THE COMPLETE GUIDE TO
Jewellery at auction
Jewellery auctions offer a huge variety of choice and prices.
At Bonhams, you can find nearly every shape, size and variety of gemstone, as well as style and period of jewellery—from the 1700s to the present day.
Looking to buy jewellery and gemstones?
Bonhams holds more than 80 dedicated jewellery auctions a year in London, Paris, New York, Los Angeles, Hong Kong and Sydney—covering a wide range of categories, including antique, art deco, mid-century, contemporary and wearable art.
If you’re new to auctions, here is our complete guide to buying and selling: our insider’s guides to the top gemstone and jewellery designers, reasons to collect, and find out more about our friendly specialists.
Why buy jewellery at auction?
Buying at auction is often better value
Retail mark-up can sometimes be 300%. At auction, you can find highly prized brand names, like Cartier, Boodles and Tiffany & Co., at more attractive prices.
Read more: 5 Things to Know About Buying an Engagement Ring at Auction
Expertise you can trust
Jewellery experts at auctions have verified an item’s authenticity, protecting you from counterfeit gemstones.
Read more: Collecting 101 | Cocktail Rings
You’re buying a piece of history
Many antique jewellery have fascinating stories behind them: “People love tiaras because they resonate with the glamour and romance of bygone eras. Tiaras are relics of social history—it’s exciting to find out who wore it and where they went.”
Read more: 8 Things To Know About Tiaras
You may uncover some hidden gems
An inherited family heirloom ring was thought to be worth £3,000—it went on to sell for £103,250 at auction. What could your jewellery be worth in a few decades’ time?
Read more: Top Discoveries by the UK Jewellery Team
Collecting 101: Gemstones
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Diamonds guide
Traded since the 4 century BC and valued for their strength and brilliance, diamonds are the ultimate symbol of love.
Coloured diamonds guide
Most people think of diamonds as being colourless or pure white—but the rarest diamonds of all are, in fact, coloured.
Emeralds guide
Beloved by movie stars—most famously Elizabeth Taylor—emeralds have achieved impressive results at auction in recent years.
Spinels guide
These dazzling red stones were historically mistaken for rubies—today, they're finally becoming appreciated in their own right.
Jadeite guide
Highly prized by Qing-dynasty empresses, jadeites come in many vivid hues of green and can be fashioned in different types of cuts.
Pearls guide
Pearls have been important markers of grace and power—the symbols of Aphrodite, Eve, and Cleopatra.
Looking to sell your jewellery?
Use our simple online form for a free auction estimate.
Collecting 101: Jewellery designers
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Cartier guide
An introduction to “the jeweller of kings and the king of jewellers”, his most iconic designs and prices at auction.
David Webb guide
David Webb created a huge variety of designs, his inspirations spanned ancient civilisations, Art Deco to the animal kingdom.
Grima Jewels guide
Andrew Grima rose to fame in the 1960s with pieces that prized impact over austerity, without sacrificing craftsmanship.
Graff guide
Now a household name, Laurence Graff—the so-called ‘King of Diamonds’—came from humble beginnings.
Tiffany & Co. guide
A short guide to brand, from founder Charles Lewis Tiffany to designers Jean Schlumberger, Paloma Picasso, Elsa Peretti and more.
Boodles guide
Steered by six generations of the same family, Boodles has blossomed from being a local jewellery retailer to a design-led luxury brand.
Contact us
Start your jewellery collection today
1. Create an account with Bonhams
2. Follow your favourite collecting categories and get email alerts when new auctions are open for bidding
3. Register to bid in an auction when you're ready
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