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Sapphire is one of the most precious and eye-catching gemstones. As it is the birthstone for September, we will take a look at three beautiful items of jewellery up for auction this month which feature it.
Highlight Sapphire Items in the 7/8 September 2021 Jewellery Sale:
Lot 176
A 14ct gold sapphire and diamond brooch.
Estimate: £300 – £400
Lot 221
A sapphire and brilliant-cut diamond cluster ring.
Estimate: £400 – £600
Lot 251
A sapphire and diamond cluster ring.
Estimate: £180 – £220
History of Sapphire
Sapphires have been desirable throughout history. Furthermore, the Ancient Egyptians used sapphires for eye-washes and Ancient Persians believed they gave the sky colour. In the present day, these stones are some of the most illustrious in all of jewellery.
Some of the most elegant stones originated from Sri Lanka, where a selection of the world’s largest sapphires have been found.
As well as coming in a variety of colours, different shades of the stone make for equal importance. Moreover, Ceylon, Thailand Royal, and Burmese are some of the intriguing blue sapphires. Colour has utmost importance in determining the value of a sapphire. The origin of a sapphire can be determined by its hues and chemicals.
Perhaps the most sought-after sapphire is the Kashmir. Kashmir sapphires were mined in the northernmost Himalayan mountain for only a number of decades in the 19th and 20th centuries. The stones are incredibly precious, as a result we have sold numerous Kashmir sapphires at auctions for tens of thousands of pounds.
The upcoming Jewellery sale features fabulous examples containing the September birthstone. In addition, we are offering free shipping on the two-day timed, online-only sale. A physical viewing day will take place on 6th September. Birmingham’s historic Jewellery Quarter will be playing host to the viewing.
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, 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.
One of the most expensive rings to ever sell at a Birmingham auction has fetched a total of £175,980. The magnificent Kashmir sapphire ring, boasting over 11.9cts, attracted four different customers who all placed bids of over £100,000.
We offered the item as Lot 105 in our Fine Jewellery sale. A live auction showcasing the best jewels that we have to offer. As a result, there was a fierce bidding war for the ring. It went under the hammer in the Jewellery Quarter on Thursday 29th July.
The magnificent Kashmir sapphire ring boasts 11.9cts. it sold for £176,000.
The Auction
We placed a pre-auction estimate of £100,000 – £150,000 on the ring, and it sold for a hammer price of £141,000 (£175,980 including fees).
Bidding started below £90,000 and quickly shot up to over £120,000. This is because telephone and internet bids were placed on the lot.
The winning bid of £141,000 was placed over the Fellows Live internet platform, ending the five-minute bidding war. It all took place at approximately 11:25am on Thursday 29th July.
The auction featured over 500 lots of fine jewellery. The jewels were from world-renowned brands in a variety of shapes, sizes, and ages. Fellows hammered round £1 million worth of jewellery, so the sale achieved phenomenal results.
Stephen Whittaker, Auctioneer & Managing Director at Fellows, said: “We are delighted to have received so much interest in the incredible Kashmir sapphire ring, which was hugely popular in our Fine Jewellery sale. Kashmir sapphires are some of the most sought-after stones in all of jewellery.
“It was exciting selling the item and seeing the multiple bids come in for the ring. The buyer has themselves a really superb item of jewellery. It was a grand team effort, as a result the ring received the best possible price and the Fine Jewellery sale was a success.”
About Kashmir stones
Mined in the northernmost Himalayan Mountain from the late 19th century, Kashmir stones are of magnificent quality.
These elusive stones were mined over a 50-year period since their discovery in 1879, so they are very scarce. Allegedly a discovery after a landslide in the Zanskar range revealed the sapphire crystals.
Deemed some of the most prestigious and sought-after stones in the world of jewellery, Kashmir sapphires are incredibly rare. They are so rare because the region produces the best specimens. These contain a superior cornflower blue or a royal blue tint and a velvety quality.
Mining in the area ceased operations around 1932, however the mountain is still heavily guarded to this day.
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.
To get a valuation:
Fill in a form online.
Book an appointment to visit our offices in Birmingham and London.
Book a virtual valuation appointment.
A striking and grand historic necklace which features fifteen different coloured gems is set to go under the hammer at Fellows Auctioneers. The elegant piece of jewellery is one of the most appealing items up for sale in the Fine Jewellery sale, a behind closed doors auction taking place in the Jewellery Quarter, Birmingham, on Thursday 25th March.
The stunning necklace features many different colours
Featuring as Lot 170 in the sale, and with an estimate of £2,500 – £3,500, the 15ct gold multi-gem and enamel necklace is from the Victorian era. The stunning necklace is accompanied by an original letter detailing each individual colourful gem.
