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Auction PR Publicity Announcements News and Information

Show Stopping Stones At Dreweatts & Bloomsbury Auctions

Proving that period Bugari is one of the most sought after jewellers in the international market, a stunning 1960s sapphire and diamond ring by Bulgari highlighted Dreweatts & Bloomsbury Auctions’ Wednesday 26th March auction of Fine Jewellery, which saw a plethora of jaw-dropping gems go under the hammer at the firms Donnignton Priory saleroom. Selling for £15,500, the stunning ring took the total for the sale to a fantastic £400,000.

Dreweatts & Bloomsbury Auctions’ Deputy Chairman and International Head of Jewellery, Silver and Watches, James Nicholson, said: “The outcome of today’s auction is testament to the strength of Dreweatts & Bloomsbury Auctions’ position in the fine jewellery market. We are working hard to source the finest material for our international client base, and the results speak for themselves.”

Italian jewellery and luxury goods retailer, Bulgari, are well known for dressing the Hollywood glitterati and the diamond and sapphire ring was a gift to the previous owner from the famous Italian film maker Mario Monicelli. The Oscar-nominated director and screenwriter Monicelli was dubbed the ‘father of Italian comedy’ for such films as the 1975 hit Amici Mei (My Friends). He once said; “A comedy that is ironic, sometimes bitter, in some cases even dramatic, tragic: That is what Italian comedy is.” The gifted sapphire and diamond Bulgari ring sold well above its estimate of £6,000 – 8,000. [Lot 401]

Much of the jewellery in the sale was sourced from private collections and estates across Europe. Fresh to the British market the items have been consigned through Dreweatts & Bloomsbury Auctions’ office in Rome, where they hold regular jewellery valuation days. Key jewellery ateliers including Cartier, Pomellato

and Bulgari have been discovered on these occasions, and a sleek and stylish Italian agate and sapphire bowl by Alfredo Ravasco, circa 1940 – 1965 was once the most interesting finds.

The son of a Genoese goldsmith, Ravasco became famous during the 1920s for his exuberant precious stone boxes and objects which encompassed his signature style, a perfect balance of the extravagant and the minimalist. His list of prestigious clients included the Royal House of Savoy, and he is known to have created presentation brooches for the Princess of Piedmont, later Queen Maria José of Italy. He was one of only a few Italian jewellers to have exhibited at the 1925 International Exposition of Decorative Arts in Paris, and later went on to exhibit in New York in 1928 and Athens in 1931. The bowl sold to an Italian bidder on the internet for £5,208. [Lot 227]

Good quality antique & period jewellery is still the most highly sought after at auction, and a Victorian diamond set hinged snake bangle, circa 1860, generated a great deal of excitement amongst bidders. The naturalistic coiled gold snake with applied ropetwist scales, rose cut diamond accented spine. and a pear shaped diamond set head, sold for £3,200, against a pre-sale estimate of £1,800 – 2,200. [Lot 200]

Elsewhere in the sale, a spectacular 13.68 carats Bulgari single stone diamond ring sold for £97,960. The signature Bulgari style can be seen in architecture of the brilliant cut diamond, claw set above baguette cut diamond single stone shoulders. A bold statement, the striking diamond setting is signed by Bulgari. [Lot 408]

The auction was held at Dreweatts & Bloomsbury Auctions’ Donnington Priory Saleroom in Newbury, Berkshire, on Wednesday 26th March. Full results can be found online at www.dreweatts.com