How to Collect Antique Jewellery | 5 Top Tips

Jan 20, 2020 | Sotheby’s offers the most extraordinary antique jewels in the world to discerning collectors looking for special designs.

In this episode of Expert Voices, Sotheby’s leading specialists offer tips on what to look for when starting or adding to a collection of antique jewellery.

Our auctions feature iconic examples of artistic creativity from houses such as Cartier, Van Cleef & Arpels and Bulgari, and we have been privileged to handle the jewels of many distinguished women including Marie Antoinette, the Duchess of Windsor, Brooke Astor, Ava Gardner, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis and Gina Lollobrigida.

Our jewellery auctions are held throughout the year both online and live in New York, Geneva, Hong Kong, London, Paris and Milan

Sotheby’s : Spotlight | Vienna 1900: An Imperial and Royal Collection

Sep 13, 2023 | Following the fall of the monarchy in France, Vienna saw its rapid rise as the ultimate Royal and Imperial court in Europe, welcoming royal families from across the continent. The most awe-inspiring splendour and glory in Western court life were in Vienna at that time and this unique Royal and Imperial jewellery collection is both its most faithful witness and its most dazzling representative, offering a once in a lifetime opportunity to acquire historic pieces from a scintillating bygone era.

The collection fascinatingly depicts the grandeur of Viennese court life and affords a wonderful insight into the alliances, the tastes and styles of the Houses of Habsburg, Bourbon Parma, Bourbon-Two Sicillies and Saxe-Coburg-Gotha when they were setting fashion trends at the Court that radiated across Europe from early 19th century and for the next 100 years.

Comprising over 200 pieces, this collection will be offered in as part of the Vienna 1900: An Imperial and Royal Collection across two auctions on 6 and 7 November during Sotheby’s Luxury Week in Geneva.

In association with Philipp Württemburg Art Advisory GmbH.

Princess Cecilie of Prussia's Fabulous Fabergé Tiara

Apr 23, 2019 | Discover the serendipitous coincidence that led this exquisite tiara to Sotheby’s. Attributed to one of the most renowned and celebrated jewellers in history, Fabergé, this piece was a wedding gift to Crown Princess Cecilie of Prussia. Daniela Maschetti, Sotheby’s Chairman for Jewellery, first came across the tiara when she saw a portrait of Princess Cecilie hanging in a castle while on holiday. A few months later, she was sent a photo of the real thing.

Sotheby's Showcase: Sapphire and Diamond Ring

Oct 27, 2022 | From the “Sunrise Ruby” Collection, this superb and rare sapphire and ring diamond ring signed Cartier stuns with a step-cut sapphire weighing 20.16 carats, between shield-shaped diamond shoulders weighing 2.06 and 1.94 carats respectively. The sapphire is of Burmese origin and is “royal blue,” the most sought-after sapphire quality. This exquisite ring will be sold at the Magnificent Jewels and Noble Jewels auction on 9 November 2022 at 16:15 CET in Geneva.

The Treasures of Empress Josephine Bonaparte

Nov 26, 2021 • These two exquisite jewellery suites, offered in Sotheby’s upcoming Treasures auction (7 December 2021 | London) feature the finest craftsmanship fit for an Empress. In this latest episode of Expert Voices, Head of Jewellery Kristian Spofforth tells how they were gifted to Empress Josephine, first wife of Napoleon Bonaparte. Find out about the stunning cameos and intaglios that feature in these jewellery suites, and how these iconic pieces were held in one of the leading jewellery galleries in the world.

World Record Islamic Auction Cancelled
THE DAILY STAR: Sotheby's calls of[f] scheduled sale of key after doubts are raised about its authenticity

LONDON: The 2008 sale of a key thought to have been made in the 12th century for the holy Kaaba in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, which set an auction record for an Islamic work of art, has been cancelled, Sotheby's said.

Shortly after the sale last April at Sotheby's in London, when the key sold for 9.2 million pounds ($13.49 million) - over 18 times its pre-sale estimate - experts raised questions about its authenticity, prompting the auctioneer to annul the result.

"In light of the divergence of academic views," Sotheby's said in a statement, "Sotheby's and the consignor decided to cancel the sale in May 2008, pending further research and scientific analysis.

"The key is a fascinating object and interested parties are still captivated by this rare and intriguing piece. Consequently there continues to be interest in a sale, notwithstanding the divergence of both academic views and scientific analysis, which remain inconclusive." >>> Mike Collett-White, Reuters | Saturday, April 04, 2009

Key to the Ka’aba Breaks All Records in Sotheby's Sale
Key to the Ka’aba fetches record price at auction. Photo courtesy of the BBC
BBC: A 12th Century key to Islam's holiest shrine has sold at auction in London for £9.2m ($18.1m).

The key to the Kaaba - the ancient cube-shaped shrine in Mecca - went to an anonymous bidder at Sotheby's.

The auction house said the price set a record for the sale of an Islamic work of art.

Made of iron and measuring 37cm (15in) in length, the key is engraved with the words "This was made for the Holy House of God".

The key was the centrepiece of Sotheby's Islamic art sale, which realised more than £21.5m ($40m) in total.

'Important symbol'

Head of Sotheby's Islamic art department Edward Gibbs said: "Remarkably, the sale realised more than the Islamic department's annual total for 2007, demonstrating beyond doubt the burgeoning and international demand for Islamic art."

The key is the only known example to be in private hands. All of the other 58 Kaaba keys are in museums.

Sotheby's said the key was "arguably one of the most important symbols of Islam".

The auction house said the keys were dedicated to caliphs, starting with the Abbasid caliphs in Baghdad.

"As a physical object, the key to the holiest building of an entire religion, it demonstrates the authority of the caliph and is the ultimate emblem of power," said Sotheby's. [Source: BBC: Holy Islamic Key Sets Sale Record]

The Dawning of a New Dark Age (Paperback - UK)
The Dawning of a New Dark Age (Hardback - UK)