May 16, 2025

10 karat, 3.5mm wide herring bone necklace, 16″, 8.8 grams, $700.00 CAD. 431-00735

Some jewellery styles just age better than others. The 80s had more than their fair share of fashion flops when it came to jewellery design, but the herringbone necklace wasn’t one of them. These flattened link classics are still popular with our customers looking for vintage estate jewellery. In fact they sell so well we can’t understand why they are no longer being produced. This one is a survivor and remains in excellent condition showing no areas of stress or kinks. It measures a significant 3.5mm wide and is quite thick at 0.7mm. When these are made too thin they can easily kink and invisibly repairing them is next to impossible for even a very skilled goldsmith. The shorter length of 16 inches, heavier gauge, and slightly harder 10 karat construction should help protect this example from damage caused by creasing. These herringbone necklaces look almost like a seamless ribbon of gold that contours to the neckline. The flat surface with beveled edges catch the light better than almost any other chain style. It is secured by an easy to operate good sized lobster clasp. This necklace is in excellent condition showing no wear. It is estate priced at $700.00 CAD. Stock #431-00735.

May 15, 2025

1970s 18kt. Piaget Altiplano 13603 automatic 32.1mm x 5.7mm thick. $3,000.00 CAD. 501-00394

If you’ve been searching for a conservative looking automatic dress watch but can’t get your head around quartz powered, and don’t want the added bulk/thickness associated with most self winding watches, a vintage Piaget like this could be the illusive model you didn’t know existed. Piaget are a Swiss manufacturer that’s been around since 1874 specializing in high precision movements and components. In the late 1950s they stunned the watchmaking world when they introduced a hand wind mechanism that measured only 2mm in thickness. A few years later they introduced an ultra thin automatic movement measuring 2.3mm! Instead of a large centrally located winding rotor the watchmakers at Piaget moved their small micro-rotor far off to the side, so other mechanical parts could be located on the same plane. The edge of the tiny rotor actually sits outside the movements main plate. A section of the case needed to be milled out on this watch in order for the rotor to spin freely. The rotor itself is made from a solid piece of pure 24 karat gold. Pure gold is very heavy giving the tiny rotor more mechanical winding leverage as the watch is worn. The diminutive movement also features a 31 date calendar for some extra utility and complexity, but only added 0.5mm to the design. To make the movement a thin as possible the dial, hands, and crystal clearance is almost nothing. The overall case thickness is just 5.7mm, about the small as 3 Canadian nickels. The sapphire crystal is tough and durable, it is set well above the bezel in order to protect the soft gold case. The case back is also made much heavier than necessary weighing 6.2 grams and measuring 0.5mm in thickness. If Piaget wanted they could have easily made this watch even thinner but that would have meant giving up some durability. The 30 jewel movement has 6 adjustments for positional errors adding to excellent timekeeping characteristics. The 40 hour power reserve is also impressive given the limited space for a large mainspring. The watch is in good condition showing less wear than you’d expect from a 50 year watch. The case shows scuffs, dings, and scratched associated with use. The sapphire crystal remains scratch free showing perfect optics. The dial shows minor discolouration around the edge and a few tiny spots. 32.1mm may sound quite tiny in today’s world, but the this watch is almost all dial, so even beside a 36mm Rolex Datejust the surface area of the face is actually larger. Attached to the watch is a black leather strap secured by the original solid 18 karat gold signed Piaget buckle. The watch is running well and comes with our complementary 1-year warranty. This uncommon and collectable Piaget is estate priced at only $3,000.00 CAD. Stock #501-00394.

