Cocktail jewellery the theme for Leonard Joel’s forthcoming quarterly Fine Jewellery auction

By Richard Brewster, on 31-Aug-2017

Many of the 35 lots of cocktail jewellery comes from a regular client – who over the years has amassed a wonderful and eclectic collection of this type of piece – consigning several items to the sale.

Of the 35 items (lots 340-375) the collector has consigned to the auction, in Melbourne on 4 September 4 a gold, ruby and diamond brooch (Lot 365 ) with stylised floral design featuring round cut rubies to the stamen and diamond detail to the leaves, is typical of his discerning eye.

The catalogue cover piece, the now iconic Graff 'Disco Butterfly' ruby and diamond wristwatch is one of the auction’s most costly and whimsical items – with a catalogue estimate of $100,000-$150,000.

The catalogue cover piece, the now iconic Graff 'Disco Butterfly' ruby and diamond wristwatch is one of the auction’s most costly and whimsical items – with a catalogue estimate of $100,000-$150,000.

Originally purchased at Leonard Joel, it can now be snapped up by another lucky buyer.

The catalogue cover piece, the now iconic Graff “Disco Butterfly” ruby and diamond wristwatch (Lot 160 ) is one of the auction’s most costly and whimsical items – with a catalogue estimate of $100,000-$150,000.

Disguised as a timepiece, it is a modern take on the cocktail jewellery of the past – transforming to a kaleidoscope of colour and movement.

The auction includes a fine selection of antique, modern and designer jewellery and a good selection of timepieces.

One of the more colourful cocktail jewellery items is a ruby and diamond bow brooch (Lot 361 ).

Another is a pair of mabe pearl, ruby and diamond earrings (Lot 363 ) and a large star sapphire and diamond brooch (Lot 358 ).

Unusual is an enamel, diamond and gold brooch by Kutchinsky (Lot 355 ) – along with an eye-catching diamond, emerald and ruby cocktail ring (Lot 372 ).

Among the watches on offer a Ulysse Nardin Hour-striker wristwatch is hard to ignore.

Sale Referenced:

About The Author

Richard Brewster has been writing about the antiques and art auction industry for almost 20 years, first in a regular weekly column for Fairfax's The Age newspaper and also in more recent times for his own website Australian Auction Review. With 45 years experience as a journalist and public relations consultant, in 1990 Richard established his own business Brewster & Associates in Melbourne, handling a wide range of clients in the building, financial, antiques and art auction industries.