Get a free appraisal of your jewelry and watches
If you own a collector's watch or piece of jewelry and would like to know its value, our state-approved experts and auctioneers can offer you their appraisal services.
Our specialists will carry out a free appraisal of your work, and provide you with a precise estimate of its current market value.
Then, if you want to sell your work, we'll point you in the right direction to get the best possible price for it.
Their value can vary according to the material: gold jewelry is always highly prized, but original creations set with precious stones or diamonds are even more sought-after.
Rating and value of collector's watches and jewelry
Haute joaillerie and haute horlogerie creations are highly prized items at auction. They are collected by bidders of all nationalities. Nowadays, prices for these objects can rise considerably under the auctioneer's hammer.
The Cartier watches and Rolex are particularly popular, as are Van Cleef & Arpels necklaces and original Jean Mahieby buyers from all over the world.
The price at which they are selling on the art market ranges from €130 to €1,118,000, for the moment, a substantial difference but one that says a lot about the value that can be attributed to these objects.
In 2021, an exceptional watch, Peau de panthère, in platinum, lacquer, diamonds and onyx sold for €331,000, originally estimated at €20,000 to €30,000.
Order of value ranging from a simple creation to the most prestigious
Jewel / watch | Results |
---|---|
Creation Jean Mahie | From €600 to €13,500 |
Cartier Bracelet | From €2,200 to €27,000 |
Rolex Watch | From €150 to €423,000 |
VCA necklace and sautoir (including Alhambra) | From €900 to €429,000 |
Cartier Ring | From €130 to €1,118,000 |
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Haute joaillerie and haute horlogerie creations
Haute joaillerie and haute horlogerie creations, whether vintage or modern, reflect the constant evolution of luxury and craftsmanship.
These pieces, true witnesses to exceptional craftsmanship, transcend their primary function to become symbols of status, prestige and history.
Vintage creations, inherited from the great jewelry and watchmaking houses, invite contemplation of an era when craftsmanship was at the heart of the creative process.
Timepieces of yesteryear, such as the iconic Patek Philippe or Rolex timepieces, are renowned for their precision, sophisticated mechanics and ability to endure through the generations without losing their lustre.
Each piece of vintage jewelry, whether a diamond necklace by Cartier or an Art Deco brooch by Van Cleef & Arpels, tells a story, a time when the art of jewelry was dominated by opulence and extravagance of form.
These creations were designed to last, often handed down from generation to generation, and continue to evoke a special emotion through their timeless beauty.
The striking aspect of vintage creations lies in their ability to preserve a collective memory. They embody an era when manual labor reigned, and each piece, whether a watch or a piece of jewelry, bears witness to a quest for artisanal perfection.
These objects are not just accessories, but legacies, fragments of history imbued with the culture and elegance of their time.
Modern creations, on the other hand, are often the product of technological innovation and new market expectations.
Contemporary haute horlogerie, with houses such as Audemars Piguet, Richard Mille and F.P. Journe, is constantly pushing back the boundaries of precision and design.
These modern watches, while retaining a perfect mastery of mechanics, incorporate innovative materials such as titanium or ceramics, and sometimes novel horological complications.
These watches are no longer simply time-measuring instruments; they become works of art, objects of desire that incorporate technological advances and respond to a quest for performance and exclusivity.
At the same time, modern jewelry designs, more daring and avant-garde, are challenging the conventions of traditional jewelry.
Today's leading designers, such as Chopard and Bulgari, play with geometric shapes, bright colors and unexpected materials, combining contemporary design aesthetics with the brilliance of precious stones.
These creations are aimed at a new generation of collectors and enthusiasts in search of originality and uniqueness, but they remain rooted in the tradition of quality and perfection for which these houses are renowned.
The union of vintage and modern creations in the world of haute joaillerie and haute horlogerie bears witness to the constant evolution of this art form.
While the former celebrate a timeless heritage and exceptional expertise, the latter embody a perpetual quest for perfection and innovation.
Together, they illustrate a human fascination with aesthetics and technique, and show how, through the ages, luxury and craftsmanship remain expressions of refinement, history and exclusivity.