The necklace comprises of 15 distinct gems, including sapphire, emerald and demantoid garnet. Some of the other gems incorporated in the necklace include tourmaline, ruby, zircon, citrine and spinel. The piece is completed by an attractive floral spacer back-chain.
The necklace contains a sapphire calculated weight of 1.21cts, based on estimated dimensions of 6.2 by 5.5 by 3.8mms. A fitted Bright & Sons Scarborough case is included with the lot. A letter to the original owner of the item, who purchased the necklace from Bright & Sons in Scarborough in 1889, is also included. The overall condition of the item is very good, with the gems appearing bright and well saturated.
The flagship Fine Jewellery sale at Fellows contains some of the best jewels that the independent, 145-year-old auction house has to offer. Over 600 lots are on offer in the sale, ranging from designer jewellery from the likes of Cartier, to refined vintage and antique pieces.
The necklace is a highlight in the Fine Jewellery sale
The auction is live now, and will take place behind closed doors with free virtual viewings available on any item in the sale. The full catalogue is on Fellows’ website, and bids can be placed ahead of the auction.
Ben Randall, Senior Specialist and Catalogue Manager at Fellows Auctioneers, said: “I love to see such an original item come through the doors, even so far as to have the original documentation from the manufacturer listing the individual gems, as they were known at the time, along with their cost prices.
“It is intriguing to see how different gem names have evolved and how the different gems were valued at the time, the gorgeous central sapphire costing almost ten times as much as the other gems. Even the back of the chain has received attention, with delicate individual flowers forming the links, showing the great skill of the manufactures who are still in business today.”
The gems included in the necklace are listed below:
Green Chrysoberyl, Yellow Sapphire, Red Jargoon, Zircon (brown), Olivine (Russian), Puce Spinel, Jacinth, Sapphire, Topaz (light medium orangey brown), Emerald, Ruby (Ceylon), Yellow Tourmaline, Peacock Spinel, Brown Tourmaline, Ruby Spinel
By Natasha Davis, Watch Specialist at Fellows Auctioneers.
It’s not often at Fellows that we’ll pick up a watch and get so excited about the back of the piece, but this Limited Edition Bremont 1918 chronograph is the exception.
With only 275 stainless steel pieces created in 2018 by the British owned aviation-themed brand, this ‘1918’ was released to commemorate the Royal Air Force’s centenary. Taking a closer look at the rotor through the sapphire exhibition case back, you’ll see a piece of veneered wood with three propellor blades attached, all materials sourced from four original RAF planes that were flown during both the first and second World Wars. Specifically, the propellor blades are composed of material from a Hawker Hurricane, a Supermarine Spitfire and a Bristol Blenheim.
The Bremont RAF watch
The dial looks clean and uncomplicated too, even with its additional GMT, AM/PM indicator and chronograph functions. We’re fortunate to also have its original limited edition booklets and box, accompanying Nato strap, and even a pair of Bremont cufflinks to accompany the piece.This Bremont 1918 Limited Edition will be coming up for auction in our 15th February Luxury Watches Sale, alongside other Bremont models including a ‘Supermarine S500’ and an ‘ALT1-C Anthracite’ chronograph. With a catalogue estimate of £4,500 – £5,500, we’re expecting it to fly…
Also up for auction in our next Luxury Watches Sale on 15th February is a Hublot Big Bang Limited Edition Sapphire ‘Unico Magic’ watch, its case carved entirely from blocks of transparent sapphire crystal.Although it’s not the first time that Hublot have dabbled with non-conventional materials for watches, their use of sapphire crystal as a case material is technically genius. Prior to Hublot releasing this 500 piece limited run, carved sapphire was really only seen in special ‘one-off’ editions, not really on the commercial market.
The limited edition Hublot watch
Measuring at 45mm, the case and dial are visually impressive, with the red detailing in the hands standing out against the grey dial, which is a subtle yet elegant touch. Importantly, from a practical point of view, sapphire being one of the hardest materials in the gemstone world would also make it a very difficult watch to scratch.
This will be the first time that Fellows have auctioned one of these models before. With a catalogue estimate of £14,000 – £20,000, it will be sold alongside a selection of other classic Hublot models in our February auction.
A beautiful sapphire necklace showcasing the red, white, and blue colours of the USA flag has sold for a full price of £34,452 at UK auction house Fellows. The mid 20th century platinum Burmese sapphire, sapphire, ruby and diamond convertible necklace had an estimate of £25,000 – £35,000 (GBP) in Fellows’ Fine Jewellery auction. The necklace is Lot 166 in the sale, which took place on Thursday 12th November. Bidders were able to participate in the auction online, as well as over the phone – the sale could be accessed from across the globe.
