'Pink Star' diamond sparkles in $71.2 million record sale in HK

A Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) bowl fetched $29.5 million. [Photo/Agencies]

"I know there was a lot of talk about the economy in China not being as positive as it was a few years ago," but the results from its jewelry auction on Tuesday, which included nearly 200 other lots, were very strong, she said.

Until now, the most expensive diamond sold at auction was the "Oppenheimer Blue", which fetched 56.8 million Swiss francs (then $57.6 million) last May.

Other treasures sold at the Sotheby's spring sales include the "Fish Pond" lobed bowl, which was auctioned for HK$229 million ($29.5 million), setting the second highest record for Ming porcelain.

The blue-and-white porcelain bowl has a diameter of 23 centimeters and is painted with a design of fish swimming in a pond of blossoming lotus. Made in the Xuande Period (1426-1435), the bowl has been preserved in extraordinary condition.

Sotheby's Asia Deputy Chairman Nicolas Chow said the porcelain bowl is rare and possibly unique. The current world auction record for Ming porcelain is held by the Meiyintang Chenghua (1465-1487) "Chicken Cup", which was sold for HK$281.24 million in April 2014.

Xinhua and Associated Press