This year jewellery trends are centred on bright and beautiful gemstones, or ‘dopamine dressing’ as it was described by Vogue magazine in January. This year it’s all about colour, be that from the hottest new pieces from luxury fashion houses or seeking out the best of vintage examples.
Lot 257, Boodles - An aquamarine and diamond ring, estimate - £2000-£4000. Available at the Cheffins Jewellery, Silver & Watches Sale on 4th August.
At Cheffins, we have found that blue coloured stones seem to be having a moment. Aquamarine is most definitely in vogue, perhaps partly due to Meghan Markle’s Asprey cocktail ring, which was once owned by Princess Diana and hit headlines when Meghan wore it to her wedding reception at Frogmore Cottage in 2018. Usually available at a lower price point than traditional sapphires, aquamarine stones have risen in popularity, and can now achieve into the hundreds of thousands for the best examples. Similarly, topaz appears to be turning heads, and at even more affordable values than aquamarine, blue topaz set jewellery can be a good place to start for someone looking for a bright blue addition to their collection.
Lot 256, an opal and topaz pendant with matching ear studs, estimate - £1,500-£2,500. Available at the Cheffins Jewellery, Silver & Watches Sale on 4th August.
At Paris Fashion Week earlier this year, models were sent down the runway adorned with candy coloured jewellery, with pinks, oranges and lollipop size rings and earrings. Thankfully, these trends tend to trickle down into the second-hand market pretty quickly, ensuring that coloured gem-set jewellery from all eras is seeing a renewed popularity in the auction room. Pink tourmaline, for example, is now growing in favour, particularly for use in engagement rings. Having always been a favourite in the US and Middle East, this reddish coloured stone presents a more affordable alternative to a ruby and can make a real statement.
Lot 265, an 18ct gold pink tourmaline cocktail ring, estimate - £2,500-£3,500 and lot 272, a diamond set line bracelet, estimate £4,00-£6,000. Available at the Cheffins Jewellery, Silver & Watches Sale on 4th August.
Values for coloured gem-set jewellery at auction can vary wildly. With cocktail rings featuring topaz stones available for as little as £80, right through to the largest and most fabulous of examples achieving well into the thousands. For example, in our last Jewellery, Silver and Watches sale in April, a pair of sapphire and diamond cluster ear studs sold for £8,000 and an Art Deco aquamarine clip brooch achieved £1,700, both well above their pre-sale estimates.
For those heading to the auction room looking for something bright and beautiful, the stones to look out for would be topaz, aquamarine, tourmaline, tanzanite and sapphire, which can be set into jewellery dating from the Victorian era right through to modern day examples. Points to remember are to check out the stone’s quality and clarity, as well as the depth of colour. In addition, it’s worth considering the stone’s hardness, depending on how you intend to wear it, as some coloured stones are not durable enough for everyday use.
To view the jewellery on offer at the Cheffins Jewellery, Silver and Watches Sale on 4th August, please click here.