Coloured precious stones and designer jewellery were in demand at Halls £300,0000 autumn fine pictures, silver, jewellery, coins and medal auction. Maryanne Lineker-Mobberley, head of Hall’s silver and jewellery department, was delighted with the prices achieved across the auction, which attracted a good mix of private buyers, dealers stocking up for Christmas and international bidders.

The weakness of the pound against other currencies attracted a flurry of Internet bidding from across America, with silver and coins the two main targets.

In the jewellery section, an Art Deco single stone, cushion cut sapphire ring sold for £4,200, an attractive emerald, diamond and cultured pearl set hinged bangle made £3,000 and a red zircon and diamond cluster ring sparkled at £1,900.

Designer jewellery, in the form of an 18 carat gold amethyst, baroque pearl and diamond brooch by Elizabeth Gage, found a new home for £2,800.

Other leading prices included £1,050 for a late 19th century diamond bangle and £900 for a yellow and white metal cube and bar link necklace and bracelet.

Watches performed well, as a George III gold pair case open face verge pocket watch made in London in 1797 made £1,650, a lady’s stainless steel Rolex Oyster Perpetual Date Superlative Chronometer bracelet wristwatch sold for £1,150 and a gentleman’s late 19th century 18 carat gold open face chronograph pocket watch made in Chester in 1872 sold for £1,000.

Stars of the silver section were an early 20th century Russian silver and cloisonne enamel cigarette case which sold for £1,250 and two sets of silver flatware made £2,200 and £1,750.

A comprehensive cased silver and tortoiseshell mounted travelling dressing table set, all hallmarked Charles Henry Dumenil, London 1912, together with a large silver bottle and an eight piece silver and tortoiseshell mounted dressing set by Synyer & Beddoes, Birmingham 1913 raced away from its pre-sale estimate to sell for £1,700.

Miss Lineker-Mobberley said: “Clearly there continues to be growing demand for coloured precious stones and designer jewellery by good names. The silver and jewellery section was buoyant because dealers were out in forced building up stock for Christmas.”

Halls’ fine art director Jeremy Lamond was pleased with the prices achieved across all sections of the auction. He believed the weakness of the pound and high quality entries were encouraging people to invest their money in precious stones, gold and quality art.

Picture captions:

Lot 297: An emerald, diamond and cultured pearl set hinged bangle sold for £3,000.

Lot 298: An Art Deco single stone sapphire ring sold for £4,200.

An 18 carat gold amethyst, baroque pearl and diamond brooch by Elizabeth Gage sold home for £2,800.