04/05/2023
Mallams’ highly anticipated Jewellery, Watches and Silver Sale took place in Oxford on 26-27 April and saw sales of £388,655, almost 24% above the top estimate, with a remarkable 95% of lots sold.
Lot 148, a 5ct single stone diamond ring with tapered baguette-cut diamond set shoulders, accompanied by a Diamond Certificate issued by HRD, proved irresistible. Bidding quickly surpassed the ring’s £20,000-£30,000 estimate and the price continued to surge ever upwards with a private UK buyer placing the final, winning bid of £48,000.
Further diamond lots that performed well were lot 146, another single stone ring in the Art Deco style, which achieved its low estimate of £8000, and lot 147, a diamond cluster pendant/brooch retailed by Wartski in the late 1960s, which sold towards the upper estimate at £7800, both lots going to UK buyers.
An antique gold-mounted bloodstone circular box (lot 519), with engraved scrolling foliage to the hinged lid, also drew intense bidding, selling for £16,000 to an international phone bidder, against a conservative estimate of £700-£900.
A pair of limited edition silver commemorative wine coolers, made by Garrard & Co for the 1972 Silver Wedding Anniversary of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip (lot 733), captured the imagination of several bidders, aided perhaps by renewed Royal interest for the forthcoming Coronation celebrations. Guided at £2000-£4000, the hammer finally fell at £6300 to a UK buyer.
Clocks and watches continued to prove popular with lot 583, an early Victorian silver mantle clock, selling for £6,200, several times its top estimate, and lot 189, an 18ct gold Special Edition 30 Seconds Chronograph automatic wristwatch by Breitling for Bentley Motors, going for £5,200.
Louise Dennis, Mallams’ head of jewellery and watches, said, “with strong interest across the board this was one of our most successful Jewellery, Watches & Silver Sales to date. The excellent price achieved for lot 148 reflects how the market for statement diamond rings of good colour and clarity, with supporting provenance, has grown in recent months. Unusual items of antique silver and objets, such as the early Victorian mantle clock and the bloodstone box, were very well received, attracting several above-estimate bids.”
Mallams is now accepting entries for its ‘Collective’ timed sale of jewellery, silver and accessories which takes place from 12-23 July, closing for entries on 16th June. If you have any items of interest, please call 01865 241358 or email Mallams' jewellery and watches specialist, Louise Dennis at louise.dennis@mallams.co.uk or Alicia Rogers, silver specialist at alicia.rogers@mallams.co.uk
All prices are subject to a 30% buyers' premium (VAT inclusive).
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