Lively bidding in the saleroom, online and on the telephone took the Cheffins summer Jewellery, Silver & Watches Sale to over £336,000 grossed on Thursday 17th August. Hosted at the firm’s salerooms in Cambridge, the sale saw a 98 per cent sale rate, and bidders in the room at pre-Covid levels.
With a series of highly collectable watches, valuable jewellery and unusual silver items on offer, there were a number of highlights at this important sale. The highest value lot of the day was a late 20th century solitaire diamond ring, which made £14,000 when it sold to a private UK-based buyer. This was followed by £9,000 paid for an Omega rare steel ‘Speedmaster Pre Moon’ wristwatch, which sold to a private buyer from Germany.
Omega rare steel ‘Speedmaster Pre Moon’ wristwatch, sold for £9,000
Also among the watches was a rare 1914 vintage trench watch, which sold for ten times its presale estimate to a private UK collector, and a series of collectable Rolexes, with a steel and everose ‘Oyster Perpetual Date YachtMaster’ achieving £8,000.
The jewellery section saw a range of antique and modern pieces go under the hammer, with a Victorian diamond set star brooch achieving £3,000, against an estimate of £800 - £1,200 and also an early 18th century diamond set mourning ring achieving £4,000.
An early 20th century silver novelty menu holder, mark of Sampson Mordan & Company, sold for £180
The silver was particularly sought after with all 161 items offered being sold, thanks to lively bidding from both the trade and private collectors. Some of the highlights included a set of 12 silver plates by Victorian silversmith, John Samuel Hunt, which achieved £6,500 when sold to a private collector, and a 142-piece set of silver cutlery achieving £3,800 when it sold to another UK-based enthusiast. These were followed by the objets section which saw a selection of pieces by Sampson Mordan, which drew significant bidding both online and in the room.
Steven Collins, Head of Jewellery, Silver & Watches at Cheffins comments:
“This sale saw some significant bidding in all sections and showed the real health of the market for silver, as well as watches and jewellery. There is still a great deal of interest in vintage watches, and of course anything by topflight makers drew much attention. It was fantastic to see the auction room with visitors back to pre-Covid levels, which brought an electric atmosphere to the sale, combined with significant numbers of bidders across the online platforms.”
The next Jewellery, Silver & Watches Sale will take place at Cheffins on Thursday 23rd November.
The prices reported are hammer prices, and not inclusive of buyers’ premium and VAT at 29.4 per cent.
For further information contact the Fine Art Department on 01223 213343, fine.art@cheffins.co.uk