Ahead of our Luxury Paris Jewels on 16 February, Specialist Marine Girardet handpicks five exceptional lots coming up for sale—from earrings and gems to a set of very special jewellery albums. Register to bid online, in person or on the Bonhams app.
Lot 6 Pair of Ruby and Diamond Brooches, 1930
Highly sought nowadays, lapel clips can adorn jackets and brighten up a simple jumper. The styling options are endless. These lapel clips were recently transformed into a pair of brooches, which allows them to be worn in several ways. For example, the movement formed by the gold ribbon of diamonds and rubies can give a touch of originality if you stitch them on the shoulder or at the hip.
Lot 7 The Grand Duchess of Russia’s Personal Jewellery Albums
How wonderful and moving it is to hold these treasured books in one’s hands, offering a peek inside the jewellery box of Xenia Alexandrovna, Grand Duchess of Russia.
In these two volumes, dating from 1880 to 1912, we can see annotations in French tracing the origin of each jewel, who gifted it to her, and on what occasion. Thanks to these books, we can follow the evolution of taste and the profound changes in customs and fashion. They also show the exceptional drawing and watercolour skills of the Grand Duchess. These albums are a true historical testament to her collection before they were dispersed during the Soviet sales of the 1920s.
Lot 57 Fancy Intense Greenish Yellow Diamond Ring
“Diamonds are a girl’s best friend”—it is easy to understand why given the stones’ rich intensity and gleaming brilliance.
We have six pairs of loose diamonds our auction. At one carat each, and in very good colour and clarity, they will add a sparkle to any setting—such as in a “Toi and Moi” ring, or as a pair of ear studs.
For an original and creative option, take a closer look at the yellow diamond in our flower ring, set with a three-carats yellow diamond drop that blossom with a halo of white diamonds.
Lot 2 G. Petochi: A Pair of Ruby and Diamond Earrings
Petochi jewels have always stood for luxury, discretion, fidelity, quality and craftsmanship, ever since the early 20th century when the Petochi family workshop was discovered by Prince Torlonia—sealing their fate as jeweller to some of Europe’s most noble and powerful families and granting Fratelli Petochi a royal warrant. From these illustrious beginnings, Petochi jewels became prized not just by royalty but also international celebrities and movie stars, like Audrey Hepburn.
These earrings, finely set by diamonds and well match Burman unheated rubies, are an excellent example of Petochi’s design and quality. Burmese rubies are among the most beautiful and popular rubies on the market because of their intense red and pink tinted brilliance.
Lot 49 Emerald, Sapphire, Ruby and Diamond earrings
Vintage is the new modern. Championed by celebrities, vintage jewellery from the 1980s are back on the catwalks and red carpets, and collections are all about retro. Volume, roundness and texture are key when looking for the vintage accessories—all seen in the incredible presence of these large, but light, gold earrings.
Traditionally, jewellers worked to highlight the stone but, by the end of the 20th century, they were focussing on the metal, accentuating the details to create dimensions and the illusion of multiple texture.
