April 24, 2024

14kt. Jadeite suite GIA reports $1,750.00 CAD (available separately) 241-00076, 206-00472, 211-00178, 231-00275

If you’re not an expert in gems it’s always best to be cautious when purchasing valuable jewellery. Many modern gem enhancements are difficult to impossible to detect by the average jeweller. Even experienced Gemologists can have trouble distinguishing some of the advanced treatments seen today. Inexpensive laboratory created gems can, and often are virtually identical to their natural counterparts that are now common in the jewellery business. Sometimes even well intentioned jewellers mistakenly sell enhanced, altered, treated, and outright synthetics gems as natural. As buyers and sellers of estate jewellery we see more than our fair share of misrepresented jewellery and precious gems. Jade is one of the most commonly altered gem materials we come across, by far the majority of Jadeite has been treated in some form. When this suite of 14 karat yellow gold Jadeite jewellery came in we assumed it had been dyed. We sent two of the four items to The Gemological Institute of American for a report. There was a chance the jade was of  natural colour, but we knew that was a long shot. Natural Jadeite of this colour would cost more than 10 times what enhanced material does. As expected the GIA results came back describing the enhancements as being bleached to remove the original brown body colour, then dyed to this beautiful apple green hue, and impregnated with a polymer to improve the finish and polish. The two GIA reports can be seen here and here. These enhancements are stable, permanent and greatly improve the appearance of this natural Jadeite jewellery. The jewellery has been crafted from 14 karat yellow gold to a high standard. The ring measures a finger size 8 and weighs in at almost 5 grams. The earrings have a spring loaded Omega backs that are easy to use and provide excellent security. The gold surface of the bangle has been decorated with hand engraved highlights. The jewellery has be packaged together but is available separately. Bangle 241-00076 $840.00, ring 206-00472 $420.00, earrings 211-00178 $280.00, pendant 231-00275 $210.00 CAD.

Ring sold.

2023 Omega Aqua bracelet 8 1/2″ BA05ST000130X never worn $300.00 CAD. 440-00044

For those who missed it the first time, this Omega bracelet is back. It was purchased as a gift but was too large for the recipient. Don’t wait long, this one is going to go fast.

If your significant other is into watches, especially an Omega Seamaster, this rare Aqua bracelet would make a great gift. You may have not even known, bit Omega produce some very beautiful jewellery pieces that you can see on their website. This bracelet (product number BA05ST000130X) can be seen online where it retails for $510.00 CAD. It measures just shy of 8 1/2 inches in length and 8mm in diameter. The dark navy blue braided texture strap is secured by a heavy duty stainless steel clasp designed in a stylized version of the corporate Omega logo. The stainless steel hardware is polished to an impeccable finish. This bracelet was purchased in the Caribbean Island of Saint Martin in January 2023 but was never worn. It comes complete with all of its original packaging and documentation along with the credit card purchase receipt. It remains in perfect unworn condition and is estate priced at $300.00 CAD. Stock #440-00044. 

SOLD

April 23, 2024

2009 Rolex Milgauss 116400LV 40mm $10,300.00 CAD. 505-00318

If you have the means and the priority, Rolex makes a watch for every man and every woman. Traditional Rolex watches are robustly made from the best components available and are considered the most reliable of any Swiss-made watch. The basic styles are suitable for almost any activity you may subject them to. There are however a few watches within the Rolex model line that have been engineered for use during some very specialized tasks. These models are known within Rolex circles as professionals. The Sea-Dweller comes to mind as a purpose-built professional diving tool that is water-tight to depths of 12,800 feet and comes with an automatic helium escape valve. Our featured professional Rolex is this black dial Milgauss. This is perhaps an even more specialized piece of equipment. The original Milgauss was introduced in 1956 as an answer to problems encountered when mechanical watches were exposed to strong magnetic fields. The introduction of the Milgauss allowed scientists to wear a watch while working in environments with extreme magnetic fields. Without magnetic protection, performing your job in strong magnetic fields would render a regular watch useless or unreliable at best. Rolex has gone to extraordinary measures in order to shield the calibre 3131 from the effects of magnetism. A special inner liner inside the Oyster case made from a proprietary Rolex blend of metals keeps the movement running within chronometer specifications even under extreme magnetic field conditions. Our latest example is in very good condition and still sports 3 original protective stickers on the case-back and buckle from its original delivery in 2009. It does display signs of use with scratches, scuffs, and dings to the case and bracelet. This is a two owner watch. The first owner has over 100 luxury watches and hardly worn it, but when he did he wore it hard. The 2nd owner had it for only about a year, wore it carefully and recently traded it back to us for something different. The sporty polished/brushed Oyster link bracelet with easy link extension shows zero wear, stretch or sag. A light polish/refinishing would have it looking practically new if you choose, but as always we’d like to leave that decision up to the next owner. It is running great and keeping excellent time. The black dial, orange lightning bolt second hand, and tinted green sapphire crystal make this an unmistakable model, to say the least. When the light grows dim the Milgauss’ luminous hands and oversized markers strongly glow making excellent nighttime legibility. The entire Milgauss line was recently retired from production making good condition all original  examples particularly attractive to collectors. A complimentary one-year Bill Le Boeuf Jewellers warranty is also included with purchase. Our estate price is $10,300.00 CAD. Stock #505-00318.

