Free appraisal of collector's 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 will 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 value on the current market.

Then, if you wish to sell your work, we will direct you to the best possible arrangement to obtain the optimum price.

Their value can vary according to the material : gold jewelry is always highly prized, but original creations set with precious stones or diamonds are all the more prized.

Rating and value of collectible watches and jewelry

High jewelry and fine watchmaking creations are highly prized items at auction. They are collected by bidders of all nationalities. Now, prices for these objects can rise considerably under the auctioneer's hammer.

The Cartier watches and Rolex are particularly prized as are necklaces Van Cleef & Arpels and original creations Jean Mahie, by buyers from all over the world.

The price at which they're selling on the art market ranges from €130 to €1,118,000, at the moment, a substantial gap 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 between €20,000 and €30,000. 

Order of value from a simple creation to the most prestigious

Haute jewelry and haute horlogerie creations

Haute jewelry and haute horlogerie creations, whether vintage or modern, reflect the constant evolution of luxury and craftsmanship.

These pieces, true testaments 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, incite contemplation of an era when craftsmanship was at the heart of the creative process.

Vintage watches, such as the iconic pieces by Patek Philippe or Rolex, are renowned for their precision, sophisticated mechanics and ability to cross generations without losing their brilliance.

Every piece of vintage jewelry, whether it's a diamond necklace signed Cartier or an Art Deco brooch by Van Cleef & Arpels, tells a story, an era when the art of jewelry-making was dominated by opulence and extravagance of form.

These creations were designed to last, often passed 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 heirlooms, fragments of history imbued with the culture and elegance of their time. 

Modern creations, meanwhile, are often the product of technological innovation and new market expectations.

Contemporary haute horlogerie, with houses such as Audemars Piguet, Richard Mille or F.P. Journe, is constantly pushing back the boundaries of precision and design.

These modern watches, while retaining perfect mastery of mechanics, incorporate innovative materials such as titanium or ceramics and sometimes novel horological complications.

These watches are no longer just instruments for measuring time, they become works of art, objects of desire that incorporate technological advances and respond to a quest for performance and exclusivity.

In parallel, modern jewelry creations, more daring and avant-garde, challenge the conventions of traditional jewelry.

Today's great designers, such as Chopard or Bulgari, play with geometric shapes, bright colors and unexpected materials, combining the aesthetics of contemporary design with the brilliance of precious stones.

These creations are aimed at a new generation of collectors and enthusiasts, in search of originality and singularity, but they remain rooted in a 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 testifies to the constant evolution of this art.

While the former celebrate a timeless heritage and exceptional savoir-faire, the latter embody the 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 times, while preserving the soul of a tradition that never ceases to reinvent itself.

The history of a royal collector's jewel

The history of a royal collector's jewel 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 Museum, perfectly embodies the opulence and refinement of the court of Versailles.

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 weathered 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, stirs up both fascination and covetousness, 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 not just an ornament, it carries with it the legacy of a bygone world, a world of pomp and decadence, intrigue and magnificence.

It embodies an era when every detail had significance, every diamond a symbolic value.

The tiara, today perceived as a royal treasure, 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 through its rarity and its history marked by the trials of time.

The story of Queen Marie-Antoinette's Breguet No. 160

The story of a famous watch is above all that of an object of precision and prestige, a symbol of horological 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 watch, a minute repeater, 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 horological 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 aspect. In the aftermath of the Revolution, it disappeared into 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.

His 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, becomes a living legend, a piece that crosses the ages with the brilliance of a royal heirloom.

The "Breguet No. 160" goes beyond the simple status of 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 between mechanical ingenuity and aesthetic beauty, a subtle marriage between science and craftsmanship.

This watch, which has spanned the centuries, 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 watch or jewel

If you happen to own a collector's watch or jewel, don't hesitate to request a free appraisal using our form on our website.

A member of our team of experts and chartered 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 wish to sell your item, our specialists will also be on hand to offer you alternatives for selling it at the best possible price, taking into account market inclinations.