April 11, 2017: To be held on April 27, 2017, Bonhams London Fine Jewellery Sale is going to be led by an impressive 10.28 carats diamond single-stone ring by Van Cleef & Arpels. The E colour marquise-cut diamond is set between pear-shaped diamond shoulders and is estimated at £150,000-200,000. Signed jewellery from the world’s most famous houses will also be offered in the sale, which will consist of 141 lots in total.
Notable pieces include a highly desirable Diamond 'Fuchsia' brooch and earring suite by Van Cleef & Arpels. Another iconic piece of jewellery featuring in the sale is an enamel and diamond 'Serpenti' bracelet-watch by Bulgari, a rare surviving example of the famed Bulgari Serpenti design bracelet watch, circa 1965-1970. The highly articulated bracelet is composed of a series of overlapping scales applied with orangey-yellow and red enamel. The serpent's head features a forked tongue and marquise-cut diamond eyes, its mouth opens to reveal a circular watch dial.
Inscriptions are often found on the underside of the tails of Bulgari Serpenti pieces, referring to specific species whose skins inspired the enamel work. This particular example is of a 'Serpe dei Ratti Giallo', or a Yellow Rat Snake, and has a pre-sale estimate of £50,000-60,000.
In the UK, demand for pieces by artists such as Andrew Grima, John Donald and Stuart Devlin continues to increase with an expanding group of collectors. These jewellers created jewels where the value lay in their aesthetic composition rather than the carat weight. Bonhams will be offering several pieces by Andrew Grima in its London sale, including a gold, diamond and fire opal brooch/pendant, 1970. The oval-cut fire opal set amongst an abstract arrangement of textured 18 carat gold cinnamon sticks, with a brilliant-cut diamond accent. The pre-sale estimate is £5,000-7,000.
The collection also includes a colour change sapphire and diamond ring, 1977. The cushion-shaped sapphire, set within an abstract surround of brilliant-cut diamonds mounted on stalks, is estimated at £5,000-7,000. The sapphire is of Sri Lankan origin, with no indications of heat treatment.
Bonhams will also be offering a number of antique pieces for sale, including a Georgian diamond panel bracelet, circa 1780 and an early 18th century gold and diamond necklace, Portuguese. In its original fitted case, the necklace is designed as a series of ribbon-bow motif links suspending a chandelier fringe, emblematic of 18th century Portuguese jewellery design. Estimate: £10,000-15,000.
Full details of the lots to be auctioned at Bonhams London April Fine Jewellery sale can be found here.