A very rare Rolex from a limited edition of only 48 examples sold for £21,500 (plus buyer’s premium) in Tennants Auctioneers’ Fine Jewellery, Watches & Silver Sale on 17th July. Made in 2014 to commemorate the UK Apache Attack Helicopter Force, they were offered to the longest serving members of the British Army Air Corps Force. The Rolex Explorer II (ref:216570-77210) is number 18 of 48 and is engraved on the back with an Apache helicopter and Union Jack.
Luxury and vintage watches are certainly proving in demand in the saleroom, with strong results seen for a 2006 18 carat gold Patek Philippe Calatrava (sold for £10,000), a Lady’s 18 carat gold and diamond set 1987 Rolex Datejust (sold for £8,000), and a 1995 Rolex Submariner (sold for £6,500).
Jewellery saw excellent prices, with a total hammer price for the section amounting to £295,180 for 116 lots. Important sapphires and diamonds sold strongly throughout, such as a Sapphire and Diamond Ring that sold for £19,000, which equates to over £2,000 per carat for the Sri Lankan stone. A Contemporary Diamond Solitaire Ring, with an emerald cut diamond weighing 5.5 carats sold for £40,000 (over £7,000 per carat), and an Architectural Style Diamond Solitaire Ring, which was of a interesting design highlighted with an eye-catching quality diamond, sold for £12,000.
Period jewellery proved equally desirable in the saleroom, with confident bidding leading to good results for the likes of an Edwardian Diamond Cluster Bracelet (sold for £14,000), an Art Deco Diamond Clip Brooch (sold for £8,500), and a circa 1870 Archaeological Revival Classical Head Pendant (sold for £4,800). Also of note were a Georgian Pink Topaz and Diamond Cluster Ring (sold for £2,500), a Regency Cannetille Pink Topaz Demi Parure made circa 1830 sold for £4,200, and an Edwardian Opal, Diamond and Enamel Brooch with an impressive lively marquise cabochon opal sold for £3,800.
Items by Cartier sold strongly, too; an attractively designed Pair of Cartier Early 20th Century Rock Crystal and Sapphire Cufflinks sold for £4,800, a Contemporary Fancy Link Cartier Necklace and Chain sold for £3,400, and a two Gold and Diamond Cartier Pendants sold for £2,000.
Also on offer in the sale was a fine selection of Silver and Objects of Vertu. Top lots of the section included a Gold-Mounted and Enamel Snuff-Box, which sold for £4,200. The box was probably German Early 19th Century but carried a Charge Mark imitating that of Henry Clavel and Jean-Francois Kalendrin and a Date Letter imitating that of Paris 1777. A William IV Irish Silver Salver by James Moore of Dublin in 1835 sold for £1,900, and an Elizabeth II Silver Table Service made by Viners of Sheffield circa 1959-1963 sold for £4,800.
The sale achieved a total hammer price of £474,040 with a 90% sold rate for 296 lots.
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