FARAONE CASA D’ASTE: 323 LOTS AT AUCTION ON DECEMBER 2ND
Among the highlights: jewellery by Buccellati, Cartier, Bulgari and David Webb, vintage watches by Rolex and Patek Philippe, and handbags by Hermès, Chanel and Gucci. The morning session will close with a charity auction of silverware in aid of Opera San Francesco.
In an era of economic uncertainty, luxury continues to prove a solid investment and a meaningful cultural choice. Prestigious brands, rare gemstones and vintage jewellery remain safe havens combining financial stability and aesthetic appeal, while collecting increasingly embraces an emotional dimension that celebrates time as a legacy of value. Against this backdrop, Faraone Casa d’Aste — a leading name in high-end jewellery auctions — presents its year-end sale, scheduled for December 2nd at its headquarters in Via Montenapoleone 9, Milan, and live-streamed through the MyFaraone app and by phone.
The catalogue, featuring 323 lots, offers a curated selection of fine jewellery, vintage watches and iconic handbags, concluding with a charity section in support of Opera San Francesco.
HIGHLY COVETED JEWELS
The auction features master jewellers who shaped the history of fine jewellery — Buccellati, Bulgari, Cartier and David Webb — alongside diamonds and gemstones of exceptional calibre.
Under the Gianmaria Buccellati name, a rare “Solo Oro” demi-parure in 18K white and yellow gold stands out, composed of a collier de chien and transformable pendant earrings with mesh motif and cultured pearls, together with an openwork ring set with a cushion-cut diamond of approximately 10 carats, framed by half-rosette diamonds.
Bulgari is represented by a “Gemme Nummarie” necklace in yellow gold with a Roman coin from the reign of Constantius Chlorus (292–304 AD), an 18K gold Parentesi bangle, a gourmette-link necklace with pink and green tourmalines, and a Marina B. “Cimin” bracelet in yellow gold with multicolour quartz.
Cartier enriches the line-up with a “Lignes Essentielles” 18K white gold and diamond necklace (total 7.50 ct), the iconic 18K yellow gold Love bracelet fully pavé-set with diamonds, and a refined Tank Française Lady in yellow gold, joined by a rare 1970s Ellipse in the large version.
The artistry of American jeweller David Webb is expressed in a sophisticated demi-parure in 18K white gold and platinum set with rock crystal and diamonds (2.40 ct total), complemented by another demi-parure of yellow gold and enamel earrings and ring with the brand’s signature woven motif, and a pair of “zebra” cufflinks.
Among the standout gemstones: an oval Ceylon sapphire ring (11.71 ct) surrounded by round diamonds (2.70 ct, CISGEM certificate), an oval Burma ruby (7.89 ct) with diamonds totalling 3.40 ct, and an oval Colombian emerald (10.50 ct) mounted in 18K white gold with baguette and round diamonds (4.60 ct). Noteworthy too, an Illario platinum ring with a 5.60 ct cushion-cut sapphire (SSEF certificate) and three brilliant-cut diamonds of 3.21 ct, 3.90 ct and 4.53 ct, each with certificates.
VINTAGE WATCHES
Fine watchmaking confirms its role as a high-value investment segment. The Rolex selection includes a rare 1980s Comex Submariner ref. 16800 with engraved case back, a 1980s GMT Master “Pepsi” ref. 1675, a 1970s Submariner 1680, a 1940s/50s monopusher chronograph ref. 1215 and an elegant 1930s Prince ref. 2730.
From Patek Philippe, the iconic Nautilus ref. 3700/1 from the early 1970s, complete with Archive Extract and recent service, headlines the offering. The section also features Vacheron Constantin, Omega and Tag Heuer — brands epitomising the perfect balance between tradition and collector value.
ICONIC HANDBAGS: LUXURY AS AN INVESTMENT
Handbags — increasingly recognised as alternative luxury assets — stand out for both quantity and rarity. Among Hermès models, highlights include the 1992 Kelly 32 in Black Niloticus Crocodile, the 2024 Kelly Retourné 28 in Gris Misty Togo, the 1996 Kelly Sellier 28 in Chocolate Box, and the 2007 Birkin 35 in Taupe Ostrich. The selection also includes historical pieces such as the 1990 Kelly 32 in Dark Brown Box and the 1995 Kelly Chourchevel Gold, alongside a 2011 Birkin 35 in Taupe Togo, all complete with original accessories and dustbags.
The Chanel section offers true icons designed by Karl Lagerfeld, including the Boy bag in aged-effect suede, the 1990s Lizard Mademoiselle, the quilted gold calfskin Camera bag, the Mini Timeless in midnight blue silk, and vintage pieces in fuchsia and navy satin, the metallic 31 Rue Cambon, and the black patent Vanity case. Fendi, Gucci and other maisons complete a panorama narrating fashion history as a tangible heritage of style and value.
CHARITY AUCTION
Concluding the morning session, a charity auction of silverware in support of Opera San Francesco for the poor transforms elegance into solidarity: a selection of table and collectible silver pieces where aesthetic value meets genuine generosity.
With this new appointment, Faraone Casa d’Aste reaffirms its role in the international collecting scene as a meeting point between culture, investment and beauty — from diamonds to handbags, from watches to silverware — each lot a fragment of history destined to endure through time.