WARLINGHAM.- A stunning diamond necklace comprising 51 diamonds that had been discovered at a valuation day sold for a hammer price of £47,000 – three times its estimate - in Catherine Southon Auctioneers & Valuers’ 10th Anniversary Sale on Tuesday & Wednesday, May 10 & 11, 2022 at Farleigh Court Golf Club, Warlingham in Surrey.

The impressive early/mid Victorian diamond graduated rivière necklace had been brought into a valuation day at the Farleigh Golf Club, where the sale took place and sold to a Private Collector after fierce bidding between nine telephones! According to the vendor, the necklace was purchased from Garrard and Co, Regent Street, London in May 1948 [lot 288].

As Catherine Southon explained: “Day one of our 10th anniversary auction achieved some incredible house records. Our jewellery section in particular was very strong. Bidding was fierce and from across the world on the phones, in the room and online. We achieved sensational prices for antique jewellery including £47,000 (house record) for early Victorian rivière and a small collection of private Georgian jewellery selling for £13,000 plus BP.”

Diamonds were hugely popular throughout the sale. An attractive pair of French Art Deco diamond-set ear clips in the style of Cartier, which were also discovered at the valuation day at Farleigh Golf Club, sold for £23,000 against an estimate of £8,000-12,000. These had been consigned by the same person as the necklace and were bought by a UK bidder on the phone [lot 287].

A pair of multi gem-set ear clips by Cartier - each floral and foliate cluster was platinum set and comprised two blue sapphires and five rubies and were signed Cartier London. They sold to a UK buyer for £6,400 against an estimate of £2,000- 3,000 and were being sold on behalf of a private individual [lot 294].

Among the rings, a diamond single stone ring with a very light yellow brilliant-cut diamond weighing 4.92 carats sold for £17,000. Discovered at a valuation day at Honeywood Museum in Carshalton, Surrey, it was estimated to fetch £10,000-15,000 and was bought in the saleroom by a member of the trade [lot 345]. Also from the same vendor was a diamond single stone ring with a light yellow brilliant-cut diamond weighing 4.18cts which fetched £10,000 [lot 350].

Also of interest was a Georgian emerald and diamond-set cluster pendant that sold to a member of the trade for £5,000 against an estimate of £2,500-3,500 [lot 293], while a late 17th century yellow gold and enamel-decorated locket, circa 1690, applied with a lozenge inscribed 'THERE IS NO STING IN SWEETS I BRING’ sold for £4,000 against an estimate of £500-800. The locket came in as part of a large suitcase full of items at one of a valuations day at Farleigh and was bought by a member of the trade [lot 306].

The sale, which was the biggest that Catherine Southon had had to date - comprised 850 lots of jewellery, watches, silver; luxury accessories, furniture, textiles, paintings, ceramics, collectables plus Chinese and Japanese works of art. Other notable pieces included an Early 20th century Tekke Bokhara carpet from Turkmenistan, that was fraying and had a tear to one end, but despite this sold for £10,000 against an estimate of £200-400. It was being sold by a private vendor, and attracted strong interest in the saleroom as well as fierce phone bidding, subsequently selling online to an overseas buyer [lot 560].

A silver candlestick that is believed to have been given by Queen Victoria to her personal attendant and favourite John Brown (1826-1883). Engraved 'From V R Xmas 1871', initialled J.B., it was stamped Garrards Panton Street London and fetched £3,800. This had also been discovered at the Valuation day at Farleigh, and attracted very strong bidding from both England and Scotland and was finally bought by a bidder in the UK (est: £800 – 1,200) [lot 62].

Among the Music Memorabilia was an autographed album cover from a copy of Queen: The Complete Works, dating from 1985 and signed in silver ink by Freddie Mercury, Brian May, Roger Taylor and John Deacon. It had originally been a gift sourced via the staff in Queen’s office and sold for £3,000 to a private collector in the UK (est: £500-800) [lot 807].