The price was many times its estimate of £1000-1500 – proof that quality coloured gemstones in period settings are highly sought-after in the current market.
Mallams’ jewellery specialist Louise Dennis said this privately entered jewel was a particularly good example of its type.
“It is common for topaz to be set in coloured foiled closed-back settings, but in this case the natural pink hues of the stones were of a good even saturation, requiring no foiling.”