AstaGuru, India’s premium online auction house, successfully concluded its online auction of Heirloom Jewellery, Silver, and Timepieces last evening, achieving a total sales value of INR 18,26,04,267 Crores (US$ 2,536,134). The auction presented a wide range of 120 lots of which 94 were successful sales. The heirloom Jewellery segment, a meticulous curation of diverse heirloom & vintage jewellery featuring some of the highest quality gemstones from across the globe, the collection celebrated rich jewellery craftsmanship from Europe and the Indian sub-continent with traditional Indian masterpieces and Art Deco period designs. The auction also comprised an extraordinary selection of silverware and a well-researched presentation of world class timepieces from some of the most influential and celebrated masters of horology.
Commenting on the results Jay Sagar, Jewellery Specialist, AstaGuru, said, “We are extremely happy with the great response we have received from collectors for our Heirloom Jewellery and Silver category. The auction’s results indicate a strong demand and a growing collector base in India that is looking to own pieces which are steeped in aesthetic and historical value. The category is slowly becoming one of the most anticipated in our annual line-up of auctions with a great number of bidders showing interest with every new edition of the auction.”
Achieving the highest price in the entire sale and in the jewellery category was lot 46, A RARE DIAMOND, RUBY, PEARL & ENAMEL GULUBAND that went under the gavel for Rs. 1,52,22,392 ($ 211,422). The said lot comprising of thirteen hinged square panels, each set with a central ruby cabochon and table-cut diamonds on the sides. Other highlights from the heirloom Jewellery section included, lot 47, AN IMPRESSIVE TWO ROW BASRA PEARL NECKLACE comprising of 107 finely matched and graduated Basra pearls, sold at Rs. 1,50,56,016 ($ 209,110). The third highest price was achieved for lot 41 AN ELEGANT FOUR ROW BASRA PEARL NECKLACE, comprising of 367 finely graduated Basra pearls that was sold for Rs. 1,26,18,375 ($ 175,254), followed by lot 33, AN IMPORTANT PAIR OF LARGE EMERALD & DIAMOND EAR PENDANTS sold for Rs. 92,21,850 ($ 128,081).
The auction also presented an exquisite collection of silver with many hallmarked pieces showcasing fine workmanship. Some of the key highlights from the sale include A SILVER FLATWARE SERVICE BY CHRISTOFLE, PARIS, sold for Rs. ₹ 25,00,316, ($ 34,727), the service set comprised of 256 items signed by the maker. The second highest price was achieved by lot 59, A SET OF THREE SILVER JEWELLERY BOXES which were originally presented To Sir Malcolm Hailey Governor Of The Punjab Province On The 4th Of August 1924, the lot garnered a lot of attention, because of its rich provenance, and was sold for Rs. ₹ 24,11,840 ( $ 33,497) handsomely surpassing its higher estimate of Rs. 7,75,000.
Commenting on the results Deepak Krishnamoorthy, Timepiece Specialist, AstaGuru, said, “Our aim with the timepiece category was to present a collection that offers not only a diverse choice to clients at every price point but also includes some of the most iconic models from world renowned manufactures that are highly sought-after the world over. The auction provided a great opportunity for enthusiasts and serious collectors alike to get their hands on watches which are not easily available in an open market. The results showcase how there is a great potential in the category with an ever-growing collector base in India for vintage, pre-owned and limited-edition luxury watches.”
Leading the timepiece section and achieving the fourth highest price in the auction was lot 119, Piaget’s celebrated LIMELIGHT TONNEAU-SHAPED DIAMOND WRISTWATCH that comprises 980pcs of diamonds, weighing at 10.10 cts approx. The selling price of the lot surpassed its higher estimate by an impressive margin and was sold for Rs. 1,10,93,071 ($ 154,070), hereby validating the inclination of the collector community in India to acquire important pre-owned and vintage pieces. Other highlights from the timepiece segment included, lot 105, AN 18K YELLOW GOLD PERPETUAL CALENDAR WRISTWATCH by PATEK PHILIPPE which was sold for Rs. 27,55,170 ($ 38,266) & lot 118 A LIMITED EDITION ROYAL OAK OFFSHORE SURVIVOR CHRONOGRAPH WRISTWATCH by AUDEMARS PIGUET sold for Rs. 20,49,300 ($ 28,462).
Please note all figures include the auction house margin amount.
The online auction took place on 20 – 21 May 2021 on www.astaguru.com.
An analysis of the auction can be viewed https://astaguru.com/Past/AuctionAnalysis?AuctionId=1066&page=80
All figures are inclusive of auction house margin.