Beauty & Style | Monday 20 April, 2015 3:14 pm |

Christie’s is delighted to participate in the Saudi Jewellery Salon to be held in Jeddah from 20-23 April and then Riyadh from 27-30 April. This will be Christie’s inaugural public appearance in the Kingdom and, it is hoped, the first of many. For this special occasion, Christie’s specialist team has curated a unique exhibition of the best jewellery and watches available on the market.
Christie’s was the first international auction house to establish a base in the Middle East, when it opened a representative office in Dubai in 2005 and started to hold regular sales the following year. Twice a year, in March and October, auctions of Modern and Contemporary art from the region and Important Watches, are held. Working closely with the well-established local team based in the office in Dubai acting as a hub, is a team of consultants based in Lebanon, Doha and Turkey, providing a window to the world of Christie’s and the 450 sales which are held around the globe each year from the 12 international salerooms. In Saudi Arabia Christie’s is represented by Hayat Shobokshi.
Christie’s and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia have a long relation which has grown since we established our operation in the Middle East. This has been strengthened further with the introduction of art from Saudi Arabia in our Dubai auctions since 2009 where works by Reem Al-Faisal, Ayman Yossri Daydban and Ahmed Mater Al-Ziad Aseeri to name a few, were offered for the first time. Christie’s are proud to have provided these now well-established artists with an international platform to showcase their work.
In April 2010 Christie’s was entrusted with the sale of 25 works from the Dr. Mohammed Said Farsi collection, the first Mayor of Jeddah who had the vision to create an extensive programme of public works of art for Jeddah. This sale was followed in October with Part II of the collection which was also 100% sold. Totalling $15.4 million, the Farsi collection is now the highest selling private collection offered at auction in the Middle East.

In April 2011, Christie’s sale was highlighted by a group of six works by Edge of Arabia, the internationally recognized, pioneering art project that has shed new light on the then largely unknown contemporary art and culture of Saudi Arabia. The sale was a fundraiser to enable the expansion of Edge of Arabia’s education programme and art workshops in Saudi Arabian schools and universities. The group of works was expected to raise around $150,000, but the final combined selling price was $1 million. The money raised at the Christie’s sale was used to fund an exhibition and seminar programme, held in Jeddah in 2012 entitled ‘We Need To Talk’. This reinforced Christie’s commitment to support the development of arts education in the region.

Christie’s, the leading auctioneers internationally for jewellery for the last 21 years, are delighted to participate in the Saudi Jewellery Salon in Jeddah and Riyadh and will offer our clients an array of highlights from our Private Sale division.

Highlights are a stunning pair of Harry Winston emerald and diamond ear pendants. From each marquise and pear-shaped diamond cluster top, a detachable cushion-shaped emerald pendant is suspended (Colombia, minor oil) weighing approximately 12.24 and 10.41 carats respectively. The surmounts are marked 'HW' for Harry Winston and the ear pendants are mounted in platinum.

Also included is a coloured diamond necklace centred upon a cushion shaped Fancy deep Brownish Greenish Yellow diamond, VVS2 clarity, weighing approximately 90.33 cts and set with vari-cut diamonds weighing a total of approximately 149.94 cts and a simple diamond necklace designed as two rows of pear shaped diamonds suspending a pendant set with a square emerald-cut diamond of approximately 37.42carats, J colour and VS2 clarity, to a vari-cut diamond cluster surround, mounted in platinum.


Christie’s is the only auction house to hold dedicated watch auctions in the Middle East. The sale in March was the largest offering to date with 185 watches, offered, including the most expensive watch ever to come to auction in the region. The sale was the first ever 100% sold watch auction in history.

Highlights included in the exhibition feature watches from the 21st Century including models from Audemars Piguet, Royal Oak Model Tourbillon in platinum and Van Cleef & Arpels charm model, made in rose gold. A total of 13 watches will be exhibited and will give an overview of different styles in watch making over the past 50 years.