A COLLECTION of period and modern jewellery from Whitchurch has sold for £17,500 at Shropshire auctioneers Halls on Wednesday.

The silver, jewellery and watches auction at Halls Fine Art’s Battlefield saleroom in Shrewsbury was the first in a new series of specialist sales which saw 92 per cent of more than 350 lots sell.

The Whitchurch collection came from a late collector and the best-selling lots were an unusual ruby and rose cut diamond bat pendant which sold for £1,150 and an amber bead necklace that made £1,000.

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“The lovely bat pendant was keenly contested by trade buyers and sold so well because it was a unique piece,” said Halls Fine Arts’ silver and jewellery specialist Maryanne Lineker-Mobberley.

“Obviously, the time of year, with the run up to Halloween, also helped.”

Star of the sale was a sapphire and diamond ring from the Newtown collection which sold for £2,700.

A Middle Eastern untested ruby, sapphire, freshwater pearl and onyx fringe necklace from the same collection sold for £1,550.

Maryanne said: “The collection was originally owned by a late couple who travelled extensively and bought nice jewellery on their travels.

“A lot of the jewellery in the collection was modern but the sapphire and diamond ring was Art Deco."

Demand for amber bead necklaces was strong, selling for up to £1,100 and a wide selection of diamond, ruby, emerald and tanzanite sold well with a platinum single-stone diamond ring making £1,250.

Novelty pieces of jewellery featuring insects and animals also sold well with a cabochon garnet, rose cut diamond and single untested pearl beetle bar brooch making £360, a late 19th century rose cut diamond, cats eye chrysoberyl, pearl and ruby set insect brooch making £220 and an opal and ruby spider bar brooch making £210.

Watches peaked at £1,650 for a Tudor Black Bay Heritage gentleman's stainless steel chronograph bracelet watch and an 18 carat gold open face pocket watch by Morris of Birmingham, from around 1883, sold for £1,380.

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“The encouraging sale result shows that the market for silver, jewellery and watches is buoyant and vindicates our decision to launch a series of specialist auctions,” added Maryanne.

Halls Fine Art is now accepting entries for its next silver, jewellery and watches auction on January 17.

Anyone wishing to make an appointment to have silver, jewellery or watches valued is asked to contact Halls Fine Art on Tel: 01743 450700.