Out & About Winter 2019

A Baltic amber knotted necklace £75

O ur regular jewellery auctions offer a wide selection of items that make for the perfect present, but it is the boxed set that always proves to be the most popular at this time of year. Usually comprising matching earrings and necklace combination, box sets of jewellery offer the complete gift and, when bought at auction, can be purchased for a fraction of the retail price. Our auctions offer a great selection of pieces to suit all budgets and tastes. If you are after classic jewellery makers such as Van Cleef & Arpels, but don’t have a high-end budget, then auctions are a great place to look. Van Cleef & Arpels is a reputable brand which was established in the early 1900s, and was family-owned until the late 1990s. Its signature designs from the early days include butterflies and flowers, however we find that all their pieces sell well. Other well-known makes such as Tiffany & Co and Chanel can also be found at auction – every sale is different. How do you know what you are buying? The old adage really does ring true, diamonds are a girls’ best friend. However, nowadays they are more

everyone’s best friend, especially as they can be bought so competitively at auction. Buying diamonds at auction means you don’t always have the retailer’s box or a certificate of authenticity to give you the reassurance you sometimes find comforting when parting with large or even small sums of money in a store. That said, at auction, each item is examined and researched. However, if you discover that a lot has been incorrectly catalogued, you have the security that it can be returned for a full refund. If not boxed, look for superior quality and hallmarks. For example, all Van Cleef & Arpels products are hallmarked and as they only use 18 carat gold, the hallmark is always 750. Alongside this hallmark, you can expect to find their trademark and a product serial number. The trademark will either read ‘Van Cleef & Arpels’ or ‘VCA’. Van Cleef are considered a luxury, top-quality brand and the materials they use reflect that. All the stones used in their pieces are expertly cut to fit their mount perfectly. Pieces will not be set with low quality, poor colour diamonds with stones.

Likewise, if a stone appears loose or there are gaps around the stone, chances are they are fakes. As with spotting counterfeit Van Cleef jewellery, there are a few tests you can carry out yourself to check if a diamond is real. A diamond won’t take condensation, so a good test while out and about is if you breathe on it, your breath will disappear as soon as it makes contact with it. If you don’t know your amber from your bakelite or your diamonds from your cubic zirconia, then here are some top tips to help you examine what you have at home and see if your jewellery is genuine: • Shine a UV light on amber and it will go a chalky white • All hardstones feel cold to touch, especially against the top lip • Real pearls will feel gritty against the teeth If you are still unsure and have some jewellery you would like to find out more about, then pop in and see myself and the team. We hold free valuation days every Wednesday in the offices at 80 Greenham Business Park. We also hold regular valuation days in Swindon, London and Wombourne, Wolverhampton.

01635 580595 or email admin@specialauctionservices.com

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