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So you’re thinking of popping the question and tying the knot? What should you look for when buying an engagement ring? The most important thing to consider when buying a ring is your paramour’s taste. Whether you go for a regal sapphire and diamond cluster ring or a classic diamond single stone ring make sure you consider their taste. Many people nowadays propose with a small “promise ring” and then pick the forever ring together.
If you would like to pick the ring yourself, there are important factors to consider. It might be worth talking to a close friend or family member.
Ask yourself:
a) What type of jewellery does your loved one currently wear?
b) Do they favour silver, yellow gold or platinum pieces?
c) Have they mentioned whether they like the idea of an antique piece with history?
d) Do they have a favourite colour? Maybe you can incorporate that into the ring.
Diamond Engagement Ring Top Tips from Our Experts
When buying diamonds, you are advised to consider the “four cs”
Carat – You will see this abbreviated to “ct” in descriptions.
Clarity – The best clarity is IF (internally flawless, meaning there are no inclusions visible even to the most experienced grader) and the most included stones are described as I3 (obvious inclusions, visible to the unaided eye).
Colour – the most perfect and expensive diamonds are “colourless”. It is also described on a scale with the rarest colour being D and the more tinted stones coming in at M and N.
Cut – The modern round brilliant cut is by far the most popular cut when it comes to diamonds but the emerald cut (rectangular) is also popular.
Which Gemstones to Pick for Your Engagement Ring
To make it even more personal and special you could pick the stone that is associated with the month in which your loved one was born. Some gemstones are less suited for everyday wear than others. Here are some that will hold up to the rigours of daily life:
Sapphire (You can get many colours)
Ruby (Red)
Diamond (White or coloured)
Emerald (Green)
Topaz (Light pink or yellow)
Morganite (Pretty pink colour)
Amethyst (Purple)
Tourmaline (Green, Red or Watermelon)
Spinel (Red)
Sizing Your Engagement Ring
Ensuring you get the right size ring for your loved one can be daunting. Luckily for you, we are here to help. We have put together a ‘Ring Size Guide’ that gives you the option of finding the correct ring size with or without your partner knowing.
All you need to do is click the link here to visit our ‘Ring Size Guide’ with a downloadable PDF to help.
The team at Fellows are always happy to provide extra photos of rings on hands to give you more of an idea of what it would look like too.
Engagement Rings at Auction: Our Expert’s Top Picks
Lot 4
Diamond single-stone ring
Price Realised: £507.00
Lot 65
Platinum diamond cluster ring, with diamond shoulders
Price Realised: £1,625.00
Lot 263
18ct gold diamond & sapphire three-stone ring
Price Realised: £676.00
Lot 423
A diamond five-stone ring
Estimate: £1,200 – £1,800
Lot 590
Early 20th century vari-cut diamond cluster ring
Price Realised: £247.00
Lot 997
Diamond ring
Estimate: £200 – £300
Talk to an Expert
The jewellery team at Fellows are happy to help in any way possible, from advising on what would fall inside your budget to finding the perfect ring.
Email: hello@fellows.co.uk
Phone: 0121 212 2131
Check out our upcoming auctions here.
Valuations
Our valuations are free, with no obligation to sell with us. Our experts will value your item with an estimate, so you can find out what it could achieve at auction.
The process is simple. You can fill in a form online or book an appointment to visit either of our offices in Birmingham or London. Virtual valuation appointments are also available.
Find what you’re looking for
Make sure you don’t miss finding that special something by signing up to our email alerts. You’ll be the first to know when catalogues become available, receive invitations to special events and preview the hottest lots from our auctions, plus much more.
Why not use our free personal shopping service? Sign up for lot alerts and tell us exactly what you are looking for. Each time we upload a catalogue, we search for your keywords and email you lots matching your interests. Your personalised email will include images, lot descriptions and auction details.
One of the most incredible mourning ring sets that has ever sold in the UK fetched a total of £39,556 (including fees) in Birmingham.
The phenomenal set includes 63 rings which all relate to separate (but connected) individuals across the 18th and 19th centuries.
People mourned include key contributors to the Anglican-Orthodoxy movement of the late-eighteenth and early-nineteenth centuries in the Church of England. The dates range from the early 1700s to the mid-1800s.
We sold the rings as one lot – the items went under the hammer as Lot 234 in the Jewellery Quarter at approximately 12:45pm on Thursday 30th September.
The rings were assembled by Elizabeth Snaith (1805 – 1890) in the 19th century. Furthermore, she gathered together pieces relating to her family, as well as their friends, and business partners. The set of rings was subsequently passed down through several generations, along with its provenance. We were entrusted to sell the collection by a descendant of the Snaith Family.
