JEWELLERY GROWS IN VALUE

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30413, 11 April 1964, Page 2

JEWELLERY GROWS IN VALUE

[By ZALIA THOMAS] LONDON. Since the fact became known that the Queen was having her personal jewellery revalued, owners of good jewels are taking a long, hard look at their own insurance premiums. They are finding that insur-

ance taken out 10 years ago is unrealistic today, because values have increased, some by more than 50 per cent. Some gems have increased in value by even more, notably emeralds, rubies and sapphires (because of their scarcity), while diamonds have steadily maintained their increasing value every year, particularly fine solitaires.

Leading salerooms provide striking evidence of the sometimes spectacular increases in the prices of pieces that have been up for resale. An emerald and diamond necklace, for example, which was sold in 1958 for £2700, fetched £3lOO when sent for resale five years later. An emerald and diamond corsage ornament which was sold by a peeress in 1952 for £2500 fetched £6OOO only four years later.

Victorian jewellery, which sold in “job lots” up to a couple of years ago, is now often offered piece by piece and sometimes fetches more than treble the price prevailing when it was made. People who “invested" in good jewellery 10 years ago have found their investment to have appreciated incredibly; and, like the Queen, they will have to think again about their insurance cover.