garnets and diamond briolettes of brown tint, to the backing decorated with brilliant-cut diamonds and seed pearls, mounted in titanium, post and sprung fittings, signed Wallace Chan, case stamped Wallace Chan.

Please note that diamonds of brown tint have not been tested for natural colour origin. Pearls not tested for natural origin. Signed Wallace Chan. Inscribed TI for titanium and 750 18 karat white and yellow gold. Emeralds of medium green colour, strong saturation, are well matched. Under 10x magnification, there are typical inclusions, some surface reaching. Tsavorite garnets of medium slightly yellowish green colour, strong saturation. Under 10x magnification, there are typical inclusions, minor abrasions. Diamonds are bright and lively. Metal in almost new condition. Overall in very good condition.
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion. Illustrations in the catalogue may not be actual size. Prospective purchasers are reminded that, unless the catalogue description specifically states that a stone is natural, we have assumed that some form of treatment may have been used and that such treatment may not be permanent. Our presale estimates reflect this assumption.Certificates of Authenticity: Various manufacturers may not issue certificates of authenticity upon request. Sotheby's is not under an obligation to furnish the purchaser with a certificate of authenticity from the manufacturer at any time. Unless the requirements for a rescission of the sale under the Terms of Guarantee are satisfied, the failure of a manufacturer to issue a certificate will not constitute grounds to rescind the sale. Gemological Certificates and Reports: References in the catalogue descriptions to certificates or reports issued by gemological laboratories are provided only for the information of bidders, and Sotheby's does not guarantee and accepts no responsibility for the accuracy, terms or information contained in such certificates or reports. Please also note that laboratories may differ in their assessment of a gemstone (including its origin and presence, type and extent of treatments) and their certificates or reports may contain different results.NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

Please note that diamonds of brown tint have not been tested for natural colour origin. The Philosopher Jeweller

To meet the celebrated artist-jeweller Wallace Chan is to come face-to-face with the confluence of old and new, East and West, tradition and modernity, and art and craft that gives Hong Kong, his home its unique character.

While Chan may appear the embodiment of old-world Hong Kong, with his traditional clothes, long beard and inscrutable demeanour, he also personifies the futuristic technical advances and virtuosity that have catapulted him to global renown as one of the most innovative artist-craftsmen of modern times. Chan has revitalized the ancient Chinese art of stone carving and at the same time explored and perfected the use of the space-age metal titanium and wondrous gem-setting techniques. In doing so, he introduced an entirely new visual language and palette of melting metallic hues and tones to the world of Jewellery. Today, looking back, he says: “You have to embrace the past in order to inspire the future.”

Aged 16, Chan was apprenticed to a traditional stone carver, but suffocated by the restrictions, he soon struck out on his own, working at first with minerals and hardstones before moving onto gemstones. Gradually he absorbed Western influences – he was profoundly affected by a book on the sculptures of Michelangelo that he found in a second-hand bookshop.

In 1987, after several years of study and experimentation, he invented the Wallace Cut, a carving technique which creates a hologram-like illusion by combining intaglio with careful faceting. Since that time he has gone on to use his exceptional skills to give new creative expression to 21st-century jewels.

In the last several years, Chan’s reputation has grown – the jewels are sought by collectors across the globe, and he’s been a presence at major fairs including Tefaf in Maastricht and Masterpiece in London. Chan was the first Asian artist-jeweller to exhibit at the Biennale in Paris, in 2012, and the first to be invited to exhibit and give a talk at the Gemological Institute of America in California.

The five Wallace Chan materpieces offered for sale in Hong Kong this October demonstrate his supreme mastery, with high drama and emotionally-charged artistry coming together to conjure jewels that are daringly dreamlike, sensual and sculptural. Chan’s beloved jade is found in one pair of pendent earrings, while in another there is the contrast of texture between a conch pearl and pear-shaped drop: the rolling rhythm of the choker’s diamond-set and agate circles are echoed in meticulously carved discs of rock crystal; and the monumental Tanzanite of the ring, enveloped in its gem-set cocoon, tells of Chan’s audacity of scale.

Both poetic and provocative, these creations push the boundaries of imagination, craftsmanship and the art of the jewel.

Vivienne Becker is a Jewellery historian and a contributing editor of the Financial Time’s How to Spend It.