Fellows’ monthly sale of Antique & Modern Jewellery featured 525 lots of fabulous jewellery and cocktail watches. Over 350 bidders from 24 countries registered for live bidding online against a busy saleroom and a packed gallery for telephone bids – all anticipating the sale’s star lot.

The first hour of the auction got off to a flying start with pieces selling above estimate from enthusiastic buyers setting a fast pace. A mid-20^th century platinum diamond double clip, in for £1,500-£2,000, sold for £3,900. A selection of floral spray brooches sold well, with lot 107 estimated at £4,000-£6,000 achieving £8,600 and lot 225, a late 19^th century silver and 9ct gold diamond cockerel brooch encouraged bids high above the estimate of £600-£800, finally selling for £2,300.

The auction room started to fill up with both keen bidders and a palpable buzz as the highlight of the sale approached. A magnificent single-stone diamond ring weighing 8.88cts generated international interest – unsurprising with the number eight associated with wealth and prosperity in some Chinese cultures. A flurry of telephone bids soon took the attention of the auctioneer with the lot surpassing its top estimate of £100,000 to sell for £131,000.