ROYAL CUFFLINKS AND FINE DIAMONDS AMONG THE HIGHLIGHTS OF JEWELLERY AND WATCHES SALE AT NOONANS MAYFAIR

A pair of Royal Presentation 9ct gold and enamel World Tour cufflinks, presented by H.R.H. Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh to Walter Bennett, his personal chauffeur, will be offered in a sale of jewellery, watches, silver and objects of vertu at Noonans Mayfair on Tuesday, September 10, 2024, at 12 noon. The cufflinks, dating from 1956-1957, are accompanied by negatives and personal photographs of the countries visited during the tour taken by Bennett and is estimated at £500-800 [lot 141].

Further Royal related items include a French rock crystal and sapphire parasol handle, circa 1900, formerly the Property of Her Royal Highness The Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon, and estimated at £500-700. [lot 478]; A George VI silver three-piece christening set by Wakely & Wheeler, formerly the Property of H.R.H. Prince Michael of Kent given by his godmother, Lady Patricia Ramsay, is estimated at £200-400 [lot 477]. A Royal Presentation George V cypher brooch, in fitted case, presented by King George to Mary Coulter in thanks for her services as a nurse to H.R.H. Princess Beatrice (Princess Henry of Battenburg) is estimated at £600-800 [lot 140]. Princess Beatrice was the fifth daughter and youngest child of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert.

A Russian Imperial jewelled gold cigarette case, presented by the Dowager Empress Maria Feodorovna, is included in the Objects of Vertu section. Bearing marks for Fabergé workmaster Gabriel Nykänen (Niukkanen) of St. Petersburg, the cigarette case dates from post 1908. According to documentation provided by auctioneers Geoff H. Gray Pty. Limited of Sydney, who previously sold the cigarette case in a Private Collection in 1978, it was presented by the Dowager Empress Maria Feodorovna, Consort of Czar Alexander III, to the wife of Admiral N. C. Palmer RN, who was Captain of the Royal yacht Victoria & Albert between August 1909 - December 1913. It is estimated to fetch £5,000-7,000 [lot 493].

A fine Medieval gold stirrup ring, found at a detectorists’ rally in Cambridgeshire in 2022, is estimated at £1,600-2,000. In good condition, set with an emerald within a bezel decorated with grapes or mulberries to either side, the ring may have connections with the Dukes of Norfolk, whose emblem was the mulberry tree. The ring has been disclaimed and the proceeds will be split between the finder and landowner [lot 63].

Also in the sale is a Medieval gold posy ring dating from the late 12th century, discovered by a detectorist in Bradfield, Essex in June 2022. The ring bears Roman/Lombardic lettering translating as “And to you I love you”. Brought into a Noonans Valuation Day in Bury St Edmunds, the ring is expected to fetch £2,400-3,000 [lot 61].

Diamonds feature strongly in the sale with numerous high-quality examples. A diamond pendant, set with a marquise-cut diamond weighing 3.30 carats, beneath two similarly cut diamonds, is estimated at £30,000-50,000 [lot 335] whilst a diamond collar, designed as a continuous series of interlocking fan-shaped links, with a total diamond weight of approximately 3 carats, carries an estimate of £7,000-£9,000 [lot 312]. An early 20th century diamond pendant comprising an old brilliant-cut diamond suspending a knife-wire drop terminating in an old cushion-cut diamond weighing 4.12 carats, is estimated at £6,000-8,000 [lot 322]. A single stone ring set with a brilliant-cut diamond weighing 6.01 carats, between baguette-cut diamonds shoulders, is estimated at £20,000-30,000 [lot 311] and an early 20th century old-cut diamond single stone ring, the diamond weighing 4.79 carats, is expected to realise £10,000-12,000 [lot 301]. A further diamond ring, centred with a step-cut diamond, weighing 3.27 carats, between half-moon-shaped diamonds, carries an estimate of £8,000-12,000 [lot 327]. A pretty sapphire and diamond bracelet of tapered design, set throughout with old brilliant, transitional, and single-cut diamonds, with calibré-cut sapphire highlights, and a total diamond weight of approximately 9.20 carats, is estimated at £6,000-8,000 [lot 326].

Within the watch section is a rare, limited-edition stainless-steel diver’s wristwatch by Breitling that was made for the members of the Royalty and Specialist Protection Unit to commemorate the Coronation of King Charles III, it is in excellent condition and is estimated at £5,000-7,000 [lot 420]. 

As Joanne Lewis, watch specialist at Noonans commented: “This rare Breitling SuperOcean 42 is part of a limited production run of 189 pieces. The dial of this exceptional limited-edition wristwatch displays the King’s cypher, and the case back is engraved with the Coronation Emblem which pays tribute to The King’s love of the natural world. The centre seconds hand also has a purple tip; a colour synonymous with Royalty.”   

Other highlights include a stainless steel automatic dual time zone GMT-Master wristwatch by Rolex with date and bracelet circa 1991 which is estimated at £6,500-7,500 [lot 436]; a Cartier gold tank wristwatch with London hallmark for 1941 that carries an estimate of £5,000-7,000 [lot 396]; and a gold wristwatch by Vacheron Constantin circa 1945 with tear-drop lugs is estimated at £2,000-3,000 [lot 384].