The jewellery sale at Bonhams New Bond Street demonstrated that for high quality fine jewellery a phenomenal price can be commanded, with the one Cartier sautoir being sold for £216,000 from the pre-sale estimate of £15,000- £20,000.
The sale reached a total of £1.8m, with 88% sold by value. An array of stunning pieces exceeded expectations on the day, including coloured stones, diamonds and signed period jewels. Other pieces by Cartier including an art deco diamond strap bracelet, by Cartier, circa 1925, which sold £69,600 from a guide price of £20,000 to £30,000. A sapphire and diamond cluster ring, also by Cartier, with the sapphire weighing 2.37cts, of Kashmir origin sold for £21,000. This equated to an outstanding price per carat of £8,900.
Other coloured stones which achieved outstanding prices included a fine art deco emerald and diamond ring, circa 1925, of Colombian origin which sold for £162,000 from a guide price of £30,000 to £40,000.
Diamonds remained a firm favourite with a fine diamond single-stone ring with brilliant-cut diamond, weighing 8.23cts, I colour, VVS1 clarity, selling for £93,600 (price per carat = £11,400). An impressive pair of diamond earrings, each set with an old brilliant-cut diamond, weighing 10.55cts and 10.42cts sold for £102,000. A diamond single-stone ring with a step-cut diamond, weighing 6.30cts, G colour, Vs1 clarity sold for £74,400 (price per carat £11,800).
Other elite jewellers featured in the sale included stunning signed pieces by William Asprey, Boucheron, Buccellati, Bulgari and Van Cleef and Arpels.
Jean Ghika, Director of UK and Europe at Bonhams Jewellery department comments: “We are delighted with yesterday’s results which clearly demonstrate that the market is buoyant for jewels of exceptional quality and rarity. Our top lots, the aquamarine sautoir by Cartier and the art deco emerald ring, far exceeded our expectations. Competition for rare period pieces is fierce.”
www.bonhams.com/jewellery