The principal sapphire has a report dated 17th January 2019, from GCS, stating 2.51 carats, Burma. The necklace has an estimated total diamond weight of 16 to 19c carats, of G-H colour, and predominantly VS clarity. The length of necklace is 44cms and the entire piece weighs 85.5gms. The chain section detaches to become bracelet and the pendant section may also be detached.
A mid 20th century platinum Burmese sapphire, sapphire, ruby and diamond convertible necklace.
Bids could be placed on the auction by creating an account from anywhere in the world. Fellows is also able to arrange telephone bids for bidders from anywhere in the world. Fellows Auctioneers is also delighted to offer free shipping on this item to any destination across the globe. The necklace was a standout item in the Fine Jewellery sale which showcased 586-lots of the best jewellery that the UK auction house has to offer. From incredible items by world-renowned jewellers to elegant antique pieces of jewellery, this sale had it all.
Lindsay Beardmore, Jewellery Specialist from Fellows Auctioneers, said: “This beautiful necklace elegantly showcases the national colours of the USA. The Burmese sapphire in the middle of the pendant is stunning and it perfectly complements the other colours. The red, white and blue motif is so brilliantly designed. I expect this necklace to be popular from customers across the world, especially our friends across the pond! As the auction can easily be accessed from any location, I’m sure this stunning piece of jewellery will find the home that it deserves.”
Lot 276 in the March Fine Jewellery auction is this padparadscha sapphire. Nicola Whittaker, Business Development Manager at Fellows, has explored the history behind this beautiful piece.
The Padparadscha is a very special cousin to the more commonly found blue sapphire. This pinkish orange stone is rare due to its unusual colour and limited locale, Sri Lanka. Although pinkish orange sapphires have been found in Madagascar, they are often heavily treated to achieve the same colour as one from Sri Lanka and most experts will only attribute the “padparadscha” name to a Sri Lankan stone.
The name “padparadscha” comes from Sinhalese, meaning lotus blossom coloured. While the most perfect gem quality stone would be fully saturated medium pinkish orange, most laboratories will certify Padpradscha stones from light pinkish orange to medium orangish pink. Due to the light colour of these stones, the clarity is particularly important as inclusions are more obvious.
A Sri Lankan padparadscha sapphire ring, with modified kite-shape diamond shoulders and rose-cut diamond gallery.
Like other sapphires, padparadscha sapphires can be heated to improve the colour of the stone. As such an unheated padparadscha sapphires command a premium at auction. It is rare to find good-quality padparadschas of more than two carats, and any stone above five carats is considered a world-class gem. The world’s largest known gem quality padparadscha sapphire is the 100.18ct one on display at the American Museum of Natural History in New York.
Along with rubies and other coloured sapphires, padpradscha sapphires are part of the corundum family. This means that they are rated as “9” on the Mohs scale of hardness and can be worn as rings without risk of major abrasion. The most recent celebrity spotted wearing a padparadscha sapphire is HRH Princess Eugenie. Her enagement ring is a padpadrascha sapphire and diamond cluster with round brilliant cut diamonds and two pear shaped diamonds on the shoulder on a yellow gold band.
Annabel Zarandi, Jewellery Specialist from Fellows’ London office, has been discussing a stunning ring in November’s Fine Jewellery sale.
It would be difficult write about iconic engagement rings without mentioning the sapphire and diamond ring worn by The Duchess of Cambridge. This 12ct oval cut Ceylon sapphire is surrounded by 14 round brilliant diamonds. This ring is special for so many reasons. It originally belonged to Princess Diana, who chose the ring herself. It was designed by Garrard, and was an unusual choice at the time. However, it bucked the trend of usual Royal protocol of large bespoke diamond engagement rings. The design was rumoured to be inspired by a sapphire and diamond brooch given to Queen Victoria as a wedding gift. The sapphire itself is a beautiful example of a Ceylon sapphire, which are favoured for their beautiful vibrant blue colour, with many displaying a slight cornflower blue hue. When presented to The Duchess of Cambridge on her engagement, there was a resurgence in the market for sapphire and diamond cluster rings as an alternative to the diamond solitaire ring which is so often favoured.
Lot 242 from Fellows’ November Fine Jewellery sale.
We are thrilled to be offering a number of sapphire and diamond rings in our upcoming Fine jewellery sale on the 14th November. Lot 242 is a very similar design to this iconic ring, and is another stunning example of a Ceylon sapphire. It comes with a certificate confirming that there is no evidence of heat treatment and is an impressive 9.5cts. With an auction estimate of £4,500 – £6,500, this would make a beautiful engagement ring (minus the royal price tag!).
