Bank safe antique jewellery in sale

Antique jewels stored in a bank safe for thirty years could make £50,000 when they come up for sale at a Somerset auction house later this month.

The jewellery, which had been hidden in a safe deposit box, has been consigned to the sale by a West Country vendor. The items belonged to the vendor’s mother and grandmother and will make up nine lots in the auction.

Lawrences of Crewkerne’s jewellery specialist, Miranda Bingham, said, “Many of the banks are now discontinuing their safe deposit box facility for jewellery and valuables, which is one of the reasons why the collection has come to us for sale. In addition, we have had some remarkable results in our sales in 2017 and feel optimistic about the market for fine quality jewellery, especially if it has not been seen at auction before.”

Some of the highlights from the collection include:

an art deco ruby and diamond bracelet with exceptional quality and natural Burmese rubies – estimate of £3000-5000

an art deco sapphire and diamond bracelet with no evidence of any heat treatment, the sapphires totalling 24 carats – estimate £6000-8000

a three stone diamond ring set with stones weighing approx 4.5 carats – estimate £6000-8000

a Victorian diamond riviere necklace, set with 61 brilliant-cut stones – estimate £10,000-15,000