May 1, 2024

7.15ct. Natural Ceylon sapphire & diamond ring (1.65ct. tw. SI-GH) 6.3gr. 18kt. sz. 8 1/2. $17,500.00 CAD. 206-00518

The sapphires you’re likely to encounter at your the local jewellery store certainly don’t look like this, either in size, colour, or transparency. This is a very special ring that we are thrilled to showcase for you. We don’t see many 7 carat sapphires of even marginal quality normally. We think this example comes from Ceylon (Sri Lanka). The bright, sightly violet blue is typical from this part of the world, but not the size. It’s cushion shaped dimensions of 11.8mm x 9.5mm x 6.4mm suggest it weighs somewhere around 7.15 carats. Sapphires make a great alternative to diamonds when it comes to an engagement ring. They are second hardest of all gemstones, their colour is stable and doesn’t fade over time. They can also stand up to heat encountered when the ring is being sized or retipped. The most famous recipient of a sapphire engagement ring was the late Princess Diana who received her 12 carat oval Ceylon sapphire in 1981. From what we understand, Prince Charles purchased the ring as an off the shelf item from luxury jeweller Asprey in London for the equivalent of $60,000.00 USD back in 1981. Today her original ring is being worn by Catherine the Princess of Wales as her engagement ring. The only regal connection we can make with our version is the “royal” blue hue. Styled in much the same fashion as Diana’s on a smaller scale, our ring is surrounded by 14 round brilliant cut diamonds (just like Diana’s). It is also crafted in premium 18 karat white gold as is Diana’s. The shoulders on our estate ring have been pave set with an additional 68 tiny brilliant cut diamonds. All of the natural diamonds are of SI-GH quality. A decorative filigree scroll pattern keeps the ring from being top heavy and adds some delicate elegance to the design. This ring is in remarkable condition looking almost unworn. It still retains its original finish and has never been repolished or re-rhodium plated. There is zero wear on any of the claws securing the sapphire and diamonds. The ring measures a slightly larger 8 1/2 but can be made a few sizes smaller if necessary. This would be a very difficult ring to replace as Ceylon sapphires of this size and shaped are quite rare and very expensive. Engagement ring or dinner ring, this one of a kind sapphire would make the lady in your life feel like a princess for the rest of time. It is estate priced at $17,500.00 CAD. Stock #206-00518.

April 30, 2024

Oris pointer date chronometer 7467B solid 18 karat bezel 35.5mm $1,500.00 CAD. 501-00331

You don’t normally associate the Oris brand with high accuracy chronometer rated watches, but they do exist. Oris was founded in 1904 in Hölstein Switzerland, producing affordable watches that perform like much more expensive brands. In the 1960s they were one of the top 10 Swiss manufactures in terms of watches produced. They were the Timex of watches before Timex even existed, manufacturing inexpensive pin lever watches for the masses. The no jewel pin lever watches were admirable performers that could be made for less than what is cost a higher specification watch to clean every few years. They were so good at producing highly accurate pin lever movements that they even were able to meet chronometer accuracy standards when subjected to testing with a specially prepared calibre 652. Our Oris is a very rare more modern fully jewelled officially certified chronometer model 7467B. This example was sold originally by Bill Le Boeuf Jewellers when we were official Oris agents. It was sold to a customer looking for a Rolex chronometer but didn’t have the budget. The Oris was only about a quarter of the price and had similar specifications. The pointer date is an interesting feature that works just how it sounds. There isn’t a “date window” but an extra hand with a red semi-circle tip framing the day of the month printed on the chapter ring of the dial. Another interesting feature of this watch is the small subsidiary seconds hand at the 9:00 o’clock position. In fact, almost everything about this watch is interesting and unusual. The arrowhead and Arabic hour makers are quite vintage looking and the arrow shaped hour hand is different. The bezel on this watch has been crafted from premium 18 karat gold. It is very curiously that Oris stamped their name on the bezel, in a very conspicuous location. A threaded crown with guards, threaded case back and sapphire crystal offer a conservative water resistance rating of 50 meters. Powering this rare Oris is the equally rare 27 jewel Oris calibre 641. This movement is based on a production ETA2836-2 then modified to Oris specification. It is visible through the display case-back. It operates at a modern frequency of 28,800 cycles per hour with around a 40 hour power reserve. Attached the the case is the original gold plated and stainless steel bracelet with a concealed locking butterfly clasp. It has never been polished or refinished, it shows typical wear and tear associated with a couple decades of use. We recently serviced the watch and are happy to report it is keeping great time with all functions operating as designed. We are happy to provide the next owner with a complimentary 1 year warranty. You have likely never seen one of these before as they are quite rare and seldom turn up on the preowned market. The watch is estate priced at $1,500.00. CAD. Stock #501-00331.

