Jewellery set to sparkle at auction

Jewels look set to sparkle again at Lawrences’ auction in Crewkerne next week. Estimates start at just £100 and there are hundreds of lots on offer, including appealing mixed lots of costume jewellery; wrist watches by Breitling, Omega, Rolex and others; pocket watches in gold and silver; scores of rings set with diamonds, emeralds and sapphires; bracelets, brooches and necklaces; and tiepins, cufflinks and dress studs.
 
Highlights include some fine pieces of Art Deco jewellery: a diamond double clip brooch, set with diamonds in platinum, is guided at £800-1000; a sapphire and diamond brooch should make £1500; and a Viennese circular brooch set with diamonds and a large sapphire is estimated at £2000-3000 [see image 1180]. The Art Nouveau style is well represented by an enamel and gem set swallow brooch (£5000-6000), an enamel winged scarab brooch (£300-400) and a pair of enamel and silver earrings by Liberty & Co at just £60-80.
 
Animals abound: there is a diamond brooch in the form of a monkey (£200-300), an enamel and gold horse and jockey brooch by Lacloche (£1500-2000); another gold and enamel brooch of a bird at a nest (£250-300), an emerald and diamond brooch in the form of a glistening frog(£800-900) [see image 1071], an insect brooch with moonstones for its body (£40-60), a gold pendant depicting a horse’s head (£200-250), a gold and gem set bracelet in the form of a snake (£1000-1200) and an enamel and gold brooch with a pheasant (£200-300).
 
A fine group of rings includes an Edwardian solitaire diamond ring, with a 1.92 carat stone (£6000-7000); a 4.62 carat Sri Lankan sapphire and diamond cluster ring (£6000-8000); and an emerald and diamond three stone ring (£3500-4000).
 
Finally, a silver and silver gilt cigarette case by Cartier set with the coronet for Elizabeth and Albert (later George VI and Queen Elizabeth) is tempting at £300-400 whilst a parcel gilt brooch by celebrated contemporary sculptor Philip Jackson is entitled “The Don” and carries a similar estimate to bring the sale right up to date. See it all online at www.lawrences.co.uk and viewing for the auction begins on Friday January 13th.