Fine Jewellery

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The 29^th & 30^th January sale of Fine Jewels at Woolley & Wallis starts 2025 with an array of sparkling jewels spanning the centuries. Headlining the sale is an extraordinary rediscovery – an Art Deco Egyptian Revival pendant by Cartier in rubies, diamonds and onyx - one of a rare and highly sought after collection designs made by the firm in 1923 following the discovery of the tomb of Tutankhamun (lot 591), brought to light after a century in private hands.  Another major highlight is a particularly beautiful ring by Cartier’s long-time rivals Boucheron, set with a Kashmir sapphire, its velvet blue hue clearly demonstrating why these rare and historic sapphires continue to be prized above all others (592). Two diamond tiaras, each from private collections, beautifully illustrate the transition between late Victorian and Edwardian eras of jewellery design – the earlier with an abundance of foliate diamond scrolls and an interchangeable central motif (583), the later delicately classical in inspiration, in intricate platinum openwork and detaching to form a choker (576). A diamond bracelet formerly in the collection of Elizabeth Taylor (received as a gift from Michael Jackson) lends the sale some star power (584), while an extremely rare Cartier Baignoire ‘Maxi Oval’ watch from late 1960’s New York also joins us from across the pond (586), sure to be of interest to wristwatch collectors.

Elsewhere in the sale, a collection of ancient and antique glyptics appear alongside a wide array of historic Georgian and Victorian jewels and contrast with striking mid-century designs by Kutchinsky and Tuk Fisher for Georg Jensen, while a selection of modern designs from well-known jewellers such as Van Cleef & Arpels, Cartier, Tiffany and Boucheron ensure there’s something to help everyone fend off the January blues.