Again this season, July is a month of prestigious sales, with jewellery, watches and vintage Hermès handbags up for grabs!
"For the international clientele the Principality is as important as Geneva or London, with the added attraction of the glamour, elegance and opulence that have made it a legend," explains François Tajan, auctioneer and co-chairman of Artcurial. Which is why this Paris auction house puts together outstanding sale catalogues for its July auctions here. Jewellery to start with, including one exceptional piece: a Van Cleef & Arpels ring adorned with a 16.87ct pear-cut diamond, estimated at €1-1.4 million. In vintage goodies, Hermès again leads the field, with the wildest versions of its iconic Birkin bags, such as one in black porosus crocodile with a diamond-set white-gold fastener (€90,000-100,000). Remembering the Monegasque princess who lent her name to one of Hermès's most celebrated creations, Artcurial is also putting up for auction the one and only 40cm Kelly bag in denim-blue Epsom calfskin screen-printed with a 1954 photograph of Grace Kelly (€60,000-80,000). The timewear selection offers around 300 items made by the most prestigious watchmakers – Patek Philippe, Cartier, Audemars Piguet.... One outstanding example is a Sir Malcom Campbell Rolex chronograph dating from the 1940s, estimated at €70,000-120,000; the Swiss watchmaker made only 12 of these to commemorate the world land-speed record (484kph) set by Campbell in 1935 at Bonneville, USA.
600 jewels in a single sale
Auctioneers Tajan have been established in Monaco for 30 years and last year achieved the top price in France and Monaco over the last 25 years for a coloured gemstone: €1,125,000 for an 8.7ct ruby. This year it's offering some 600 items of jewellery grouped in themes: historic jewellery, summer jewellery, artists' jewellery, and great Place Vendôme jewellers. Connoisseurs will find exceptional pieces and superb precious stones from Burma, Kashmir and Sri Lanka, as well as a complete overview of jewellery knowhow from the late 19th century to the present day via the biggest names in French and international jewellery, such as Suzanne Belperron and René Boivin. Men can let themselves be tempted by such collectable watches as a steel Rolex chronograph dating from 1948 and a steel Rolex Daytona chronograph dating from 1970. Lastly, in its 300m² premises that once housed Monaco's foundries, the Hôtel des Ventes de Monte-Carlo – Monaco's only auction house – is notably offering for sale a Marina B. jewellery suite in yellow gold, enamel and diamonds, which once belonged to Céline Vipiana who founded the Céline label. Further items sure to delight collectors of both sexes include a ring set with a Burmese ruby weighing 5.73ct and another adorned with a Padparadsha sapphire weighing 12.31ct.
Artcurial BPFT
23 juillet : Horlogerie de collection & Importants Bijoux
24 juillet : Hermès Vintage Hôtel Hermitage, Square Beaumarchais
www.artcurial.com
Tajan SA
28, 29 et 30 juillet 29 juillet : Bijoux
30 juillet : Montres Café de Paris, Place du Casino
www.tajan.com
Hôtel des Ventes de Monte-Carlo
20 et 21 juillet: 10-12 quai Antoine 1er - Tél. +377 93 25 88 89
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