April 28, 2024

32mm wide, fancy link bracelet, 7 1/2+ inches long, 53 grams, 14 karat gold. $4,050.00 CAD. 441-00347

With the price of gold on the rise, it is one of our fears that fabulous pieces like this will be worth more melted down than as beautiful jewellery items. We estimate this wide flexible bracelet is around 40 years old. At that time it contained around $400.00 worth of gold, 15 years ago it contained $1,150 in gold, today is contains over $2,900.00 is just recyclable gold content. If the gold price continues to increase it won’t be long before this bracelet is worth more melted down than it is as a finished piece of jewellery. Here’s another way to look at it; the cost of this bracelet really hasn’t changed too much, it’s the depreciating value of currency due to inflation makes it seem like it costs more. For thousands of years gold has been the benchmark to which other things have been valued. While a bracelet like this is a decorative accessory, it is truly a passive investment in something of actual value. The nature of money sitting around it that it becomes less valuable everyday due to inflation. Wear it, enjoy it, and watch its value gold increase as the price of gold moves higher and higher. This bracelet was crafted in Italy from 14 karat gold (58.33% pure). It weighs 53 grams or 1.70 troy ounces. If we multiply its weight (1.70 ounces) by it purity (58.33%) we end up with very close to 1 full ounce of pure gold (0.99oz).  I’m not sure if the bracelet was designed with that in mind, but it’s certainly a fun fact to be aware of. If the price of gold appreciates to $5,000.00 per ounce, this bracelet will contain just shy of $5,000.00 is gold content alone. By the way, there is also around 2/3 of an ounce silver alloy in this bracelet that is worth an additional $23.00. Get a fantastic piece of jewellery and invest in some precious metal too, all for the estate price of $4,050.00 CAD. By the way $4,050.00 is waaaaay below this items wholesale replacement cost. Stock #441-00347.

April 27, 2024

2024 never worn Rolex Submariner 126610LN 41mm. $16,800.00 CAD. 505-00502

This is the latest generation Rolex Submariner Date. We’ve had a few of the 126610 series since they debuted in 2020 but most were sold before we even had a chance to post them. We don’t expect this one to last long either. The Submariner Date is without doubt the quintessential sports watch to which all others are judged and their popularity is unwavering. For 2020 Rolex installed their caliber 3235 automatic chronometer movement, which has a longer 70-hour power reserve and a proprietary Chronergy escapement, marking a serious improvement over the previous caliber. Rolex also claim this newest Submariner is accurate to plus or minus 2 seconds per day. If this were a quartz watch, that type of performance would be pitiful, but for a self winding, mechanical watch, that is about as good as it gets at any price point. Service intervals are now a rather lengthy 10 years. Hats off to Rolex for giving their new watches such an extended maintenance schedule. This is the first Submariner to measure 41mm in diameter. For decades the they were always 40mm. You’re certainly not going to see the extra 1mm in the case, but they also increased the bracelet width a touch while at the same time thinning the lugs down a bit. This new silhouette better conforms to every other generation Submariner except for the previous generation 116610 series with the “bulky” looking case. It was purchased in  spring of 2024 but never worn. It remains in 100% unworn condition. Not a screw in the removable bracelet links has been turned. Not even the tiniest blemish or scuff can be seen on the case or bracelet. The watch remains covered under the 5-year Rolex international warranty until well into 2029. It comes with the full compliment of removable links. The hang tags, endorsed warranty card, inner/outer boxes, booklets, instructions, wallets, and even the soft foam box liner (not shown) are all included with purchase. Steel Submariners are still never available at Rolex agents and have long waiting lists to get one, with unknown delivery dates. This like new example is estate priced at $16,800.00 CAD. Stock #505-00502.

April 26, 2024

14kt. Italian Paperclip link necklace 18″, 4.3 grams, 3.2mm wide, $350.00 CAD. 431-00792

The “paperclip” link is the most popular style chain on the market. The design has been around a few years now and we stock new ones in various lengths and sizes. We almost never have the opportunity to showcase a decent sized estate paperclick necklace like this one. This one may just be the Goldilocks length/size/weight/colour/karat/price combination, it won’t be in stock very long. The 18 inch length is very versatile, able to be worn over a light top or against your skin. 3.2mm wide looks substantial but not overwhelming and you can wear a pendant on it too. Hollow construction but still 4.3 grams make it durable but not too expensive. Yellow gold is back and super popular, this one showcases the rich traditional hue of the precious metal. Made from upgraded 14 karat gold (58.3% purity) that is a great balance over 10 karat, with better corrosion resistance and richer hue without getting into premium 18 karat gold. The estate nature of this popular design helps to keep the price in check. Italian made to their usual high standards of manufacturing quality and finish. It is secured by a large and easy to use lobster clasp. Don’t wait on this one, estate priced at $350.00 CAD. Stock #431-00792.

Sale pending.