A beautiful Victorian diamond bracelet dating from about 1890 would make an unusual Christmas jewellery gift in O'Reilly's Christmas sale next Wednesday.
Set in a solid bangle of warm Victorian 18ct gold, the diamonds graduate on both sides from a large stone in the centre. In all, there is 9 carats worth of old cut diamonds which are very bright and clear. It is estimated to sell for €14,000-€16,000.
Another gift idea would be a continental diamond ring, also from about 1890, which is set in a daisy shape with one big stone in the middle and nine smaller ones clustered around it, all original cuts. This is estimated at €12,000-€14,000. There is also Victorian and Edwardian jewellery at the lower end of the price scale, including antique gold curb link bracelets from €250-€550, depending on the weight of the gold in them.
Particularly pretty is an antique gold brooch, set with turquoises and seed pearls in the shape of two shamrocks interlocked from about 1910 (€180-€220).
For silver lovers, an Irish George III cream jug, dated Dublin 1802, with bright cut decoration, would be well matched with a slightly later twin-handled sugar bowl, also bright cut, from 1811 (€400-€600 each).