We find all manner of treasures in all sorts of places – attics, garages, drawers, cabinets and, just occasionally, under the floor.
I recently revealed that an extraordinary hoard of fine jewellery had been discovered under the floorboards at a family home. It had been kept there for safe-keeping for decades, untouched and in darkness.
But oh boy, when it came out into the light, it dazzled at auction! The floorboard hoard, together with other family jewellery heirlooms, made a hammer total of £20,950 in Hansons’ November Fine Jewellery and Watches sale. And no-one could have been more delighted than our head of jewellery Helen Smith.
She’d spent countless hours researching and valuing item after item. The glittering gems filled two unassuming boxes. They included everything from rings, bracelets and bangles to brooches and pocket watches, and some items dated back to Georgian and Victorian times.
However, the oldest piece was more than 200 years old – and Helen adored it. It was an unusual George III pearl, enamel and gold swivel mourning ring. Bidders liked it, too. It was contested to £850 from a £500-£600 estimate. It featured a plaited hair compartment and an inscription revealed when it was made – 1811.
The collection included several mourning rings and all did will. For example, lot 91, a George III gold and enamel mourning ring with high relief floral decoration, black enamel edges and faded inscription, circa 1818, made £1,000 – more than treble its £200-£300 estimate.
For Helen, a trained jewellery designer/maker as well as a valuer, having the opportunity to examine and research items crafted centuries ago is hugely fascinating.
Another striking gem was lot 26, a 19th century Indian Mughal bracelet. This decorative piece featured an oval painted ivory miniature depicting a Mughal emperor. It reached £1,700 from a top estimate of £1,200. Another item to smash its guide price was lot 6, an early 20th century 15ct gold dragonfly brooch with amethyst-set wings. It reached £3,200 from a £600-£800 estimate.
I’m pleased to say, our client was delighted too. He sent me a lovely email afterwards, ‘Hi Charles, wow that was quite a jewellery sale … it included many old family items that hadn’t seen the light of day for decades. Very exciting to have tuned in and seen the story unfold.
‘Please pass on our thanks to Helen who has been on this exciting journey from the beginning. We have enjoyed listening to her expertise and finding out lots of interesting information about the jewellery. We certainly gave her a headache with so many items to research but she did a great job and it all ended happily’.
Jewellery and watches are a booming sector in the auction world. Bidders enjoy the thrill of finding unique or unusual antique items, often of exceptional quality. They know a good auction house will constantly source an eclectic mix of vintage and antique jewellery that you would struggle to find elsewhere. It’s also a good hunting ground for large diamonds of dazzling clarity.
We’re fortunate to see several good examples, one being the top-selling item in the November jewellery sale. Lot 48, an exceptional 3.9 carat diamond solitaire 18ct gold ring, made £10,500. Also in demand was lot 28, an 18ct gold 4.90 carat diamond solitaire ring. It reached £8,200.
In similar vein, lot 5, a 1.83 carat diamond 18ct white gold ring, was contested to £4,300. Diamond rings, a symbol of love often used as engagement rings, will always be in strong demand.
But the sale’s top five lots weren’t totally dominated by diamonds. Designer watches excelled, too. Lot 115, a gentleman’s Rolex Oyster Perpetual Date Submariner 16610 Automatic steel wristwatch, circa 1999, made £6,800. And lot 119, a gentleman’s 18ct rose gold Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso wristwatch reached £6,500. Vintage designer watches, often found languishing in drawers, are truly sought after.
FREE VALUATIONS
Time to sell? If you have anything gathering dust under the floorboards – or anywhere else for that matter – and would like to unleash a windfall in 2022, do get in touch. Entries are invited for all forthcoming sales. To book a free jewellery or watch valuation, email [email protected]. To book a valuation for any type of item email [email protected] or call 01283 733988.