Montblanc Diver/Chronograph 41.5mm 7034 $1,700.00 CAD. 501-00329

Montblanc offer some stylish alternatives compared to the top of minds brands at a price point that is very compelling. They have the same features as the common brands and in some cases a few more. The ubiquitous diver/chronograph can found in every watch manufacturers lineup and they all pretty much look like this. Black dial, black bezel, luminous markers/hands, calendar, steel bracelet, and watertight to 200 meters or more. Montblanc’s take on the diver’s tool watch from 25 years ago is the model 7034 Meisterstück (Masterpiece). For just $1,700.00 it’s hard to argue the value of this estate watch. The date magnifying lens is on the inside of the crystal where it is not prone to getting hit. We love the luminous tapered hands that terminate to a sharp point able to display the time down to a 1/5 of a minute. The large triangular hour markers are unusual as we usually see circular or rectangular plots. An anodized aluminum bezel insert displays the elapsed time in 5 minute increments with a distinct font. There are some scuffs and scratches on the bezel but nothing very significant. The Montblanc white star logo can be found on the solid link bracelet, threaded case back, and the threaded crown. This watch comes with its original inner/outer box and instruction booklet all in very good condition. We feel this watch is 100% original and have never been polished of refinished. The bi-fold butterfly buckle nicely incorporates into the solid link bracelet. Montblanc no longer produce this model but show a basic chronograph on their website without diver function or calendar for $6,400.00 CAD. The watch is running great with all functions operating as designed. Included with purchase is our complimentary 1-year warranty. Estate priced at $1,700.00 CAD. 501-00329.

SOLD

April 22, 2024

1984 9999 fine gold Canadian Maple Leaf gold coin 1 ounce (Spot +3%). 912-000573

A lot of people have some cash squirreled away for a rainy day. That’s probably a pretty smart thing to do; you never know when you’ll need a little cash. The problem I see with that plan is that inflation will slowly erode the buying power of that cash. This is a true story that happened to us a few year back. A client of ours came in and purchased a nice pair of diamond earrings for his wife. He paid for the purchase with a $1,000.00 bill his father gave him in 1977. His father left it to him with the instructions to, “buy something special for your wife with it”. The diamond earrings he purchased for his wife certainly qualified as special, but what if he just bought some gold with the money and left it alone for the same 47 years. $1,000.00 CAD back in 1977 would have purchased around 7 ounces of gold that today are worth over $22,000.00. We’ll never tell you gold is the best investment you can make but it has historically protected people against the effects of inflation compared to holding on to your cash. Perhaps everyone should hold on to a little gold for a rainy day. You can easily convert your gold to cash when the time comes along. We usually have an ounce or two around here available for purchase. This 1 ounce Canadian Maple Leaf $50.00 (face value) is one of the most popular gold coins in the world, made to a very high 99.99% purity by the Royal Canadian Mint. A gold bullion purchase like this is tax free, no provincial or federal tax is applied to the purchase. The government deems the purchase of bullion as a financial transaction not subject to sales tax. The coin is available for just the value of gold it contains plus 3% ( 5% for credit card purchase). Up to the second gold pricing in most major world currencies can be seen here. Stock #912-00573.

SOLD