A sale in Milan featuring 325 lots, including jewelry from major fashion houses, precious stones, and rare vintage watches ♦
Faraone Auction House’s now-traditional jewelry auction returns on November 30th at its Milanese headquarters on Via Montenapoleone 9. This year’s sale comprises 325 lots, divided into three sessions: the first, held in the morning, is dedicated to tableware and decorative silver, concluding with a selection of more contemporary items; the following two sessions, taking place in the afternoon, are devoted to jewelry, vintage timepieces, and designer watches.
The jewelry selection includes pieces from renowned houses such as Cartier, Bulgari, Buccellati, Boucheron, Pomellato, and Faraone. Among the most significant lots is a Cartier “Penelope” bracelet, crafted in yellow gold and featuring the iconic double-C motif, embellished with round-cut diamonds and accompanied by its original box and guarantee. Also featured are pieces by Bulgari, including a necklace from the “Chandra” collection—a line that, since its debut in 1994, has challenged the conventions of traditional jewelry by making an unconventional material—white porcelain—the centerpiece. From the same Roman house comes an 18-karat yellow gold “Celtaura” cuff bracelet, set with white pearls and round-cut diamonds, as well as a double-strand “Gemme Nummarie” pearl necklace featuring a gold coin.
Precious Stones
In addition to jewelry, the auction also highlights colored gemstones, with a particular focus on Colombian emeralds. Among the most significant lots is a brooch featuring an octagonal emerald weighing approximately 8.80 carats, surrounded by round, old-mine-cut diamonds totaling about 11.75 carats; the brooch comes with an SSEF certificate. Also featured is an unmounted 12.96-carat octagonal emerald, accompanied by a Cisgem certificate, alongside an 18-karat white gold ring set with a 7.80-carat octagonal emerald, encircled by pear-shaped and marquise-cut diamonds totaling approximately 4 carats, with accompanying SSEF certification.
The catalog further includes a pair of platinum earrings, adorned with round and marquise-cut diamonds (10 carats total) and two pear-shaped emeralds with a combined weight of approximately 12.20 carats. The selection is rounded out by two white gold rings: one, crafted in 18-karat gold, features an oval cabochon sapphire of approximately 9 carats accented by round and baguette-cut diamonds, and comes with a Dunaigre certificate; the second features an oval sapphire of about 6 carats and round diamonds totaling approximately 3 carats, accompanied by a Cisgem certificate. Among the diamonds, a white gold solitaire ring stands out, set with a 9.53-carat octagonal-cut diamond. Also highly anticipated is a yellow gold ring featuring a 3.80-carat round brilliant-cut diamond and carré-cut diamonds, as well as a separate 4.20-carat brilliant-cut diamond—both of which are part of the selection dedicated to larger-sized gemstones. Also featured is a Tiffany & Co. platinum ring, set with a 2.24-carat octagonal-cut diamond and accented by a diamond pavé; it comes with its iconic original blue box and warranty.
Watches
The auction also includes timepieces from Vacheron Constantin, Rolex, Patek Philippe, Cartier, and Jaeger-LeCoultre. Among the selection is a collection of Cartier watches that spans nearly a century of the brand’s horological history. A notable highlight is a Cartier Mini Tank “Backwinder” (reference 030312), featuring an 18-karat yellow gold case measuring just 13 x 27 mm, an original crocodile strap, and a yellow gold deployant clasp. The model’s unique feature is its “Backwinder” winding system—with the crown positioned on the case back—a design choice that preserves the clean, uninterrupted lines of the case. This watch is in excellent condition and includes its original box.
Also up for auction is a white gold Cartier Baignoire, with a diamond-pavé bezel, an integrated bracelet with rounded *godron* links, and a crown set with a cabochon-cut diamond. A Cartier Tonneau Dual Time from the 2000s—featuring a 39 x 26 mm white gold case with a diamond-set bezel—comes with its original crocodile strap, white gold deployant clasp, box, and warranty. Additionally, a 1925 Art Déco Cartier timepiece features a small, 14 x 19 mm platinum case, with a bezel and links adorned with *huit-huit* (eight-cut), *rosette*, and old-cut diamonds. The manual-winding mechanical movement and the certificate of authenticity accompany a timepiece that bears witness to the dialogue between jewelry-making and watchmaking during the early decades of the twentieth century.