With an auction estimate of £15,000 – £20,000, five separate individuals were bidding on the lot across commission (pre-auction) bids and different internet platforms. It eventually sold to an internet bidder for a hammer price of £31,000 (£39,556 including fees).
The History & the Individuals
Individuals mourned include key contributors to the Anglican-Orthodoxy movement. Henry Handley Norris (1771-1850) and John Watson (1767-1869), who were clergyman in the parish of Hackney. There is also a ring mourning John’s brother, Joshua Watson (1771-1855) who was a merchant. The three men were at the centre of the Hackney Phalanx and more widely the Oxford Movement. This was during the late-eighteenth and early-nineteenth centuries.
For 25 years at the start of the 19th century, the Hackney Phalanx was a group of Anglican High Churchmen with shared beliefs. They filled many of the higher posts of the Church of England. In the 1930s, The Oxford Movement sought to revive Roman Catholic doctrines that had previously been dropped. Some of the rings going under the hammer mourned individuals from the Movement. Norris and Watson are examples.
Ben Randall, Senior Specialist & Catalogue Manager at Fellows Auctioneers, said: “It was no shock to see so much interest in such an amazing set of mourning jewellery. It is the most extensive I have ever laid my eyes on. With each ring relating to an individual from one group over a 100-year period, the full set is simply incredible.
“The bids flew above the auction estimate and it is lovely to see a well-deserved price for such a significant and historic set of jewellery. Our Fine Jewellery auction continues to pull great results out of the bag and we are excited for the next one which will take place in November.”
Mourning Jewellery & the Auction
The incredible Georgian and William IV gold and enamel rings came in a variety of shapes and sizes.
A family tree and a list of names relating to the 63 rings accompanied the lot.
The giving and wearing of mourning rings was a widely observed ritual in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. Wills would sometimes be written to include which family members would receive a mourning ring following someone’s death. In this case, funds from wills enabled the creation of mourning rings, which were a token of appreciation.
The live auction, offering just under £1 million worth of items, is the company’s flagship, luxury jewellery event. Moreover, the Fine Jewellery auction offered a range of historic and modern pieces from a variety of renowned brands and designers.
We offered free shipping on the purchase of items in the sale, subject to terms. In addition, physical viewing days for the mourning rings took place in London and Birmingham.
Valuations
Our valuations are free. Moreover, there is no obligation to sell with us. Our experts will value your item with an estimate, so you can find out what it could achieve at auction.
The process is simple, so you can get a valuation now:
Fill in a form online. In addition, you can book an appointment to visit our offices in Birmingham and London. Moreover you can book a virtual valuation appointment.
With our June Jewellery Sale closing on 11th June, our Specialist & Catalogue Manager, Lindsay Beardmore, has researched convertible jewellery.
Convertible jewellery has been charming us since the turn of the century, from a diamond tiara that can be transformed into a necklace, or a necklace that doubles as a brooch! All designed with sleek, discreet fittings that showcase the jeweller’s design skills alongside their technical prowess.
When going away on holiday or even for a weekend break, we all face the task of having to pack, pre-planning outifts, toiletries etc. For any jewellery lover on top of this task, they then have to decide the jewellery that they would like to accessorise with!
Everyone has their favourite pieces which they like to admire and wear daily. However, when going away, this is when convertible jewellery comes into a role of its own. In our 11th June jewellery sale, we have a selection of jewellery, that are versatile, making them perfect for any jewellery lover’s collection.
Lot 21 – An interchangeable gem-set and brilliant-cut diamond cluster ring. Estimate: £750-950
Set with brilliant-cut diamond surround and sides, the centre stone can be unclipped, removed and replaced. With a selection of four gemstones to choose from, including, pink topaz, amethyst, citrine and topaz. It really is like four rings for the price of one!
Lot 158 – A pair of onyx and brilliant-cut diamond interchangeable drop earrings. Estimate: £700-1000
The perfect ‘pair’, if you would like to take you style from day to night!These earrings can be worn in four different styles; each component has a discreet fitting, which allows them to easily detached and reattached!
Lot 532 – A pave-set pink sapphire heart ring, with detachable 18ct gold pave-set diamond surround and sides. Estimate: £800-1200
This lot can be quickly transformed! If you would like to simplify your look, the pink sapphire heart section, can be simply removed, so it can be worn independently!
If these three lots don’t entice you, then not to worry, we have over 500 lots in our 11th June sale!
The catalogue for this sale is now live!, so go and take a look. We also offer Free virtual viewings on items in this sale, all are available by appointment. Please email info@fellows.co.uk for more information and to book.
