Surprising figures

Things often don’t go as planned in the auction world, but rarely does a sale reveal itself to be both as unusual and as predictable as the Sotheby’s Hong Kong Magnificent Jewels and Jadeite sale on April 2.

For one thing, gems with the auspicious number 88 in their carat weight accounted for the top three lots, all selling above their estimates. A symbol of perfection and eternity, 88 is often ...