Why Singapore is the Yellow Dragon's debut hub

Experts speak their minds about the 110-carat gem making Singapore its first stop.

SBR: Usually, high-valued precious stones like the Yellow Diamond are brought to Geneva, Paris or some other European cities known for their elite taste. Why do you think Vihari Jewels brought it to Singapore? What's in Singapore do you think made the jeweler choose the country for the Yellow Dragon?

Wealth-X: Mykolas D. Rambus, CEO

Singapore has the highest number of millionaires per capita, more than anywhere else in the world. The Lion City is also the eastern hub for private banking, and is the place that the globe's ultra high net worth individuals increasingly transit. What better place to showcase the Yellow Dragon than where the buyers are?

Luxury Insider: Ashok Soman, Managing Editor

A stone such as this Yellow Dragon will be sought after by status seekers, collectors and investors alike but investors are likely to have serious questions about it that have not been answered yet, as far as I can tell. Aside from the impressive size, what is the clarity and color? Does it have an interesting story? Why was it cut into the form it is in? What was it in the rough? Where did it come from and who certified it?

Obviously, Singapore is a good place to reach out to interested parties from Southeast Asia and India, for reasons of proximity, security and taxation (aside from GST). Recent reports (from Wealth X among others) put an ever-growing number of UHNWIs here so the choice of Singapore for the Yellow Dragon is not surprising. I think this effort is more exploratory than anything. Hong Kong is still the place to go in Asia for important precious stones and public offerings. The proof of this is in how many important auctions are held in Hong Kong and how many are in Singapore.

Choo Yilin Artisan Jewellry: Yilin Choo, Founder

It isn't very surprising that the Yellow Dragon was brought to Singapore. But I think the more important question here is, why not in Hong Kong? The two countries are both leaders when it comes to luxury retailing, but here are my two cents: Singapore is way much more Western than Hong Kong with regards to business-leading and in other aspects. Maybe Yellow Dragon's makers thought that bringing the diamond to Singapore would draw in more interest, spur more talks about the gem.  

Singapore is a known Asian leader in business, much more so in luxury trade. So why did Vihari Jewels bring it to Singapore? I say, why not?