EXTREMELY RARE RING WATCH BY PIaGET SELLS FOR A HAMMER PRICE OF £18,000 at NOONANS MAYFAIR

An extremely rare lady’s 18ct white gold, emerald, ruby and diamond-set ring watch by Piaget tripled its estimate, selling for £18,000 in a sale of Jewellery, Watches, and Objects of Vertu at Noonans Mayfair on Tuesday, September 12, 2023.  Dating from circa 1976, the ring watch was estimated at £5,000-7,000 and was bought by a UK collector [lot 410].  

Following the sale, Joanne Lewis, Watch specialist at Noonans commented: “This stunning ring watch achieved a high price due to its rarity, being one of only three examples of this model made by Piaget between 1966-1976. Piaget, who have a reputation for making exquisitely crafted unusual ladies’ watches, confirmed that they have a similar example in their Private Collection.”

An unusual Jaeger LeCoultre pink gold and diamond set watch, the Reverso Duet Classique, dating from circa 2016, sold for a hammer price of £6,500 against an estimate of £4,000-6,000.  Bought by a UK collector, the lady’s beautiful diamond wristwatch offered two different dials powered by a single movement. This pink gold model features a stunning pavé diamond-set dial, while the rectangular swivelling case reveals the second Art Deco inspired black dial, allowing the wearer to adapt the style of dial to complement their outfit [lot 422]. 

Among the highlights of the jewellery section was a diamond necklace, circa 1890, with an articulated frontispiece designed as a garland with ribbon bow motifs, set throughout with old-cushion and old brilliant-cut diamonds, selling for a hammer price of £16,000 against a pre-sale estimate of £7,000-9,000, the strong price illustrating the shortage of good antique pieces on the auction market [lot 334]. 

A pretty Art Deco diamond bracelet, composed of six panels, each centred with a flowerhead motif within geometric pierced decorated borders, sold above estimate for £10,000. [lot 327].  

A stunning enamelled and gem-set serpent bracelet, circa 1860, the articulated body unusually detailed throughout with blue enamel and with an opal, diamond, and ruby set head, presented in its original fitted case, realised £9,500 against an estimate of £3,000-5,000. The bracelet was formerly the property of Sir Charles James Napier, (1782-1853), British General and Commander-in-Chief in India, famous for conquering the Sindh province of British India, (now in present-day Pakistan) and was being sold by a direct descendant of the family. 

According to the note of provenance attached to the underside of the case, Sir Charles Napier had given the bracelet to 'Grandmama Aberdare'. It had then passed down through the family to Alice Bruce, an aunt of the ultimate recipient, who had written the history on this note, as a wedding gift. ‘Grandmama Aberdare’ was Lady Nora Creina Blanche Bruce (1827-97), second wife of the 1st Baron Aberdare (1815-95), who became Lord President of the Council and Home Secretary under Gladstone, and daughter of Sir William Napier (1785-1860), the younger brother of Sir Charles. Both brothers fought in the Peninsular War, and both later rose to the rank of General.

While William wrote a definitive history of the Peninsular War, Charles pursued a military career, which included an appointment as Governor of Kefalonia and most famously the conquering of The Sindh Province in India as head of the British Army. Alice Bruce (1867-1951) was the youngest daughter of the Lord and Lady Aberdare, and granddaughter of Sir William Napier.  A celebrated educationalist and administrator, she served as President of Aberdare Hall in Cardiff [lot 323]. 

The Objects of Vertu section included a fine Private Collection of Boxes. A fine early English gold snuff box, circa 1720, in lovely condition and richly decorated throughout with a hunting scene to the front, and a riverside scene of a crane wrestling a serpent to the reverse, sold for £6,500 [lot 437].