For buyers

Bidding at Belpearl

Belpearl auctions are silent, sealed-bid sales held in Hong Kong. Buyers examine every lot in person during the viewing days, then hand in their sealed bids before the published closing time. No auctioneer, no bidding wars — just your best price for pearls you have held in your hands.

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A buyer's hands sorting through a lot of South Sea pearls

How to bid, in four steps

1. Members only

Belpearl Auctions is a members-only, private auction. Only registered auction members are allowed to enter the auction floor to view and bid.

2. Catalogue & viewing

Registered auction members receive a catalogue listing for every lot offered in the auction and are provided viewing cards to physically examine the lots. Viewing takes place from morning till late afternoon.

3. Sealed bids

Once the viewing day closes, buyers submit sealed bids. We tally the bid prices for each lot, and the highest bid secures the purchase.

4. Results & delivery

As a silent auction, winners are privately informed and invoices are provided. Won lots are either picked up directly from our office or shipped around the world using the buyer's preferred logistics.
Checking a lot against its lot sheet at the auction table

After the bids close

Belpearl acts for the producer, and every bid is reported to them before a single pearl changes hands.

1

Bids are opened

At the close, Belpearl opens and counts the sealed bids and prepares a private report of the bids received for each producer's lots.
2

Results are confirmed

After the close, the bids on each lot are presented to its producer together with our recommendation, and the results are confirmed to successful bidders shortly after.
3

Invoicing & payment

Successful buyers receive an invoice from Belpearl Auctions (HK) Ltd. Pearls are released on payment, for collection at our office in Hong Kong or insured shipping.

Frequently asked questions

Belpearl auctions are trade sales for pearl dealers, wholesalers, jewellers and brands. Contact the team to register as a buyer before your first sale; new buyers may be asked for trade references.

Viewing and bidding take place in person in Hong Kong, and we strongly recommend examining the lots yourself. Buyers who cannot attend may appoint a representative to view and bid on their behalf, or arrange an absentee bid with the team before the closing time.

Each lot shows the number of pieces, the total weight in momme (1 momme = 3.75 g), the size range in millimetres, the shape group, the surface grade and the colour, together with the producer and origin. Our pearl grading page explains the codes.

Every lot is consigned directly by the supplier, and its provenance and origin are recorded in our system. Unless otherwise stated in the records, Belpearl does not mix harvests from different producers into a lot that is traceable to source.

Invoices are issued once the results are confirmed, typically on the day or within days of the close. Pearls are released on payment, for collection in Hong Kong or insured shipping to you.

Questions about registering, viewing or a specific sale?

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