LONDON.- A full sale room, busy telephone lines and fierce bidding resulted in a sale total of £3.2 million at the Bonhams Fine Jewellery sale in New Bond Street yesterday (13th April).

The top lot of the sale was an impressive pair of brilliant- cut diamond pendent earrings which surpassed the pre-sale estimate of £120,000 – 150,000 to sell for £240,000.

A pair of diamond clip brooches by Cartier realised £228,000, over double the pre-sale estimate of £80,000- 100,000. The brooches, circa 1935, are a fantastic example of the pioneering nature of the French jewellery house, during a time when they were attempting to push the boundaries of design.

A fancy vivid yellow diamond single stone ring, weighing 5.4 carats realised £198,000 after enthusiastic bidding.

Although diamond pieces of jewellery prevailed in the top ten lots, other highlights included a pink sapphire and diamond flower brooch, circa 1900, realistically modelled as a cyclamen that sold for £30,000.

A very rare 15th century gold and diamond ring, discovered by a metal detector in South Leicestershire, sold for £42,000. The unusual ring was set with a rough diamond. As diamonds are notoriously difficult to cut due to the hardness of the stone, they were not commonly used during the 15th century as craftsmen did not have the tools to shape them.

A ruby and diamond ring, circa 1910, that belonged to Vita Sackville-West, member of the bohemian Bloomsbury group sold for £8,400.