The Fine Jewellery, Watches and Silver Sale on 14th November will be headlined by an exquisite Diamond Ring featuring a marquise cut stone, on offer with an estimate of £30,000-40,000 plus buyer’s premium. The ring comes with provenance from Sharrone, Lady Walker of the Isle of Man and has an estimated diamond weight of approximately 6.00 carat, with an H/I colour and VVS1/VVS2 clarity. The ring was given to Lady Walker’s mother-in-law, Synolda Emily (née Thursby-Pelham) in the 1930s by a Dutch admirer when she was between marriages, and it then passed by descent. Lady Walker remembers her mother-in-law as a ‘femme formidable’ with a great sense of humour. Other good rings include a fine Diamond Ring that comes with two vertically aligned round brilliant cut diamonds (estimate: £5,000-7,000), and an 18 Carat Gold Diamond and Emerald Three Stone Ring (estimate: £5,000-7,000).
Antique jewellery in the sale includes a circa 1860 En Tremblant Diamond Floral Spray Brooch, with two of the three flowerheads sprung on wire (estimate: £3,000-5,000), and a circa 1880 Sapphire and Diamond Crescent Brooch (estimate: £500-700). In contrast is a good range of modern designer jewellery, led by a Diamond Collar by Wellendorff, which is offered with an estimate of £8,000-10,000 and a Cartier De Santos Neck Chain with four detachable charms (estimate: £4,000-6,000), and further pieces by Cartier, Andrew Grima and John Donald.
An exceptional array of silver will be on offer in the sale; with over 210 lots and a combined lower estimate exceeding £250,000, it will be a treasure trove for silver collectors and will include items from good private collections. The top lot of the section is an impressive Set of Four Victorian Silver Dessert-Stands, made in London in 1846 by John Samuel Hunt. On offer with an estimate of £30,000-50,000, the stands are each decorated with a figure emblematic of one of the four seasons. Of an impressive size is a massive Italian Silver Centrepiece Bowl, made in the second half of the 20th century and marked with an indistinct maker’s mark and the monogram CA (estimate: £12,000-18,000). One of the more unusual lots in the sale is a George V Silver-Gilt Mounted Horn Cup, modelled as a cockerel and made by Sir Bache Cunard, Bt. in 1913 (estimate: £800-1,200). Sir Bache was a scion of the Cunard shipping family, and his works are incredibly rare as it is thought he only made them for family and friends.
Amongst several lots of silver with provenance from Lady Walker and the collection of the Walker Baronets of Sand Hutton are a Pair of George III Silver-Gilt Two-Handled Cups and Covers, made in London in 1786 by George Smith (estimate: £6,000-9,000). The cups are inscribed with the names and achievements of two racehorses, Stargazer and Dexter, and are engraved with initials which are likely those of the Rev. Henry Goodricke, brother of Sir Henry Goodricke, 6th Bt (1765-1802).
The sale will also offer nine lots from The Matrix Collection of Historic Hand Seals, which was put together over the course of 25 years with the involvement of David Morris, who authored the 2012 catalogue documenting the collection. Highlights from the collection include a rare James II Steel Seal-Matrix dating to circa 1685, which is cut with the Royal coat-of-arms of James II and offered with an estimate of £3,000-5,000.
Amongst notable fine vintage and collectables watches in the sale is a very rare 1964 Omega 18 Carat White Gold Constellation Wristwatch, with a “Pie Pan” dial (estimate: £6,000-8,000). It is thought that this model of Omega in white gold was only made for a brief period in the 1960s, when pieces were sold on the Asian market by special order through authorised dealers. It is very rare for an example to come to auction. Dating from the 1970s is a good Patek Philippe Lady’s 18 Carat Gold Golden Ellipse (estimate: £5,000-7,000), and a Rolex Single Red Line Submariner (estimate: £7,000-8,000).
More modern luxury watches are led by a good, limited-edition Omega Snoopy “Eyes on the Stars” Speedmaster Wristwatch, which was one of an edition of 5441 pieces released in 2003 to commemorate Nasa awarding Omega with the prestigious Silver Snoopy Award (estimate: £7,000-9,000). Snoopy has acted as the ‘watchdog’ for NASA’s safety programme, and since 1968, the Silver Snoopy Award has been presented to people or companies who have contributed significantly to "the success of human space flight missions”. Omega was given the award to honour the critical role the Speedmaster played during the 1970 Apollo 13 mission, when astronauts used the chronograph to precisely time the engine burn required for a safe return to Earth. Amongst the pocket watches in the sale is a Fine 18 Carat Gold Half Hunter Quarter and Hour Striking Clockwatch by Klaftenberger, made circa 1880 and on offer with an estimate of £3,000-5,000.
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