Antique jewellery may evoke a bygone age of moneyed other-worldliness but the business of buying and selling it has adapted to the digital era.
O'Reilly's auctioneers of Francis Street, Dublin who hold monthly auctions of fine jewellery, watches and silver has, they said, "taken up residence on Facebook" and that many clients attending viewings "prefer to use their smartphones to view the inventory" rather than consult the paper catalogue.
The actual, as opposed to the virtual, viewing gets underway from noon tomorrow ahead of Wednesday‘s auction at 1pm.
Over 400 lots include rings set with diamonds, rubies, sapphires and other precious stones, collectible wrist-and pocket-watches, items of Georgian silver, gold coins, cufflinks and quirky lots including a cased set of six, pre-War silver gilt cocktail sticks, surmounted by pheasants, made in Birmingham in 1937 (€120-€140).
Among the big-ticket items in the auction are an Art Déco ruby and diamond necklace (€6,500-€7,500); a diamond and sapphire panel bracelet, dating from 1915 (€20,000-€30,000) see above; and an emerald and diamond
cluster ring (emerald weighing 9.99 ct and diamonds a total of 2.20ct) estimated at €20,000-€26,000.
