Sotheby’s
Sotheby’s is a globally renowned auction house that plays a pivotal role in the jewellery trade, showcasing antique, vintage, and contemporary pieces to an international audience. Its high-profile auctions shape market valuations, influence design trends, and provide rich reference points for provenance, rarity, and collectability. Jewellery Focus delivers targeted coverage of Sotheby’s activities relevant to the UK trade, including major auction results, standout lots, specialist sale previews, expert commentary, and shifts in buyer behaviour. Our reporting equips jewellery retailers, valuers, designers, and dealers with commercial insights into price benchmarks, investment-grade sourcing opportunities, and the strategic role Sotheby’s plays in the wider luxury jewellery ecosystem.
-
Oct- 2020 -1 OctoberAuctions
Diamond auction set to break three world records
Sotheby’s Hong Kong is set to hold an “unprecedented” online auction of a 102.39 carat D Flawless oval diamond on 5 October. According to 77 Diamonds, the piece is expected to sell for tens of millions of dollars, without reserve, selling to the highest bidder irrespective of the price offered.…
Read More » -
Aug- 2020 -3 AugustAuctions
Sotheby’s sales fall despite online boost
Sotheby’s has welcomed a year of “resilience”, despite year-to-date sales only reaching $2.5bn (£1.92bn), down from $3.3bn (£2.53bn) the year prior. In place of half-year results, the auction house released results from 1 January to 31 July in order to accommodate rescheduled spring sales. Despite the overall decline in sales,…
Read More » -
Feb- 2019 -20 FebruaryAuctions
Diamond worth $12.7m to feature at Sotheby’s Magnificent Jewels auction
An 88.22ct, D Colour, flawless, Type IIa, oval brilliant diamond will lead Sotheby’s Hong Kong Sale of Magnificent Jewels and Jadeite auction on 2 April 2019. The diamond, estimated to be worth between $11.2m – $12.7m (£8.5m – £9.7m), is one of only three oval diamonds of over 50 carats…
Read More » -
Jan- 2019 -3 JanuaryAuctions
‘Landmark year’ of jewellery sales for Sotheby’s
Auctioneers Sotheby’s recorded a ‘landmark year’ for jewellery sales in 2018, with worldwide sales totaling $414m (£328m) for the year. Worldwide watch sales totalled $88.5m (£70.2m), up 60% on 2017 ($55.4m), with 55% of the bids for watches being placed online (42% for jewellery sales). The number of jewels sold…
Read More » -
Nov- 2018 -19 NovemberAuctions
Sotheby’s sells ‘most expensive watch’ at auction in 2018
Sotheby’s Geneva has sold ‘The Asprey’ for CHF 3,915,000 (£3m), making it the most expensive watch auctioned this year. The timepiece was manufactured in 1952, and according to the group was the “star lot of an exceptional selection of world-class vintage wristwatches”. The auction attracted over 900 bidders from 54…
Read More » -
Jun- 2018 -1 JuneAuctions
Sotheby’s to hold London auction in June
Sotheby’s has announced that it will hold an auction at its London gallery on 6 June featuring an array of diamond jewellery. Cartier, Van Cleef & Arpels and Bulgari feature strongly in the London auction, alongside tiaras, retro jewels from the 1940s and a selection of sapphire and emerald jewels.…
Read More » -
Apr- 2018 -6 AprilAuctions
Two ‘brilliant cut’ 50ct diamonds to be auctioned by Sotheby’s
Sotheby’s diamonds has announced that two 50ct brilliant cut diamonds are to be auctioned in Geneva this May. The first of the two stones is a round, brilliant cut diamond which, at 51.71ct, and ranks as the second largest D Flawless brilliant-cut diamond ever to have appeared at auction. The…
Read More » -
Feb- 2018 -8 FebruaryAuctions
Sotheby’s Diamonds unveils ‘exceptionally’ rare diamond
Auctioneers Sotheby’s Diamonds celebrated the first anniversary of its New Bond Street salon by unveiling a rare 102.34 carat white diamond. According to the group the stone is the only known round brilliant-cut diamond over 100 carats, and has been labelled as ‘perfect’ in colour, clarity and cut. The diamond…
Read More » -
Dec- 2017 -8 DecemberAppointments
Former Dior CEO joins Sotheby’s
Sotheby’s has announced the appointment of Laurence Nicolas as executive vice president and global managing director of jewellery and watches. Reporting to the company’s CEO, Tad Smith, Nicolas will lead the various channels of Sotheby’s jewellery and watch businesses including auction, private, e-commerce and retail sales, as well as the…
Read More » -
Nov- 2017 -16 NovemberAuctions
World’s largest fancy pink diamond fails to sell at Sotheby’s
The largest known intense fancy pink diamond failed to sell at the Sotheby’s auction yesterday (Wednesday 15 November). The Raj Pink is a cushion shaped, 37.3 carat stone mounted on a ring and had an estimated value of $30m (£22.7m). It was expected to fetch between $20-30m (£15-22.7m). Bidding opened…
Read More »