Posted in All, Jewellery
Tagged auction, convertible, Jewellery, jewellerysale, Rings
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Fellows Auctioneers will be offering virtual viewings with their specialists, starting from next week. Customers can contact Fellows to book a private appointment on Wednesday 13th May where jewellery experts from the independent, family-run business will provide a unique viewing session for their customers. All of the pieces from the online-only Jewellery Sale, which ends on Thursday 14th May, will be available for bidders to view.
This scheme follows Fellows’ hugely successful virtual valuation day, where over £75,000 worth of jewellery, watches, and handbags were appraised. Customers will essentially receive a first-hand personal shopping experience from the comfort of their own homes. The virtual viewing day will run from 10am – 4pm, and specialists from Fellows will ensure government guidelines are met whilst handling the jewellery.
Stephen Whittaker, Managing Director of Fellows Auctioneers, said: “Following on from the success of last week’s virtual valuation day we are excited to offer our customers viewings in the same format. We have received unprecedented amounts of interest and positive feedback from our virtual sessions and we’re looking forward to utilising these digital formats in the future. This is the ultimate personal shopping experience. Our customers can ask our team whatever they need to know in order to buy with confidence.”
To take advantage of the offer, enquiries can be emailed to hello@fellows.co.uk. Fellows’ Jewellery auction ends on Thursday 14th May and is set to be another in-demand sale. Bids can be placed on this auction via the Fellows website now.
Fellows Auctioneers’ latest Online Jewellery sale received 961 registrants and with a total low estimate of £96,135, the hammer total reached an incredible £126,599. The auction had a 97% sell rate, with only 19 lots in the entire auction failing to sell. It was operated in a timed, online-only format and was the latest of successful auctions at the independent, family-owned business. Beautiful necklaces, rings, pendants and many other stunning pieces of jewellery smashed their estimates as Fellows continues to defy the current climate by receiving increasing activity on their sales.
The auction had 618 registrants on Fellows’ website with a further 343 people signed up via The Saleroom platform. Including 713 lots and lasting over nine hours, the Online Jewellery auction’s first lot started to close at 10am and the final lot closed at approximately 7:10pm. The auction was operated from the Whittaker family home in Shropshire and staff from Fellows worked remotely to ensure the sale was a success.
Lot 351 – A ‘Bean Design’ pendant, with chain, by Elsa Peretti for Tiffany & Co. Estimate: £150 – £250. Price realised: £586.96
Stephen Whittaker, Managing Director from Fellows Auctioneers, said: “I am thrilled that our latest Jewellery Auction was another success. It is good for the auction world that we are able to operate our sales in an efficient and successful manner despite the current climate. I am proud of our hard working staff who continue to deliver effectively and who ensure our customers still have a fun auction experience. Our aim is to continue offering a great service whilst following government guidelines and to provide some fun escapism during these difficult times.”
Highlights from the Online Jewellery sale, which ended on Thursday 2nd April include (prices are inclusive of fees):
• Lot 351 – A ‘Bean Design’ pendant, with chain, by Elsa Peretti for Tiffany & Co. Estimate: £150 – £250. Price realised: £586.96
• Lot 390 – A late George gem-set mourning ring, with band replacement. Estimate: £250 – £350. Price realised: £765.60
• Lot 446 – An early 20th century ruby and old-cut diamond cluster ring. Estimate: £280 – £380. Price realised: £727.32
• Lot 615 – A diamond pendant, with 9ct gold chain. Estimate: £600 – £800. Price realised: £1,634.56
• Lot 658 – A pair of diamond earrings. Estimate: £120 – £180. Price realised: £740
Fellows Auctioneers have enhanced their photos for the upcoming July Fine Jewellery sale. For the first time in the auction house’s 143-year history, additional photos of every item in the sale will include one with it being worn. This includes all high end jewellery ranging from stunning Cartier items, to an alluring range of Tiffany & Co. The auction, which takes place on Thursday 11th July, is packed full of elegant jewellery of the highest calibre, and being able to view the items on a model will enable customers to gauge what the jewellery will look like worn prior to purchase.
Polly Shave, Photographer at Fellows Auctioneers, said: “We’re thrilled because the new photos show how the jewellery looks on a person and how particular pieces hang when being worn. If customers aren’t able to attend a viewing of the jewellery and will be bidding online, they can get a good idea of how the pieces look in real life. We are always trying to go the extra mile for our customers, so we hope these new photos will be a good incentive for prospective bidders.”
This will be the third Fine Jewellery sale at Fellows Auctioneers, with the brand new auction showcasing around 500 lots of the best jewellery Fellows has to offer. Fellows are continually moving with the times with the introduction of exciting new initiatives such as Fellows Live (a free live bidding service), and the new approach to photography will hopefully encourage and assist customers.
