As jewellery shops are reopening, so too are auction houses. This week, Fellows, which has done a roaring trade during the pandemic with its online-only sales, will host its first public auction since lockdown, reigniting the excitement of the sales room and doing so with some enormous diamonds.   

The Fellows Fine Jewellery sale, due to take place on 23^rd July, 2020, at its showroom in Birmingham, is the house’s first live auction in four months. Previews of the lots, which the auction house believes to be worth a total of £1.2 million, have taken place in London and will continue in Birmingham this week.

The 448-lot jewellery auction is a mix of modern, vintage and designer jewels. There will be jewels signed by major houses such as Tiffany & Co, Van Cleef & Arpels and Cartier, including a Cartier Love bangle.

The stars of this first auction back, however, are diamonds. Fellows will action off an 8.07ct old-cut diamond set in a platinum ring, as well as a 5.28ct old-cut pear shape diamond in a platinum ring. These major rocks are expected to fetch up to £140,000 and £120,000 respectively.

“After four months with only timed auctions, we are thrilled to be re-starting our live auction calendar with our biggest Fine Jewellery auction of the year,” says Fellows managing director Stephen Whittaker. “We hope that this sale will be the perfect building block on the back of many timed sales, which have received record registrants and attention. We have rigorous health and safety procedures in place to ensure that the sale day is safe and efficient whilst offering the perfect auction experience.”

And for those who don’t wish to step into an auction house just yet, Fellows is offering Zoom previews of the jewels up for sale, and bids can – as always – be made by phone or online.