The Melbourne exhibition for the forthcoming Important Jewels & Watches auction will be open to the public from Friday 22 July to Monday 25 July, from 10 am – 5 pm, at 14-16 Collins Street, Melbourne. 

The August sale features a dazzling array of diamonds, coloured diamonds and precious gemstones along with signed jewels by the most sought-after international jewellers, including impressive designs by Bulgari, Cartier, Graff, Harry Winston, Tiffany & Co. and Van Cleef & Arpels, complemented by jewelled watches by A. Lange & Söhne, Patek Philippe and Rolex.

A sparkling highlight of the sale includes this Diamond Ring (lot 55, estimate $120,000–140,000, pictured above).   

VIEWINGS

Financial Review  |  Gabriella Coslovich

The sums that art buyers are willing to spend online have crept up, reflecting a pragmatic shift that has occurred across the economy during the pandemic.

Only a month ago Saleroom reported that the comfort threshold for online bidding hovered around $50,000, with a couple of notable exceptions five and six years ago. But in the space of two weeks we’ve seen an internet bidder pay $190,000 (hammer) for the 20.246 carat “Wakil Emerald” at Smith & Singer’s online jewels auction, and another collector rise to a $100,000 internet bid for Del Kathryn Barton’s portrait of Hugo Weaving at Deutscher and Hackett’s inaugural solo online auction last week. 

Time + Tide  |  Nick Kenyon

Smith & Singer (formerly Sotheby’s Australia) are hosting their first watch and jewellery auction of the year this week, featuring a smattering of interesting watches, with a few standout pieces. While the current circumstances mean a crowded room focused on a rostrum is impossible, the auction will be held virtually, with bidding allowed via telephone and online to enable the sale to go forward. While watches only make up a portion of the Jewels Department of Smith & Singer, there are always some interesting lots on offer, including a Heuer Autavia “Jo Siffert” and an Omega Speedmaster Apollo XI 1969 ref. 145022 69 in the last 12 months. This sale is no exception, with a few lots in particular that aren’t things you might see every day, and is due to take place on May 27 at 6.30pm.