Ben Randall, Senior Specialist and Catalogue Manager at Fellows Auctioneers, said: “Since the launch of our new Fine Jewellery sale earlier this year our auctions continue to thrive, I am sure photographs of each individual item worn will be strongly approved by our customers. We still welcome and encourage customers to view the items in person at either our Birmingham or London offices during the viewing times, but we are always trying to cater to our customers’ needs.”
Selected highlights from the sale can be seen below:
- Lot 2 – An early 20th century silver and gold, sapphire and diamond pendant, on chain. Estimate: £400 – £600
- Lot 9 – A late Victorian 18ct gold opal and diamond cluster ring. Estimate: £2,000 – £3,000
- Lot 52 – VAN CLEEF & ARPELS – an 18ct gold tourmaline and diamond floral cluster ring. Estimate: £1,800 – £2,500
- Lot 152 – An Art Deco platinum diamond bracelet, circa 1935. Estimate: £14,000 – £20,000
- Lot 409 – A late Georgian gold foil back amethyst sentimental ouroboros snake and padlock brooch. Estimate: £650 – £850
Our Antique & Modern Jewellery auction, on Thursday 15 March, features a stunning selection of designer jewellery. Designer pieces include a beautiful necklace by Van Cleef & Arpels, diamond, mother-of-pearl, peridot and amethyst ‘Intarsio’ necklace by Bulgari, and a beautiful Tiffany & Co 18ct gold Heart and Arrow necklace. The Cartier jewellery in this sale is great, and it includes cufflinks, brooches, rings, bracelets and necklaces. Here are four standout pieces:
1. Cartier – a diamond love bangle.
This elegant bangle has a pave-set diamond hinge, with brilliant-cut diamond collet spacers and a push clasp.
- Diamond weight: 3.16cts
- Diameter 6.4cm
- Cartier size 19
- Signed Cartier
- Italian marks
- With maker’s certificate and case
Posted in All, Jewellery
Tagged amazing, Antique, bangle, Cartier, cartierbangle, cartiercufflinks, cartiering, cartiernecklace, cufflinks, Designer, designercufflinks, designernecklace, Diamond, diamondjewellery, Diamonds, jewellerylove, Modern, necklaces, pendants, Rings, wow
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Fellows’ upcoming Antique & Modern Jewellery sale on Thursday 9 November features an array of spectacular diamond rings.
Arguably the single standout item from the sale is Lot 263, a platinum diamond single-stone ring. It is estimated at £150,000-£200,000 in the sale. This beauty weighs 5cts, stating the flawless D-colour, with VVS2 clarity.
Lot 263 – A platinum diamond single-stone ring. Estimate: £150,000 – £200,000
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Tagged auction, auctioneers, auctions, ceylon, cluster, Diamond, diamondjewellery, diamondjewelry, diamondrings, Fellows, fellowsauctioneers, fellowsauctions, Gold, golddiamond, Jewellery, jewelry, platinum, platinumdiamond, Ring, Rings, Sapphire, stone, stunningjewellery
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Fellows’ October Antique & Modern Jewellery sale features many beautiful pieces of animal jewellery.
Many fabulous brooches depicting numerous animals feature, including kangaroos, spiders, and squirrels. Lot 39 is a 1970s 9ct gold squirrel brooch, by Alabaster & Wilson, estimated at £120-£180. The squirrel can be seen clutching a seed pearl, sitting atop a textured branch. Lot 12 is an enamel fish and rod bar brooch, of fishing interest, designed as a stylised bamboo rod, with a seed pearl accent reel and enamel trout. The brooch is estimated at £180 – £260.
Staying on the topic of animal brooches is Lot 42, an early 20th century gold and silver gem-set butterfly brooch. The split pearl and opal body, with green gem eyes, to the diamond, ruby, sapphire and opal wings. For the pooch lovers among you, we have two alluring brooches in the shape of dogs in this sale. Lot 95, estimated at £750-£950, is a diamond dog brooch and Lot 60 is a dog brooch with rose-cut diamond eyes, estimated at £300-£400.
Lot 39 – A 1970s 9ct gold squirrel brooch, by Alabaster & Wilson. Estimate: £120-£180
Lot 42 – An early 20th century gold and silver gem-set butterfly brooch. Estimate: £180-£260
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Posted in All, Jewellery
Tagged animaljewellery, animaljewelry, animals, antiques, auction, auctioneers, auctions, brooch, butterfly, elephant, Fellows, fellowsauctioneers, fellowsauctions, Jewellery, jewelleryauc, jewelleryauction, jewelryauction, modernjewellery, Necklace, Rings, snake, stunning
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Time to Tie the Knot?