Jewellery

It’s not unusual for an antique jewel containing a particularly high-quality stone to be broken up after its purchase – the intrinsic value greater than the value of the whole.

A group of design objects consigned by British textile artist and designer Ann Sutton (b.1935) was offered as part of the Lyon & Turnbull Modern Made sale.

In the years after the Wall Street Crash in 1929, some of the less expensive gemstones became popular in jewellery manufacture.

The Fine Jewellery auction at Fellows in Birmingham on June 15 includes this Arts & Crafts silver blue gem and bluster pearl foliate pendant.

Led by the multi-estimate £90,000 bid for an intaglio carved with the portrait of a Roman Caesar (see ATG No 2590), the strong market in the glyphic arts was evident among other lots offered at Fellows 25% buyer’s premium) in Birmingham on April 13

A 1920s-30s platinum and 18ct gold french diamond and emerald bracelet and a ring said to have been given by Edward VIII to Wallis Simpson sold for £42,000 (guide £25,000-35,000).

For those wishing to know more about the crown jewels it is wise to tune into a BADA Friends Tea Time Talk with Nicholas Merchant.

In this coronation week, I thought I would share some moments when my path working in the jewellery trade has crossed with that of members of the royal family, including our new king and the late queen.

This Art Deco sapphire and diamond brooch, c.1925, cased by Collingwood, was a gift to Princess Margaret from her grandmother Queen Mary, on her confirmation on April 15, 1946, when the princess was aged 15.

The Armoury of St James’s features a large number of coronation-related items in its next bulletin titled Cyphers & Symbols.

Cotswold saleroom Kinghams (23% buyer’s premium) offered a series of four stick pins gifted by Queen Victoria.

A garnet intaglio ring was bid to 450-times estimate at an auction in Birmingham after speculation that it could be one of the ‘lost’ Marlborough gems.

Born in Naples, the revivalist jeweller Carlo Giuliano (1831-95) made his name in London.

Les Enluminures’ next New York exhibition comprises a single well-documented Italian gem.

An original owner of considerable military renown made the difference when a c.1820 gold fob seal came up for auction in London on March 14.

Once dismissed as mere costume jewellery, Georgian paste is an art form in its own right with prices to match

A hugely romantic 18th century enamel, ruby and diamond ring sold for £16,000 at Woolley & Wallis (£25% buyer’s premium) in Salisbury on February 1-2.

A collection of Georgian gold and enamel mourning rings with aristocratic pedigrees comes for sale at Woolley & Wallis on April 20.

This relatively modest pair of gold and of granite dress studs tell a good story.

Symbolic & Chase is expanding its Old Bond Street premises from two to three floors with an opening scheduled for late April