May 14, 2025

Art Deco styled sapphire & diamond earrings 7.6gr. 14kt. 1.75ct. total weight. $2,600.00 CAD. 211-00228

The Art Deco period from the 1920s to 1930s was influential throughout society and changed the way almost everything was styled. Architecture, automotive, to even household products, almost everything received the geometric treatment with opulent materials and bold colour contrasts. Trends come and go but classic style endures. Original Art Deco jewellery is among the most popular with our estate jewellery customers. These sapphire and diamond earrings look like an original from the 1920s but they are actually of modern Canadian manufacture by Crescendo Jewellery Toronto. High quality and proudly made in Canada have always been hallmarks of the brand. Crescendo were one of Bill Le Boeuf Jewellers first suppliers when our business opened over 65 years ago. These earrings weigh a substantial 7.6 grams in upgraded 14 karat yellow and white gold. The two-tone appearance isn’t artificially achieved with a simple rhodium plating on yellow gold but a separate white gold cast section soldered to a yellow gold frame. The earrings have been hand set with 50 natural round brilliant cut diamonds of very nice SI-I quality. The focal point of each earring is the bezel set oval blue sapphire in the centre. Each sapphire measures approximately 6mm x 4mm and are estimated to weight 1.00 carats in total. They exhibit a strong bright blue colour and have very good clarity. Spring loaded Omega backs over wire posts secure the earrings and keep them in place. Pressure from the spring backs help disperse the weight of the 20.5mm long earrings. They are in excellent condition showing no areas on wear. We have a Crescendo Jewellery catalogue that still shows these earrings (model E1698) along with a matching pendant if you wanted to build a set. The earrings are estate priced at $2,600.00 CAD. Stock #211-00228.

May 13, 2025

Breitling Avenger II Seawolf A17331 45mm with extra straps/buckles. $3,200.00 CAD. 515-00108

In keeping with the popularity of large, overachieving watches, we present this Breitling Avenger II Seawolf (even the name is impressive). This is one of Breitling’s most qualified diver’s watches. It is water-resistant to an indicated 10,000 feet or 3,000 meters. The water pressure at this depth is well over 2 tons per square inch. Incorporated into the 45mm stainless steel case is an automatic helium escape valve. This feature may come in handy if you decide to do a really really deep dive, requiring living in a diving bell breathing a mixture of helium and oxygen for extended periods of time. Pressurized helium gas can penetrate the case gaskets and push the crystal out when decompressing if the watch isn’t equipped with such a valve. It does make for an interesting conversation point if someone asks what the little button on the side is for. The rest of the watch is pretty typical for most luxury diver watches. A one-way 60-minute bezel timer, threaded crown, screwed on case back, and heavy stainless steel bracelet with locking buckle round out the diver features.  Large, thick, luminous hands and hour markers provide excellent legibility in any condition or situation. It comes complete with a Breitling inner/outer box, extra green rubber BREITLING embossed strap with signed buckle, a generic NATO nylon striped strap and a Breitling signed NATO style buckle. All accessories and straps are in perfect condition. The watch is in very good to excellent condition, showing only minor scuffs and scratches on the case and bracelet. These minor blemishes can be removed while you wait if you’d like the watch to look perfect. Included with purchase is our complimentary one year warranty. The watch is estate priced at $3,500.00 CAD. Stock #515-00108.

May 12, 2025

15.00 carat citrine drop earrings in 14 karat gold wire drop settings. $250.00 CAD. 211-00251

These drop earrings should be a big hit with our customers, too bad this is the only set we have. The warm yellowish orange colour is perfect for the long summer days we’ve been waiting for. They have been hand crafted using thin gauge 14 karat yellow gold Sheppard’s hooks and an equally thin wire bezel setting. The resulting creation is an explosion of colour that blends almost invisibly with the minimal gold wire frames. Each natural citrine quartz measures 17.5mm x 12.5mm and have been calculated to weigh 7.50 carats! They are quite large but with a total weight of just over 4 grams for the pair, you’ll forget you’re even wearing them. The citrines are in perfect condition, showing no scuffs, nicks, or scratches of any kind. Earrings continue to be one of our most popular estate categories and often get snapped up the same day we post them. This set is estate priced at $250.00 CAD. Stock #211-00251.

SOLD