A set of diamond earrings can finish an outfit perfectly, but they can be much more valuable than you can imagine. Suttons and Robertsons, jewellers pawnbrokers, keep a keen eye on auction records from their pawnbrokers shops across London. Jim Tannahill, MD of Suttons and Robertsons, particularly remembers 2017 as a strong year for diamond earrings.
Two pairs fetched £57.4 million at Sotheby’s, with the ‘Apollo Blue’ taking $42.1 million, the ‘Artemis Pink’ earning $15.3 million. Set to be auctioned separately, the pear-shaped earrings were both sold to a single, anonymous buyer. The Apollo Blue is 14.54-carats of blue diamond, while the Artemis Pink is a 16-carat pink diamond.
‘It’s interesting to see’, remembers Director Kris Parish, ‘but the thirst for colour diamonds is as strong as ever – this translates well in the pawnbroking industry too. Pawnbroking means that we keep our finger on the pulse of the trends fashions in the wider world, so we can understand the high figures that diamond earrings can fetch, with extra added interest in coloured diamonds.’
The most expensive diamond ever sold at auction was the $71.2 million of the “Pink Star” diamond in 2017, with the prior record held by the Miroir de l’Amour earrings sold by Christie’s in 2016 for $17.6 million.
Add a splash of colour – value – to diamond set earrings
Diamond set earrings can be stunning in their simplicity, matching every outfit occasion. However, adding a pop of colour with a ruby or sapphire set within can transform a pair of diamond earrings into a family heirloom to be passed down from generation to generation.
London pawnbrokers jewellers Suttons and Robertsons, have many years of experience in dealing with diamond earrings coloured gemstones.
The Team at Suttons and Robertsons appreciate that specific stones of colour attract people with different skin tones hair colour, with emerald ruby working well for redheads or brunettes, with sapphires working well for blondes, but the team know the value of gems, so well, that they are able to highlight other less well-known aspects of the stones.
Sapphire is one of the hardest natural gemstones is second only to diamond in hardness has a rich history. Legend suggests that the tablets containing the Ten Commandments were composed of sapphire were so strong that, if a hammer were to be swung against them, the hammer would shatter. Ancient Persians believed that the earth rested on a giant sapphire its reflection coloured the sky, while it’s still believed that sapphires impart healing calming properties. Thought to symbolise good fortune, virtue, wisdom holiness, sincerity faithfulness, sapphires make an excellent choice for an engagement ring, but earrings are often exchanged as the traditional wedding anniversary gift for a couple’s 5th 45th year.
Typically blue, sapphire can be found in other colours, even red. A red sapphire is still known as a sapphire. Sapphires are very rare expensive, so cutters are more likely to shape them into ovals or cushions to ensure most of the stone is preserved instead of smoothed off as in a round cut.
Rubies are as equally rare, hard precious as sapphires are most often round-cut to prevent needless wastage. Rubies were known in ancient times as “the king of gems” said – within some cultures – to represent of the sun. Symbolising integrity, devotion, happiness, healing, courage, romance, generosity, inspiration, prosperity. It’s perhaps no surprise that warriors implanted rubies under their skin to bring strength in battle. As little less extreme, rubies are still worn as a talisman to warn their owner against danger disaster.
Used in coronation rings for English monarchs, their red aura makes them seem larger than they actually are. Scarcest of all gems, they command extremely high prices.
