Page 13 - Reside Magazine Briggs Freeman

Reside — Fall 2025

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be incredibly rare or with a distinguished There are opportunities in antique
i
u
provenance—maybe from a royal collection,”
provenance—maybe from a royal collection,” jewels or any piece older than 100 years,
Becket says. As a general rule, high jewels says Becket, because, while rare, they remain
Becket says. As a general rule, high jewels
boast rarity, provenance or the signature relatively a—ordable. This goes for jewels

boast rarity, provenance or the signature
of a top maker. Rare and sizable stones, from the retro period of the late 1930s and
such as the 10.3-carat Mediterranean 1940s, too. “It’s the period that everyone
Blue—a vivid blue diamond that sold at who works in the industry really loves,” she
Sotheby’s Geneva in May 2025—also qualify. says. “They didn’t have much in the way of

But every jewelry sale re ects the materials during World War II. Platinum was

market’s evolving tastes, whether scarce because it was used in the war e—ort.
it’s in Hong Kong, home to more So you had these big yellow-gold looks.”
contemporary jewels; Geneva, As a newcomer building a collection,
a bastion of antique and royal pieces it’s important to clarify your goal, Becket
(“It’s not a Geneva sale without a tiara,” says. “Do you want to have your classic
Becket says); or New York, which often jewelry wardrobe? In which case, you’re
features all of the above. going to have your diamond studs,

For buyers, there are a few key trends pearls—which you can buy quite a—ordably
to keep in mind, says Becket. “When I joined these days—and a great chunky gold
in 2005, and in the years prior, art deco was bracelet.” But there’s a case to be made
perennially in style, and it makes sense—it’s for the character of your collection, too.
about such classic, relatively simple forms. “You sometimes learn more about the
But for the ”rst time last year, we noticed personality of the owner from a Van Cleef

a slight softening in the deco market,” she scarecrow brooch versus their 10-carat
says. “Jewelry tends to go in arcs of about diamond ring.”

seven years. Bulgari has been on ”re for ”ve Victoria Gomelsky is editor-in-chief of JCK

or so years. And that has overlapped with and also writes for The New York Times
the popularity of bold and gold jewels.” and Robb Report
Clockwise from top left: Gold and
enamel pendant necklace, c1897, by
René Lalique; Lucky Alhambra gold
Photos: Courtesy Sotheby’s. Photos: Courtesy Sotheby’s. sold for US$21.5 million at Sotheby’s
and hardstone bracelet and necklace
by Van Cleef & Arpels; the 10.3-carat
Mediterranean Blue diamond, which
Geneva; enamel and diamond bangle

by Schlumberger for Ti‘any & Co;
emerald and diamond “Classic

11 Butter“y” pendant-earclips by Gra‘