Page 14 - Best Bid 7 | 2017

1800
RARO OROLOgIO DA TAsCA INgLEsE

RARE ENgLIsh POCKET WATCh

VENDuTo a
SolD aT
€ 9.375

1800
OROLOgIO FRANCEsE
FIRmATO LE BELLE
FRENCh POCKET WATCh
sIgNED LE BELLE

VENDuTo a
SolD aT
€ 8.125

ASTE BOLAFFI

JEWELLERY AND WATCHES
Milan, 27 September 2016

It was the grand finale at the autumn auction of jewellery The sale also marked the debut of an entire catalogue dedicated
and watches, held on 27 september at the prestigious grand to pocket watches, with an elegant collection of eighteenth and
hotel et de milan: the rare “very light pink” natural diamond nineteenth century montre de poches of unique provenance.
was sold at the record price of 755,500 euros to an important The collection belonged to a passionate entrepreneur from
European jeweller who attended the auction in person to wage Piedmont with Jewish heritage who always made time to visit
an intense bidding war against other international bidders via the most renowned antique shops when on business in London,
telephone and the internet. The rarest and most seductive lot Paris and geneva after the war. Over 90% of the lots sold; the
in the catalogue achieved an exceptional sale for Aste Bolaffi, best results included the watch made in England for the Chinese
becoming the top lot in the history of the auction house. market in the late nineteenth century signed “Just & son”, with
central seconds and elaborate floral champlevé decoration,
The list of over 500 other pieces up for auction, all from selected which was snapped up for 42,500 euros from an estimate of
customers, included a range of rare diamonds, antique and 2,500 euros.
contemporary jewellery and Burmese jewels. The second top
lot, in a category of its own in terms of clarity (VVs1) and colour Also worthy of mention are the rare English watch with a gold
(D), was a sophisticated ring with a pear-shaped diamond, work twin case and a bezel with pearls and rubies (9,375 euros) and
of master goldsmith Enrico Cirio from Piedmont. It sold for 225 the French wind-up enamel watch, signed Le Belle, with a case
thousand euros, over twice its estimate. Other significant sales adorned with small diamonds around the edge and a medallion
included the white gold ring with an Old European cut diamond on a transparent blue guilloché background which sold for 8,125
of over 18 carats (218,750 euros) and the ring with a five-carat euros. The overall total for the auction came close to 2.5 million
ruby of Burmese origin with no indication of heating which sold euros, bringing the new jewellery sector, which was launched in
for 62,500 euros. 2016, to an overall total of 3,120,000 euros.

12b 7.2017 results