The biggest diamond ever consigned to Hansons Auctioneers is part of a spectacular array of jewellery in our Country House Jewellery, Fine Art and Library Auction – and you can be among the first to see the dazzling collection.
The 8.5 carat diamond ring will be among more than 400 jewellery, gold and watches lots, plus hundreds of other antiques and collectables available to browse at a host of preview events, which get under way on March 30, 11am-3pm.
Both the Fine Art Auction, which runs from April 3-11, and the viewings are being held at Bishton Hall, Wolseley Bridge, Staffordshire, and experts from Hansons will be on hand to guide and answer questions.
Helen Smith, Hansons’ head of jewellery, said: “Bishton Hall is a glorious venue, sunshine is forecast and we’d love to see as many people as possible this weekend.
“With Mother’s Day fast approaching, if you’re looking for the ultimate gift my jewellery team can certainly help. How about a giant diamond for a diamond of a mum?
“Perhaps your mother would enjoy a trip to Bishton Hall, a wonderful Georgian country house set in beautiful grounds, to pick out something special you can bid on for her.”
Here, Helen Smith and fellow Hansons’ jewellery expert Isabel Murtough pick out 13 favourite pieces from the April 3 Fine Art Jewellery Auction:

Lot 88: 8.5 carat diamond ring
Diamond delight
Lot 88: An 8.5 carat diamond solitaire platinum ring, the round, brilliant-cut diamond weighing approx. 8.5 carats, assessed colour M/N, assessed clarity SI2, displaying high brilliance, platinum eight claw coronet setting, pointed shoulders to platinum shank, size O, total gross weight approx. 7.5gms. The biggest diamond ever consigned for sale at Hansons. £30,000 – £50,000
Devilish cufflinks
Lot 73: A pair of Deakin & Francis for Ralph Lauren, pave set, 18ct white gold skull cufflinks, ruby set eyes, articulated jaw and moving eyes, sponsors mark R.L date 2006, total gross weight approx. 19.3 grams. £4,000 – £4,500
Lot 115 and, inset, lot 73
Stunning necklace
Lot 115: A diamond and sapphire set fronted 18ct white gold necklace, the rigid scroll drop with diamond set floral terminals, a total diamond weight of approx. 4.0 carats, a total blue sapphire weight of approx. 5.0 carats, claw and pave set continuing to rivet style white gold chain with tong snap clasp, length approx. 40cm, total gross weight approx. 56.7grams £4,000 – £6,000
Green with envy?
Lot 14: A diamond and emerald three-stone platinum ring, the central emerald-cut emerald approx. 2.0 carats, two round brilliant cut diamonds approx 1.40 carats each, assessed colours I/J, assessed clarities SI, claw settings, ring size O1/2, total gross weight approx 4.9gms. £3,000 – £5,000

Lot 78, top, and lot 14
Tennis bracelet
Lot 78: A pink sapphire and diamond tennis bracelet, the central row of channel end set square sapphires set within a border of pave set round brilliant cut diamonds, total sapphire weight approx. 10 carats, total diamond weight approx. 2.0 carats, length approx. 180mm, unmarked white metal assessed as minimum of 14ct gold, box and tong clasp, total gross weight approx 26grams. £3,000 – £4,000
Arts & Crafts brooch
Lot 92: A circa 1890 Arts & Crafts design opal cameo set brooch, the yellow gold brooch attributed to Wilhelm Schmidt, the central marquise shaped opal cameo full length classical goddess figure, approx.18mm x 6mm, the scroll design surround with hammered finish, hinged pin and simple loop fittings to reverse, size approx. 3.5cm x 3cm, total gross weight approx. 4.8grams. £2,500 – £3,000

Lot 892, left, and lot 351
Designer watch
Lot 351: Audemars Piguet, a circa 2017 gent’s Audemars Piguet 18ct rose gold Automatic Royal Oak wristwatch, 4cm circular black dial with screw head set bezel, baton numerals and date aperture at 3 o’clock, AP monogram to the crown, on an integral; bracelet, No.I153477-3094, Movement No.917149, Ref No.15400OR.OO.1220OR.01, fully boxed with paperwork and Guarantee. £15,000 – £18,000
Chopard style
Lot 363: Chopard, a circa 2009 18ct gold lady’s Chopard wristwatch 2cm circular mother of pearl dial with diamond set bezel and numerals, integral diamond and ruby set bracelet, No. 445041, 9151, boxed. £9,000 – £10,000
Lot 352, left, and lot 363
Rolex ‘Doctor’s’ watch
Lot 352: Rolex, an 18ct white gold gold Rolex Prince ‘Doctor’s’ wristwatch, 2.5cm rectangular dial with subsidiary seconds dial, coronet monogram to the crown, black Rolex leather strap with deployment clasp, boxed. £5,000 – £6,000
Cartier timepiece
Lot 364 Cartier, an 18ct rose gold Cartier Tank Americaine curved automatic wristwatch, 3cm rectangular guilloche dial with Roman numerals, date aperture at 6 o’clock, sapphire set crown, No.118246LX, 2927, Cartier tan leather strap and gold deployment clasp, boxed. £5,000 – £6,000

Lot 371, left and lot 364
Breitling delight
Lot 371: Breitling, an 18ct gold Breitling Navitimer 92 chronograph wristwatch, 3.5cm circular black dial with rotating bezel, four subsidiary dials, company monogram to the crown, Breitling tan leather strap, pouch and some paperwork. £5,000 – £6,000
Pocketwatch perfection
Lot 390: Victor Kullberg, London, a late 19th Century 18ct gold Victor Kullberg full hunter top wind free sprung chronometer pocket watch, 5cm white enamel dial with Roman numerals and two subsidiary dials, No.6242, the casework hallmarked for London 1898, approximate weight all in 177g. £4,000 – £5,000

Lot 390, left and lot 405
Timely triumph
Lot: 405: Rolex, a gent’s 18ct gold Rolex Oyster Perpetual Day Date wristwatch, 3cm circular dial with baton numeral, day aperture at 12 o’clock, date aperture at 3 o’clock, integral 18ct gold President bracelet, approximate weight all in 121g. £3,500 – £4,000
Viewing events
Hansons Spring Fine Art Auction will run from April 3-11 at Bishton Hall, Wolseley Bridge, Staffordshire, ST17 0XN. Viewing days at Bishton are as follows:
Saturday March 30, 12.30-3pm
Monday April 1, 11am-4pm
Tuesday April 2, 11am-7pm
Wednesday April 10, 11am-7pm (for paintings and Library Auction only)
Sale days: 9am-11am.
Our Country House Jewellery, Fine Art and Library Auction catalogue is available to view online HERE.
Jewellery to sell?
Now is a great time to sell your unwanted jewellery as gold prices are soaring and the diamond market is buoyant, according to Hansons’ head of jewellery Helen Smith.
She said: “We have just held a successful Antiques and Collectors’ jewellery sale with items making well over estimate.
“Highlights were lots 254, a collection of gold rings including a Masonic version. It doubles its £150-200 to make £360. Then there was lot 285, a Victorian opal and rose gold bangle which trebled its £150-200 estimate to make a whopping £600.
“Other highlights included two Georgian rings, lots 242 and 243, one set with tourmaline and seed pearls the other a enamel and pearl mourning ring. Both made well over estimate proving Georgian jewellery is highly desirable right now.”
To arrange a FREE jewellery valuation, email Helen Smith: [email protected]
FREE jewellery valuations are held every Tuesday, 9.30am-4.30pm, and every Friday, 10am-4pm, at Hansons Auction Centre, Heage Lane, Etwall, Derbyshire, DE65 6LS.
