Kentish Express Ashford & District - What's On
Fashion statement will help the price
Antique and collectable jewellery items are one of the most commonly seen at my valuation days, yet also one of the hardest to give good general advice on. So much depends not just on the quality of the piece, but on current trends or fashions, both here and around the world.
Take, for example, a large red garnet ring that I bought recently. With a stone of around 20 carats, it was still quite pricey here at £3,500, but on the other side of the world, in Asia, they love these big stones. So with most auctions being online these days, I’m hoping I can see a good return with the ring heading to the oriental market. Others, such as the two pictured in boxes from C Dawson of Bradford, are better aimed at
The large red garnet ring will be heading to the oriental market the home market. The first has three good sized diamonds, which have a blue tinge that hints at their quality. The second displays what is referred to as a ‘baguette cut’, which is quite fashionable here at the moment. Mourning rings are more likely to be bought by collectors for their historical interest.
As the name suggests, mourning rings were made in memory of someone who had died, and were prevalent from the 17th to 19th centuries. The best would have black stones, such as jet, although cheaper ones would use vulcanite or enamel. It was common practice to have the name of the deceased around the band of the ring.
It was also not uncommon to use hair from the deceased in the ring. Sometimes this could be formed into patterns, or pictures such as the one I have with a beautifully depicted tree. Giving general advice about jewellery is difficult, but you should make sure that you buy what you genuinely like yourself. That way, even if it drops in value, you’ll have an item you are happy to live with! For more information go to www.freeantiquesvaluations.com