You may have seen some incredible auction prices for sapphires from the fabled Kashmir mines in recent years. Could that sapphire ring in your jewelry box possibly be one? First, a bit of a background on these sought-after stones. In 1881 in the Zanskar Range of the Himalayas, a landslide revealed a remarkable deposit of sapphires. These sapphires had a unique velvety cornflower blue appearance and were brighter than other stones. Mining began in 1882 and continued until 1887 when the mine was depleted.… Read More

BOSTON, MA – March 4, 2016 – Skinner, Inc. will present its first Fine Jewelry auction of 2016 in its Boston gallery on Tuesday, March 22 at 10AM. With over 500 lots on offer, the auction will feature a selection of fine colored stones including Kashmir sapphires and Colombian emeralds; large diamonds; signed pieces from world-renowned jewelers; and antique and period jewelry of impeccable provenance.

Colored Gemstones

We are excited to offer two Kashmir sapphires in this sale.… Read More

Important Heart-shape Diamond, Natural Pearls, and Colombian Emerald are Standouts

BOSTON, MA – December 10, 2015 – Enthusiastic bidders from four continents competed online, by telephone, and in the gallery for the top lots at Skinner’s Fine Jewelry auction on December 8th in Boston. When the dust had settled, the sale had brought $10.75 million, with almost all of the top lots far exceeding their pre-sale estimates.

Previews in New York and Boston in the days before the sale generated tremendous excitement, as interested collectors took advantage of the opportunity to view the fine jewelry on offer in person.… Read More

When French gem merchant Jean-Baptiste Tavernier first visited the Golconda diamond mines of India in the 17th century, the stones he saw there were unlike anything he had ever encountered. The diamonds had a special quality that he described as “gems of the finest water” in reference to their incredible limpidity. The diamonds that Tavernier purchased quickly made their way to the collection of Louis XIV, who incorporated them into the French crown jewels.… Read More

BOSTON, MA – November 24, 2015 – Skinner, Inc. presents its fourth Fine Jewelry auction of 2015 on December 8th in Boston. The auction will feature over 500 lots of diamonds, colored stones, and antique and period jewelry. The centerpiece of the auction is a remarkable collection of diamonds, colored stones, and natural pearls from one of the leading families of the Gilded Age.

Important Collection from a Prominent British-American Family

We are excited to offer a collection of incredible diamonds and natural pearls from a well-known family that rose to prominence in the late nineteenth century.… Read More

Colorful Gems, Diamonds, Gold & Silver Shine at Skinner

BOSTON, MA – June 5, 2015 – Skinner, Inc. is pleased to present its summer Fine Jewelry auction, taking place on June 9th. This sale features over 450 lots of antique and period jewelry, as well as contemporary pieces by Tiffany & Co., Cartier, Van Cleef & Arpels, Bulgari and more.

Sapphires and Rubies

Vibrant gemstones are among the stand out offerings in this auction, including an assortment of fine sapphires and rubies.… Read More

When it comes to colored stones, geography is often as important as gemology. While it is their gemological properties that ultimately make them so coveted, collectors have long sought out colored stones based upon their place of origin.

For sapphires, the scarcest and most rare stones come from Southeast Asia. To trace their origin, first we must travel high in the Himalayan Mountains, in very inhospitable terrain, to a deposit of sapphires discovered in the late 19th century.… Read More

BOSTON, MA – August 28, 2014 – Sophisticated and beautiful jewelry comes to the auction block at Skinner, Inc. on September 9, 2014 in Boston. A private New England collection, being sold to benefit the Campaign for Catholic Schools, features three rare pieces of Tiffany jewelry from the Arts & Crafts movement, among dozens of other desirable pieces on the block for a worthy cause. Fine diamonds and colored gemstones will also inspire bidders, as will signed pieces by Cartier, Schlumberger, Van Cleef & Arpels, and Tiffany & Co.… Read More

This blog is republished with permission from the blog Jewels du Jour, by guest author Claibourne Poindexter.  

While not one of the big corporate auction houses, Skinner in Boston makes a strong presence in the auction market for Fine Jewelry, holding sales quarterly at their Park Plaza location.

The department head Victoria Bratberg, specialist John Colasacco, and Vice President Gloria Lieberman are known for their expertise in the field of fine jewelry and their willingness to educate and share their knowledge in the jewels they sell, both to their consignors as well as buyers, leading to some stellar consignments in the past. … Read More

Summer Auction Highlights an Array of Diamonds and Art Deco Jewels

BOSTON, MA – May 27, 2014 – Skinner, Inc. will hold its summer auction of Fine Jewelry on June 10, featuring over 700 lots of fine jewelry by important makers such as Cartier, Tiffany & Co., Van Cleef & Arpels, Harry Winston, and many more, as well as strong selections of diamonds and art deco jewelry.

Art Deco

Among the highlights is a fine collection from a private estate in St.… Read More