GOLD jewellery once again sparkled at a Somerset auction as bidders continue to covet the carats.

A range of high-end jewellery and silverware went under the hammer at the Somerset Auction Rooms, near Bridgwater, at a recent Greenslade Taylor Hunt (GTH) sale.

Among a host of items to smash through their estimates was an 18ct gold necklace, comprising handmade articulated fringe links, which sold for £6,000.

Elsewhere, a gold ring bearing the highly-regarded name, Cartier, was also among lots on offer.

In 1913, Louis Cartier commissioned an illustration of a panther at a woman’s feet for an exhibition invitation, which spawned a range of highly-prized jewellery.

The 18ct gold ring, in the form of a panther with tsavorite garnet eyes and onyx nose, stamped Cartier 55, complete with original monogrammed presentation box and outer card case was a big hit in the saleroom, selling for £2,900.

Meanwhile, two 18ct gold antique pocket watches, one with its glass face missing, and neither working, went for £1,350.

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Close behind was a natural sapphire and diamond dress ring, with an Australian gold maker’s mark, which went for £1,200.

The same figure was achieved for an antique 18ct gold serpentine link chain, while not far behind was an 18ct gold and diamond floral cluster ring, which sold for £1,000.

An 18ct bi-colour gold necklace, with an Italian maker’s mark, went for £980.

An extensive Art Nouveau silver dressing table set, attributed to the designer Kate Harris for Colen Hewer, Cheshire, sold for £950.

Harris was noted for her elegant designs, featuring sinuous botanical motifs and classical figural forms.

An 18ct tri-colour gold bracelet, featuring textured rose, yellow and whit gold Milanese links, went for £920, a good quality antique ruby, sapphire and old cut diamond 18ct ring sold for £800, a 9ct gold triple rope bracelet and necklace, hallmarked Birmingham, sold for £780 and an unusual 18ct gold and diamond dress ring with white gold horse motifs alternating with four bezel set diamonds sold for £720.

Gold and silver are enjoying particularly buoyant prices at the moment, with the price of silver hit an all-time high above $52 an ounce last month – breaking a record set in 1980.

With a turbulent global economic climate, the metals are seen as a safer investment than shares. Demand for silver has intensified as the metal is a key component in technology including electric car batteries.

So now is the perfect time for anyone looking to sell.

The next similar sale at the Somerset Auction Rooms takes place on Thursday, December 4, from 10am. For more information, contact the saleroom on 01278 410250.

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