Annabel Zarandi, Jewellery Specialist at Fellows
The Fine Jewellery sale is now available to view online and in person at the following times:
5 November 2019 12noon – 7pm (London)
9 November 2019 11am – 4pm (Birmingham)
12 November 2019 10am – 4pm (Birmingham)
13 November 2019 10am – 4pm (Birmingham)
14 November 2019 8.30am – 11am (Birmingham)
Emma Testill, Catalogue Manager from the Jewellery Department at Fellows Auctioneers, has been researching the birthstone for September.
Sapphire is the name of the gem quality version of the mineral ‘corundum’ – its name derives from the Latin ‘sapphirus’ for blue. However, sapphires can actually occur in every colour of the rainbow apart from red; as red gem corundum is known as ruby. Known for their hardness, second only to diamond, it’s easy to see why sapphires have stood the test of time.
From ancient Persian myths telling how the sky got its blue colour based on the reflection of sapphires; to modern day romance most notably as the engagement ring of choice gifted by Prince William to Kate Middleton. The most coveted sapphires are from Kashmir and Burma whose sapphires display the most superior rich blue hues and velvet tones, along with Sri Lanka where their sapphires tend to be a lighter cornflower blue.
A late Victorian, silver and 18ct gold Sri Lankan sapphire and rose-cut diamond cluster ring
Sapphires can also display a natural colour-change effect and an optical effect known as ‘asterism’ which gives the appearance of a star atop a cabochon-cut stone. Traditionally given on a 45th wedding anniversary, to represent loyalty, faithfulness, and wisdom. Long associated with royalty, two of the most famous sapphires in history are ‘St Edwards Sapphire’ and ‘The Stuart Sapphire’ – both are found in the Imperial State Crown part of the British Crown Jewels.
Emma Testill, Catalogue Manager from the Jewellery Department at Fellows Auctioneers
A most sought-after gemstone available in various settings and designs, complement our two September Jewellery sales. the Fine Jewellery sale, taking place on 12th September features highlight lots including 13 and 119. Furthermore, our Jewellery sale, taking place on 19th September features an array of sapphire pieces along with many alternate colours. Examples are traditional blue sapphires, including yellows and pinks.
Fellows’ upcoming Jewellery sale, taking place on Thursday 19th September, is now available to view online and in person at the following times:
10th September 2019 12noon – 7pm (London)
14th September 2019 11am – 4pm (Birmingham)
17th September 2019 10am – 4pm (Birmingham)
18th September 2019 10am – 4pm (Birmingham)
19th September 2019 8.30am – 10am (Birmingham)
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Fellows’ upcoming Fine Jewellery sale on Thursday 11th July features a beautiful 1970s 18ct gold diamond and gem-set ring, by Charles de Temple. Alex Duffy, Jewellery Specialist at Fellows Auctioneers, has been discussing the importance of his work.
A pioneering figurehead of the 1960s modernist movement, Charles de Temple is revered as one of the influential designers in bringing bold and abstract jewellery to forefront of fashion.
Along with the likes of Andrew Grima, his use of creative technical processes and sheer imagination birthed exquisite and outrageous designs, often inspired by nature, stylised and abstracted into decorative forms that became the trademark of the 60s and 70s.
CHARLES DE TEMPLE – a 1970s 18ct gold diamond, emerald, sapphire and ruby ring.
De Temple’s imagination made significant waves in fashion and pop culture of the time, notably having jewellery featured in the James Bond film franchise. The wedding band 007 presents to his lover in ‘On her Majesty’s Secret Service’, was a quintessentially unusual piece, skillfully crafted from the techniques he utilised so effectively. This iconic ring recently went to auction, selling for over £50,000 (£52,500 hammer price).
That sought-after vision and creativity is displayed to great effect in Lot 240 of our upcoming Fine Jewellery sale. It features an undulating line of textured, recessed panels giving off an organic presence, scattered with emeralds, rubies, sapphires and diamonds, providing bursts of colour and life.
Recent years have seen surges in popularity for jewellery of this period, resulting in an ever-growing interest in the works of De Temple and his contemporaries. Their individuality and rarity increasing the likelihood that you won’t find another the same for many years.
Keep an eye out for this vintage delight when it goes under the hammer in Fellows’ Fine jewellery sale on 11th July, with an estimate of £1,500 to £2,000.
Alex Duffy, Jewellery Department at Fellows
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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Posted in All, Jewellery
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September Birthstone: Sapphire