Articles From The Experts

In an age where sustainability reigns as a paramount concern, the world of luxury is undergoing a profound transformation. Amidst this shift, an ancient practice finds renewed relevance: jewellery remodelling. In this episode engagement ring specialist and fine jewellery designer Charlotte Leigh looks at how this artful process breathes new life into forgotten treasures, championing environmental...

In this episode, jewellery specialist Aurélia Turrall looks at the exquisite costume design in the award-winning show The Marvellous Mrs. Maisel, and in particular a stunning double-strand peach pearl necklace. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

For those whose homes are filled with antiques and art – particularly when they have been treasured family possessions for generations – potential replacement values for insurance can be overlooked. In this episode, art & antiques specialist Stephanie Connell shares a few examples where interesting history and excellent quality have smashed auction estimates. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/pri...

Angelica Kauffman (1741-1807), was a founder member of the Royal Academy and one of the most sought-after portrait painters of her generation. In this episode old master specialist David Dallas looks at her life and career. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Selecting the right safe is very important. A home safe is a great tool for keeping your valuables secure, but there are several factors to consider to ensure that you have the right level of protection and that your insurance is valid. In this episode, Director of Private Client Services at Insafe, Jenny Cooper, shares her tips and recommendations on why you need a safe. Hosted on Acast. See acas...

This week’s jewellery pick is a distinctive gold piece: an alligator hinged bangle crafted by Barry Kieselstein-Cord. Renowned initially for sterling silver creations, he garnered fame with his unique designs, attracting celebrities and collaborations with brands such as Calvin Klein. In this episode jewellery specialist Aurélia Turrall takes a closer look at his work. Hosted on Acast. See acast.c...

In the world of watches, Swatch reigns supreme with its unique blend of affordability, innovation, and style. Emerging in 1983 as a reaction against the quartz crisis, Swatch defied convention, and rose to prominence with their inexpensive and reliable watches. In this episode Senior Valuer & Wristwatch Specialist Alastair Meiklejon takes a closer look at the company. Hosted on Acast. See acas...

In this episode jewellery specialist Aurélia Turrall explores the history of mourning jewellery, and its popularity since Queen Victoria's mourning period after Prince Albert's death. She looks at the enduring appeal of mourning jewels, not merely as fashion statements but as heartfelt tributes to the departed. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode senior valuer and wristwatch specialist Alastair Meiklejon looks at the current wristwatch market. Recently, the view of the wristwatch world has changed completely with secondary market prices dropping, particularly for top-tier watches. However, amidst the turmoil, certain watches like the Rolex 'Starbucks' and the Patek Philippe Nautilus Chronograph saw value increases, signalli...

Undoubtedly, values within the designer jewellery world have experienced notable boosts in recent years. A distinctive amalgamation of the post-pandemic surge in luxury goods, an escalation in social media's influence on purchasing behaviors, wider inflation, and bullion prices have all played roles in fostering an exceptionally vibrant environment. As retail prices rise, the value of sought-after...

In this episode, rare book and manuscript specialist Richard Fattorini explores Beatrix Potter's timeless works. From the humble beginnings of "The Tale of Peter Rabbit" to the enchanting allure of Potter's illustrations, her books are still cherished to this day, with some first editions being highly sought-after collector's items. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Eggs have been part of Easter celebrations for hundreds of years. In this episode silver & jewellery specialist, Jenny Knott explores their history and looks at perhaps the most famous of all Easter eggs, the Fabergé egg. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Since ancient times silver and gold have been highly regarded for their natural beauty as well as their intrinsic value but why is there such a discrepancy in their values? In this episode silver specialist, Fiona Hamilton explores why gold is worth so much more than silver and tells us what to look for and avoid if you’re interested in investing. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more in...

A true sign of an endearing artist is that of the moniker - we have seen it recently with Banksy, but perhaps one of the trendsetters in this field was actually a Victorian woodworker from Yorkshire, called Robert Thompson. Otherwise known as ‘Mouseman’ or ‘Mousey’, his rarer pieces of furniture can fetch tens of thousands of pounds at auction. In this episode, Senior Valuer & Wristwatch Speci...

What do you call diamonds that are not formed underground but grown in a controlled environment that mimics the conditions under which natural diamonds develop? So, are they synthetic, lab-grown or factory grown or simply ‘diamonds’? In this episode, jewellery and watches specialist, Annabell Parry explains how lab-grown diamonds are produced, how they can be told apart from natural diamonds and l...

Antique, heirloom second-hand jewellery is a finite commodity, sometimes incorporating unrepeatable craftsmanship and irreplaceable gemstones. In this episode, jewellery specialist, Aurélia Turrall looks at some exceptional examples of antique jewellery. To see the beautiful pieces talked about in this article, please head to www.doerrvaluations.co.uk/antique-jewellery. Hosted on Acast. See acast....

On the 31st of January, Christie’s Auction House had the privilege of hosting the sale of a portion of Mark Knopfler’s remarkable guitar collection, offering enthusiasts a chance to own a piece of musical history. It saw unprecedented interest with the sale lasting over six hours and selling 100% of the lots being offered. In this episode, senior valuer & wristwatch specialist, Alastair Meikle...

The field of entertainment memorabilia collecting is expanding quickly, with objects that feature in major television series becoming highly sought after. Production companies have become more aware of the value of these assets. Once filming ceases and series end, auctions of costumes and props are becoming more of a common occurrence. In this episode, art and antiques specialist, Stephanie Connel...

In part two of our two-part Valentine’s Day special, Liz Bailey, jewellery & wristwatch specialist at Doerr Dallas Valuations give us a few ideas on ways to celebrate, share, and spread the love this year with our jewellery gift guide for that special man in your life. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In part one of our two-part Valentine’s Day special, Helen Doyle, jewellery, handbag & wristwatch specialist at Doerr Dallas Valuations give us a few ideas on ways to celebrate, share, and spread the love this year with our guide to what women want for Valentine’s Day. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Lunar New Year, which begins on the 10th of February in 2024, is the largest festival in many East and Central Asian cultures, and this year will be the year of the dragon, one of the most prevalent symbols in Asian material culture. In this episode Asian art specialist, Ashley Crawford explores the use of the dragon in embroidery, one of East Asia’s oldest decorative arts traditions. Hosted on Ac...

In this episode, read by Ben Hanly and written by old master specialist David Dallas, we review the Old Master Sales that took place in December last year. Set against the current geo-political situation, hear how a few special paintings made almost 40% of the three major London auction house’s combined sales total. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It’s the Year of the Dragon in East Asian cultures and the dragon has always held a significant place in folklore and history, with emperors associating themselves with the dragon as a symbol of imperial authority and strength. The Dragon has often been used for many decorative items throughout history in the art world and even further afield. In this episode, Senior Valuer & Wristwatch Specia...

Awards season is under way and the glamourous red-carpet gowns and jewels are all over the media. In this episode, jewellery specialist, Aurélia Turrall looks at the jewellery brands that rocked this year’s Golden Globes. Want to know what the celebrities wear on a night out? Take a listen. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Often insurance values have been gathered through somewhat standard avenues of what was paid for the item and “what we think it is worth/or worth to us”. However, this method more often than not means items are undervalued. In this episode, senior valuer & wristwatch specialist, Alastair Meiklejon explores the biggest problem in the valuations and insurance industry, underinsurance. Hosted on...