Bonhams London Jewels saw a rare Chaumet diamond necklace, circa 1900, featuring old brilliant and rose-cut diamonds, steal the show at London Jewels on 21 September.
Suspending a fringe of drops pavé-set with old brilliant and table-cut, cushion, and pear-shaped diamonds, each with a delicate rose-cut diamond laurel-leaf surmount, the necklace surpassed its top estimate by double to achieve £305,200.
Picture courtesy of Bonhams
Another notable lot was an Art Deco sapphire and diamond platinum ring, circa 1920. The fancy-cut sugarloaf cabochon Kashmir origin sapphire weighing 7.12 carats is surrounded by a single-cut diamond with shoulders accented by similarly cut diamonds and pear-shaped cabochon sapphires. The ring achieved £248,050, more than double its pre-sale estimate.
Emily Barber, Bonhams Head of Jewellery, UK, said: “The selection of jewels represented best-in-class examples of jewellery design from the 19th and 20th centuries. There was fierce competition from international buyers for rare antique and period jewellery including the Chaumet necklace, which is an exquisite survivor from the glamorous Belle Époque era, and an Art Deco ring set with a 7.12 carat sugarloaf sapphire of Kashmir origin.”
