October 14, 2024

18kt. Mimi So 17″ diamond necklace/pendant, 8.3gr., 0.10ct. VS-H. $1,450.00 CAD. 161-00323

Mimi So is a New York based jewellery designer who has been creating unique jewellery for 30 years. She was the first woman to open a jewellery boutique in New York’s famous diamond district on 47th street. This exposure helped her earn a strong celebrity following starting in New York. Her pieces were could be seen regularly on the television show Sex and the City. Mimi So creations have also been seen on the red carpets for the Oscar’s, Grammy’s, Golden Globes, and Met Gala. This is the first time we’ve had a Mimi So item pass through our estate department. This organic looking oval pendant is no longer featured on the Mimi So website, but you can other playful designs priced from around $2,000.00 and up. This one showcases a high quality VS-H 0.10 carat round brilliant cut diamond in a bezel setting. The offset placement makes an interesting focal point within the slightly asymmetrical frame. Solidly attached to the frame is a white gold Figaro style chain. The chain with pendant measure a total of 17 inches long. There is no question of quality when it comes to Mimi So; this one is has been created from 18 karat white gold that is surprisingly hefty given the airy look. It weighs in at 8.3 grams and is in perfect condition, showing zero wear. It is secured by a large and easy to use lobster clasp. Comes in our traditional blue Bill Le Boeuf Jewellers presentation box. Estate priced at $1,450.00 CAD.

October 13, 2024

Skull pendant & 28.5 ” backbone chain, 132.8gr., 10kt., $10,500.00 CAD 436-00246 431-00819

Our little friend has returned, now even more sinister since you last saw him. We recently added a pair of 6.5mm lab grown ruby eyes. The rubies have been bezel set in deep 14 karat white gold bezels resulting in an evil blank stare. He now looks like a cross between the Terminator and a possessed C3PO. A custom pendant isn’t unheard of, but custom made chains are practically never seen. We’ve had a couple come through our estate department over the years, but nothing like this before. What is jaw-dropping (forgive us) about this pendant and chain is the scale of custom work! The extra-long 28.5 inch chain is made up of a link design we have never encountered before, individually linked 6.5mm wide spinal cord inspired cages. Heavily carved for a thick and durable wall gauge ensuring the chain can survive almost any kind of daily wear. The 72.3 gram chain terminates in heavy custom made end caps and an oversized riveted lobster clasp that is somewhat redundant as the chain will easily slip over you head without the need to release the catch. The clasp allows you to wear the chain without the skull or substitute a different pendant you may have. The back bone inspiration could be overlooked as just an unusual design link pattern, but there is no chance of missing the subject matter of the pendant. The human skull depiction looks pretty accurate to me. An empty, expressionless, three dimensional depiction of what anyone can instantly recognize. It has been hand crafted with excellent detail and heavy construction. The large pendant measures 4.9cm tall (without the bail). It has a pierced repeating pattern on the backside that we really don’t know anything about. The pendant is suspended from a large hinged triangular bail that will accommodate a chain up to 13mm in width. On its own the pendant weighs a substantial 60.5 grams. Together the chain and pendant weigh a combined 132.6 grams. The necklace and pendant are accompanied by a November 2020 appraisal stating a retail value of $23,400.00 plus sales tax. In excellent condition showing little evidence of wear, this custom made, skeletal inspired piece of jewellery is estate priced at $10,500.00 CAD for the set. The skull can be purchased separately for $5,299.00 and the chain is available for $5,201.00.00 CAD. Stock #431-00819.

