Jewellery

Far more fluent than us in the language of jewellery and stones, Georgians and the Victorians would immediately have made the link between snakes and eternal love.

Metal-detecting finds, properly reported to the Portable Antiquities Scheme and since disclaimed as Treasure, are increasing significantly the supply of pre-Georgian jewels. Some fine examples have appeared at auction of late.

A Cartier Egyptian revival jewel, previously known only from an advert that appeared in The Illustrated London News in the 1920s, sold for £55,000 at Woolley & Wallis (26% buyer’s premium).

A Cartier necklace with a rare pink diamond was offered by Tennants (22% buyer’s premium) of North Yorkshire on March 15. It sold towards top hopes at £190,000.

The next LAPADA Berkeley Square Fair will partner with luxury jewellery ‘collective’ Haute Jewels.

Tiara takes highest sum as jewellery supplied to an aristocratic family features in Paris sale

Charlotte Morris Roper is at the helm of Plaza 20th Century Jewellery, a vintage jewellery business specialising in French and European items with a particular focus on the 1940s-60s.

Two Cartier brooches commissioned by Sir Stephen Courtauld for his wife have gone on display at Eltham Palace, eight months after they were sold at auction by Dreweatts in Newbury.

An inheritance influenced Boston dealer duo to turn their collecting interest to a different market

A textbook example of British Arts & Crafts jewellery – a Guild of Handicraft peacock pendant necklace designed by Charles Robert Ashbee – sold for $35,000 (£28,100) in the US at the end of 2024.

A gold-mounted garnet intaglio ring depicting the handsome Greek youth Antinous was taken to a multi-estimate £24,000 at Busby’s (25/10% buyer’s premium), triggering speculation it might be one of the lost ancient Marlborough gems.

Jewellery dating to c.1960 was once owned by well-known women in New York and Palm Beach

Nosheen Brohi runs jewellery dealership Fable & Windsor at Grays Antique Market in Davies Street, Mayfair

This late 19th century silver mounted ceramic dish or coupe came up at the Belgian firm CR-Art Auctions (25% buyer’s premium) when it was bid to €7000 (£5835) against a guide of €2000-3000.

The influential 20th century jewellery designer Suzanne Belperron (1900-83) had a wide-ranging clientele during her lifetime spanning royalty, artists and people from the worlds of fashion and entertainment.

As the gift-giving season arrives, jewellery seldom disappoints. Pictured here are a range of antique and vintage jewels coming up for sale in the next couple of weeks, all with estimates under £1500.