Dix Noonan Webb enters jewellery market with Bonhams hires

International coins and medals specialists Dix Noonan Webb is entering the jewellery market with two Bonhams hires briefed to launch a new jewellery department.

The new division will open for business on 11 November 2015, headed up by Frances Noble (assisted by Laura Smith), both of whom join from Bonhams.

The new department will initially hold three specialist auctions during 2016 at the company’s headquarters in Mayfair, with sales including antique and modern diamond, pearl and gem set jewellery, wrist watches, pocket watches and associated ‘objects of virtue’.

Noble said: “I am thrilled to be joining Dix Noonan Webb to head its new jewellery department in Mayfair and delighted to be working with such a professional and experienced team of specialists.

“With the back-up of DNW’s state-of-the-art auction technology, I am hugely looking forward to the challenge of building up a new jewellery department and bringing a new dimension to such a highly regarded auction house.”

Pierce Noonan, partner at DNW, said: “This is an exciting new expansion for the company which over the past 25 years has established a strong reputation for expertise in the highly competitive and exacting fields of medals, militaria, coins, tokens and paper money.

“Our philosophy has always been to employ the best available experts in their fields and we are therefore particularly pleased to be able to welcome Frances Noble and Laura Smith to our team, who between them have a wealth of experience and know only too well the high standards that are required to run a successful specialist department.”

After graduating with a degree in History of Art and Architecture, Noble started her career at Phillips auctioneers in Bond Street in 1987 working as PA to the chairman Christopher Weston. She then trained as a jewellery and silver specialist at the Phillips Oxford saleroom.

After the merger of Phillips and Bonhams in 2001 she attained professional gemmology qualifications, achieving the Diamond Grading Diploma (DGA) and becoming a Fellow of the Gemmological Association (FGA).

As head of the jewellery department at Bonhams Oxford, Noble oversaw the development of an expanding and successful jewellery team with the number of specialist auctions increasing from four to 11 per year by 2014. She was also responsible for sourcing high value jewellery for sale in London, Hong Kong and the United States.

Smith, a graduate from Exeter University with a degree in Ancient History and Archaeology, joined Bonhams Oxford saleroom as a trainee in the jewellery department in 2004. She became a specialist whilst simultaneously obtaining further qualifications including the Diamond Grading Diploma (DGA) and becoming a Fellow of the Gemmological Association (FGA).