Sri Lankan sapphire sparkles

An exceptionally rare unheated Sri Lankan sapphire ring was offered for sale at Moreton in Marsh Auctioneers Kingham’s recent year-end Jewellery, Watches & Designer Goods auction and went on to sell for a total £91,000.

Part of the collection of a Cotswold family for many years, the ring featured on the auction house’s catalogue cover and with a modest estimate of £8,000-£12,000. It generated worldwide interest, and following a ten-minute bidding battle, it ended up selling for £91,000. An anonymous local buyer purchased it.

David Pregun, Associate Director and Head of Jewellery at Kinghams commented: “I knew it was special the moment I laid eyes on it. Following a discussion with the consignors, we advised them to have the ring sent to a London-based laboratory for an opinion on treatments and origin. Once it was confirmed that the stone was unheated and was originally mined in Sri Lanka (Ceylon), we knew that it was going to sell well. Unheated sapphires of this size and quality are extremely rare. The vendors were absolutely over the moon.”

Another highlight also consigned privately was a loose 9.05 carat rectangular-shaped diamond, which was being sold together with its original platinum ring mount. With an estimate of £40,000-£60,000 it sold to a telephone bidder for a total £67,600.