AstaGuru’s recently concluded online auction of Heirloom Jewellery, Silver, and Timepieces achieved the highest total for the category in India by realizing a sales value of INR 18,31,96,287Crores (US$ 2,544,393). The auction presented a wide range of 120 lots of which 94 were successful sales.  The jewellery segment, a meticulous curation of diverse heirloom & vintage pieces, featured some of the highest quality gemstones from across the globe and celebrated rich jewellery craftsmanship from Europe and the Indian sub-continent with traditional Indian masterpieces as well as Art Deco period designs. The auction also comprised an extraordinary selection of silverware and a well-researched presentation of world class timepieces from some of the most influential and celebrated masters of horology.  

Commenting on the results Jay Sagar, Jewellery Specialist, AstaGuru, said, “We are extremely proud of the milestone achieved by our auction in India. The impressive results indicate a strong demand and a growing collector base in India that is looking to own pieces which are steeped in aesthetic and historical value. The category is slowly becoming one of the most anticipated in our annual line-up of auctions with a great number of bidders showing interest with every new edition of the auction.”

Achieving the highest price in the entire sale and in the jewellery category was lot 46, A RARE DIAMOND, RUBY, PEARL & ENAMEL GULUBAND that went under the gavel for INR 1,52,22,392 (US$ 211,422). The said lot comprises of thirteen hinged square panels, each set with a central ruby cabochon and table-cut diamonds on the sides. Other highlights from the heirloom jewellery section included, lot 47, AN IMPRESSIVE TWO ROW BASRA PEARL NECKLACE comprising of 107 finely matched and graduated Basra pearls, sold at INR 1,50,56,016 (US$ 209,110). The third highest price was achieved for lot 41, AN ELEGANT FOUR ROW BASRA PEARL NECKLACE, comprising of 367 finely graduated Basra pearls that sold for INR 1,26,18,375 (US$ 175,254), followed by lot 33, AN IMPORTANT PAIR OF LARGE EMERALD & DIAMOND EAR PENDANTS that sold for INR 92,21,850 (US$ 128,081). 

The auction also presented an exquisite collection of silver with many hallmarked pieces showcasing fine workmanship.  Some of the key highlights from the sale include A SILVER FLATWARE SERVICE BY CHRISTOFLE, PARIS, comprised of 256 items signed by the maker, that sold for INR 25,00,316, (US$ 34,727). The second highlight of the category was lot 59, A SET OF THREE SILVER JEWELLERY BOXES which were originally presented To Sir Malcolm Hailey Governor Of The Punjab Province On The 4th Of August 1924. The lot garnered a lot of attention, because of its rich provenance, and was sold for INR 24,11,840 (US$ 33,497) handsomely surpassing its higher estimate of INR 7,75,000. 
    
Commenting on the results Deepak Krishnamoorthy, Timepiece Specialist, AstaGuru, said, “Our aim with the timepiece category was to present a collection that offers not only a diverse choice to clients at every price point but also includes some of the most iconic models from world renowned manufactures that are highly sought-after the world over. The auction provided a great opportunity for enthusiasts and serious collectors alike to get their hands on watches which are not easily available in an open market. The results showcase how there is a great potential in the category with an ever-growing collector base in India for vintage, pre-owned and limited-edition luxury watches.”

Leading the timepiece section and achieving the fourth highest price in the auction was lot 119, Piaget’s celebrated LIMELIGHT TONNEAU-SHAPED DIAMOND WRISTWA TCH that comprises 980 pcs of diamonds, weighing at 10.10 cts approx. The selling price of the lot surpassed its higher estimate by an impressive margin and was sold for INR 1,10,93,071 (US$ 154,070), hereby validating the inclination of the collector community in India to acquire important pre-owned and vintage pieces. Other highlights from the timepiece segment included, lot 105, AN 18K YELLOW GOLD PERPETUAL CALENDAR WRISTWATCH by Patek Philippe which was sold for INR 27,55,170 (US$ 38,266) & lot 118 A LIMITED-EDITION ROYAL OAK OFFSHORE SURVIVOR CHRONOGRAPH WRISTWATCH by Audemars Piguet that sold for INR 20,49,300 (US$ 28,462). 

The online auction took place on 20 - 21 May 2021 on www.astaguru.com.