These pieces continue to mark their time, while preserving the soul of a tradition that never ceases to reinvent itself.
The story of a royal collector's jewel
The history of a royal jewel collection is above all that of a symbol of power, elegance and prestige.
Among the most emblematic pieces, Queen Marie-Antoinette's famous tiara, now on display at the Louvre, perfectly embodies the opulence and refinement of the Versailles court.
Created by Parisian jeweler Jean-Baptiste Mellerio in 1778, this tiara is the very expression of late 18th-century royal luxury. It subtly blends the brilliance of diamonds with the elegance of form, and each stone was chosen not only for its quality, but also for its symbolic power.
This jewel, adorned with rose-cut diamonds, is not only a fashion accessory, but also an instrument of representation, a means for the queen to assert her authority and status in a world where appearance was as important as the reality of power.
The piece survived the tumult of the French Revolution. As the monarchy collapsed and valuables were prized, the tiara was dispersed and sold, before disappearing into anonymity.
It was only in the 20th century, thanks to the research of art historians and collectors, that the tiara was rediscovered, carried by the traces of history and the mysteries of time.
This return to the spotlight, after decades of disappearance, embodies the enduring power of history. The jewel, once again precious, arouses both fascination and lust, like a solved enigma, a fragment of the former glory of the French court.
The tiara thus becomes a testament to the genius of the craftsmen of the time, a piece where elegance and power meet in perfect balance.
This work is more than just an ornament; it carries with it the legacy of a bygone world, a world of pomp and decadence, intrigue and magnificence.
She embodies an era when every detail had a meaning, every diamond a symbolic value.
Today perceived as a royal treasure, the tiara remains above all a work of art at the crossroads between the glorious past and the admiring present, an exceptional object that continues to fascinate by its rarity and its history marked by the trials of time.
The story of Queen Marie-Antoinette's Breguet No. 160
The history of a famous watch is first and foremost that of an object of precision and prestige, a symbol of watchmaking genius and timeless elegance.
Among the most remarkable pieces, Queen Marie-Antoinette's "Breguet No. 160" watch is a shining example of this perfect alchemy between art and mechanics. Commissioned by the sovereign herself from the famous watchmaker Abraham-Louis Breguet in 1782, this minute-repeater watch was not only an exceptional timepiece, it became a masterpiece of horology.
Its gold and platinum case, adorned with diamonds and rubies, conceals a mechanism of rare complexity, capable of striking the hours and minutes with absolute precision.
Legend has it that Queen Marie-Antoinette, fascinated by watchmaking innovation, wanted to own the ultimate object, one that would symbolize both her wealth and her taste for perfection.
But the history of this watch is not limited to its royal appearance. In the aftermath of the Revolution, it disappeared in the meanders of time, swept away by the tumult of history.
For over a century, this watch, synonymous with grandeur and mystery, remained untraceable, until it reappeared at an auction in 2004, having been found in the reserves of the Musée de la Légion d'Honneur in France.
Its return to the international scene, at the price of a record sale, rekindled the fascination for this exceptional object. The watch, now acquired by a private collector, has become a living legend, a timepiece that crosses the ages with the lustre of a royal heirloom.
The "Breguet No. 160" is more than just a watch. It embodies the excellence of 18th-century watchmaking and bears witness to the desires of a bygone era. It links past and present, a memory of a time when every manufacturing gesture was an act of art.
Beyond its rarity, it represents the intersection of mechanical ingenuity and aesthetic beauty, a subtle marriage of science and craftsmanship.
This watch, which has stood the test of time, remains a timeless symbol of luxury and refinement, a legacy of the French court, today admired the world over as a priceless treasure.
Know the value of a collector's jewel or watch
If you happen to own a collector's watch or piece of jewelry, don't hesitate to request a free appraisal using the form on our website.
A member of our team of experts and certified auctioneers will contact you promptly to provide you with an estimate of the market value of your piece, as well as any relevant information about it.
If you want to sell your property, our specialists will also help you find alternatives to sell it at the best possible price, taking into account market trends.
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