Articles From The Experts

In this episode, silver & jewellery specialist Jenny Knott looks at the current silver market. While seemingly quiet, it is experiencing a resurgence due to rising bullion prices and increased interest in unique and antique pieces. Traditional uses for silver may be declining, but its industrial applications and growing popularity as an investment are driving up demand. This has led to higher prices for both common and rare silver items, making it a potentially lucrative market for collectors and investors.

In this episode, senior valuer & collectors specialist Stephanie Connell looks at some of the highlight lots from Sotheby's inaugural "Popular Culture" sale. This online auction saw everything from vintage Beatles memorabilia to a CyberMaster helmet straight out of Doctor Who!Buyers scrambled for the chance to own a piece of their favourite fictional worlds, and some real-life musical legends. The band Queen's presence was felt throughout the auction. A rare blue vinyl pressing of "Bohemian Rhapsody" fetched an incredible sum. And if you thought that was impressive, a leather jacket worn by Freddie Mercury sold for a jaw-dropping amount. But it wasn't just about music – a complete Gladiator II costume from the upcoming movie gave collectors a chance to acquire a piece from a future classic!

A recent discovery by one of our experienced valuers, Alastair Meiklejon during a walk-through valuation, led to an exceptional financial opportunity for our client, highlighting the crucial importance of the need for everyone to have a valuation and greater understanding of their assets.The item, part of an inherited collection, had never been insured and was presented to Alastair alongside several other pieces during the assessment. The owner, unaware of its true value, had initially dismissed it as insignificant.However, due to Alastair’s sharp attention to detail, this valuable asset was uncovered, turning what could have been an overlooked piece into an exciting opportunity, weeks of discovery and a big decision for our client.In this episode listen to Alastair’s account of this remarkable find.

In this episode, jewellery and watches specialist Liz Baily looks at the largest gem-quality diamonds ever discovered. Recently unearthed, the Lucara diamond weighs an impressive 2,492 carats, but can’t match the 3,106 carat Cullinan diamond from 1905, still the world’s largest. However, advances in technology since the Cullinan’s time means CAD mapping of possible diamond cuts, and precision laser cutting that removes any chance of human error, maximise the yield from a crystal. Speculations in the Financial Times have reported that the stone could be worth upwards of $40 million in today’s market. Who will be the buyer of the stone? And what record breaking and yield maximising configuration of faceted diamonds will be revealed?

In this episode, jewellery and watches specialist Liz Baily discusses the rising value of shipwrecked artifacts and jewellery. From pieces from the General Abbatucci cargo ship that sank in 1869, and a Waltham pocket watch worn by Titanic passenger John Jacob Astor, the sale prices for these items have increased significantly over time, with some selling for hundreds of thousands or even millions of pounds at auction.

In this episode, senior valuer & collectors specialist Stephanie Connell shines a spotlight on renowned Kenyan-British ceramicist, Dame Magdalene Odundo. With her current exhibition at Houghton Hall, Norfolk coming to an end this month, Stephanie looks at her work, which often features narrative and figurative elements, and how she has used ceramics to explore themes such as slavery, protest, and human condition.

In this episode, jewellery specialist Aurélia Turrall looks at the rare and valuable world of pink diamonds. These diamonds are prized for their vibrant colour, which is caused by crystal distortion rather than trace elements like other coloured diamonds. Pink diamonds are extremely scarce, with only 0.1% of the world's total diamond production classified as such.

In this episode, jewellery and watches specialist Liz Bailey looks at a major jewellery trend in 2024, “divorce rings.” Supermodel Emily Ratajkowski helped popularise this trend after her divorce, by repurposing her diamond engagement ring into two separate pieces. But the concept of repurposing jewellery after divorce is not new; it dates back to the early 20th century. Women on both side of the Atlantic altered their wedding rings to signify divorce, sometimes resizing them to be worn on a different finger or adding symbolic designs.

In this episode, silver specialist Fiona Hamilton looks at the decadent silver ornamentation produced during the British Raj in India (1858-1947). The flourishing silver industry was driven by increasing demand from the British and a rising Indian middle class. Notable companies like P. Orr & Sons and Oomersee Mawjee became famous for their ornate silverware, featuring local styles such as the Swami, Kutch, and Lucknow designs. These exquisite works, ranging from tea services to punch bowls, adorned British and Indian homes alike, symbolising affluence and cultural exchange during this colonial era.