October 12, 2024

2024 Rolex 41mm Submariner 126610LV “Starbucks” like new. $18,500.00 CAD. 505-00545

By the time you read through this posting your may already be too late for this one. The “Starbucks” Submariner 126610LV is possibly the most in demand sports watch in the world. These are often sold before we even get a chance to add them to our website. The juggernaut within the watch and jewellery industry is without a doubt Rolex. There are other important brands within the business but Rolex is all powerful. Love them or hate them you have to respect them. Rolex, no question is the most significant watch brand ever. Though they use scrambled serial numbers to keep production numbers a secret, it is widely accepted the brand produced over a million watches per year with revenues in the billions. Hans Wilsdorf the founder of Rolex owned all the shares in his company. He had no close heirs to pass along his 100% ownership to. Upon his death he wanted the company to continue what he started. A trust was set up to run the organization and oversee its operation, appropriately named The Hans Wilsdorf Foundation. In theory, it’s a charitable not for profit organization. The trust does contribute to worthy causes, but the foundation’s mandate is for the continued dominance of the brand by reinvestment and promotion. It has no shareholders to pay dividends to or share profits with, only a group of well paid trustees who decide how to reinvest the vast revenue. Some of the profits are dumped back into state of the art automated factories that continually update their technology. They also pay very good wages to the most talented engineers and watchmakers they’re able to recruit. No one really knows just how much money the trust has squirreled away over the decades but it must be in the billions. There isn’t another watch company that operates in such a manner. The main function of the trust is to promote and protect the brand’s position as the number 1 Swiss watch manufacturer at all costs. You can buy into a little bit of the enigmatic brand with this green bezel Submariner. This is the current Submariner model that everyone is after. The green bezel black dial combination has been one of their hottest models since it was introduced in 2003 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the original Submariner. The green dial, green bezel of the previous generation 116610LV is now retired and the green on black is back, with the introduction of the newest generation Submariner with a slightly larger 41mm case. Once news leaked of the new green bezel Rolex Submariner it generated an instant waiting list extending years and things haven’t changed much. Demand for this and many other sports models have some Rolex boutiques no longer even taking orders, as the wait time has extended to many years. The 126610LV has earned the nickname “Starbucks” among the Rolex collector community. This watch was traded in from a long time Bill Le Boeuf Jewellers customer. It was only worn occasionally, and in rotation with other watches from his collection. It is in like new original condition. We can’t see any scuffs or scratches with the naked eye. These watches are trading hands on the secondary market for significant premiums over their suggested retail price. The resale market for hard to obtain Rolex sport watches is still very strong for properly priced examples. The previous owner is an important Bill Le Boeuf Jewellers collector customer with many other watches. This watch is 100% correct in every way without exception. It comes with its full compliment of 11 full sized links, 1/2 link and glide lock buckle to fit any wrist size. Buying this watch in Canada will NOT trigger a 5% import duty or significant brokerage fees compared to importing a watch purchased out of the country. This watch remains under the 5 year international warranty until well into 2029. It comes complete with everything originally delivered when purchased earlier in the year. We even discovered a protective delivery sticked on the bracelet that was never removed before delivery. Estate price for the Starbucks is $18,500.00 CAD. Stock #505-00545.

SOLD

October 11, 2024

Michael Dawkins pearl bracelet, 36.3 grams, 14 karat, 7 12/”. $2,400.00 CAD. 241-00098

If you’re familiar with the designer Michael Dawkins you may have seen his creations on websites such as ebay, Etsy, The RealReal, Poshmark etc. Most of the products we’ve seen are fashion jewellery items crafted from sterling silver, using semi-precious stones. High quality pieces made from heavy 14 karat gold and cultured pearls are the rare exception. It’s hard to speculate the why items like this vintage this 14 karat gold and pearl bracelet are rarely seen in the marketplace. We imagine the higher end luxury market segment was an brief experiment by the brand that wasn’t as successful as hoped. Perhaps the trial didn’t work out, but we’re happy to showcase this rarity. Besides the obvious two different looks, you immediately notice just how heavy this bracelet is. It weighs a substantial 36.3 grams in total. Of the total weight, the 7.75mm round cultured pearls contribute only around 7 grams. For those interested in knowing, at the current price of gold ($3,600.00 per ounce CAD, Oct. 7, 2024) this bracelet contains close to $2,000.00 in just the recyclable metal value!!! The bracelet is secured by a signed plunger style barrel clasp that is simple to close. It easily locks into the barrel in any orientation. Including a Bill Le Boeuf Jewellers presentation box, this loke new condition Michael Dawkins pearl bracelet is estate priced at $2,400.00 CAD. Stock #241-00098.

October 10, 2024

Omega Seamaster Chronograph 41.5mm. 2296.80.00, titanium/tantalum/18kt. $6,000.00 CAD. 510-00185

This is one of Omega’s most audacious watch experiments, at least when it comes to the metals they selected for its construction. The 300 Professional series was introduced in 1993 and was an instant success with Omega customers. It was half the price of the Rolex Submariner but offered the same performance with extra features. You could get it quartz or automatic chronometer, lady’s size, and two men’s sizes. It came in stainless steel, two-tone, solid gold, titanium, with a bracelet or on a rubber strap. This version was by far the most striking and unusual. A close look reveals the grey titanium, 18 karat red gold, and the usual bluish/grey mystery metal. The curious coloured metal used between the red gold stripes in the bracelet and in the bezel is tantalum. Tantalum is very hard, dense, ductile, is easily machined, and is highly conductive to electricity and heat. It resists almost all forms of chemical attack and has a melting point of over 3000 degrees Celsius! I don’t know why we don’t see more luxury watches made from this material. The rest of this Professional is exactly the same as any other 300 meter chronograph from the series. Our watchmaker just performed a full overhaul to the modified Valjoux 7750 chronometer movement. The service also included a new original chronograph pusher, vacuum testing, and regulating to chronometer accuracy. The watch is in well worn but good overall condition. It appears to be in unpolished condition, showing little bracelet sag. It comes with its original packaging, instructions, documents, warranty (no been filled out), and even the original hang tag. When we were authorized agents for Omega we only sold this model a couple of times by special order only. At the time it cost more than twice the price of the basic stainless chronograph. Including our 1 year warranty, this rare and unusual Seamaster is estate priced at $6,000.00 CAD. Stock #510-00185.