1. Leading the February sale at Whitchurch, Shropshire, firm Trevanion and Dean (24% buyer’s premium) was a 1930s blue zircon, yellow sapphire and diamond clip brooch by the Parisian atelier Chaumet.
“With a distinctly architectural feel, it epitomised the Art Deco Odeonesque style,” said auctioneer Christina Trevanion. “The use of contrasting gems colours within a diamond set surround was quite spectacular, and the original Chaumet case made it even better.”
It had been inherited, and never worn, by the Cheshire vendor. “This piece had everything the market wants right now. Quality of craftsmanship, completely fresh to the market and using coloured gemstones that are very much in fashion,” Trevanion said.
Five phone bidders battled against robust internet bidding and bidders in the room before it sold to a French phone bidder for £6500.
2. The rivière – one of the most popular and enduring styles of necklace to come out of the Georgian period – features an endless line of matched or subtly graduated gems set within inconspicuous collets.
A fine-quality gold and amethyst example set with 29 graduated stones (see detail) sold for £4200 (estimate £1000-1200) at Tring Market Auctions (17.5% buyer’s premium) in Hertfordshire on March 9.
The original box is stamped in gilt for the Victorian jeweller and retailer Henry Lewis and the 172 New Bond Street address where the firm was based from 1875-87.
3. A c.1910 Burmese sapphire, diamond and platinum ring sold for a double-estimate £9800 at British Bespoke Auctions (19% buyer’s premium) in Winchcombe on January 25.
The ring came housed in a burgundy leather box for the Philadelphia jeweller Combs & Van Roden and was sold together with a GCS certificate and a Gem & Pearl Lab report stating the stone showed no signs of heat treatment.
4. A Cartier single stone diamond ring in its original case sold for £42,000 at Cooper and Tanner (17.5% buyer’s premium) in Frome on March 21. The old mine cut stone weighed approximately 4ct while the shank was signed Cartier London (although the signature had been cut through for resizing).
