Author Archive: Doerr Dallas Valuations

Meet the jewellery team – Helen & Sammantha

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Profile – Helen Doyle

Jewellery, Handbag and Wristwatch Specialist

Helen has a wealth of knowledge and over 20 years of experience in the industry. From a family of art and antique dealers and auctioneers, she earned her gemmology diploma from The Gemmological Association of Great Britain.

Experience

She joined the jewellery department at Bonham’s Auctioneers before moving on to lead roles at various asset lenders in London and New York. As her career has progressed, she has also become a specialist in valuing designer handbags and watches. She has been lucky enough to value some exceptionally important pieces throughout her career.

Passionate about keeping up to date with market trends, she prides herself on offering an excellent level of customer service and has a remarkable eye for detail.

About

Helen now lives in Cheltenham working as a valuer and running her own business selling antique jewellery and designer handbags. She loves exploring antique fairs and auctions for new stock. In her spare time, she enjoys restringing pearls and taking her cocker spaniel Ruby for walks in the Cotswolds.

Spot-light

Helen’s favourite piece to value was a rare solid silver Hermes Kelly handbag. Helen loves antique Cartier, Van Cleef and pretty Victorian rings.

Covering

  • South West
  • East & West Midlands
  • Wales

Profile – Sammantha Maclachlan

Jewellery & Wristwatch Specialist

Sammantha Maclachlan FGA DGA MJVA MIRV is an independent registered valuer specialising in jewellery and watches. With over 18 years of experience in the luxury jewellery industry, she has gained valuable expertise with brands such as Mikimoto, Rolex and Patek Philippe.

Professional Qualifications

A senior accredited gemologist, Sammantha is a fellow of the Gemmological Association of Great Britain and a holder of the diamond and gemmology diploma. Sammantha prides herself in offering the highest level of customer service in a professional and friendly manner.

  • Fellow of the Gemmological Association of Great Britain (FGA)
  • Diamond diploma from the Gemmological Association of Great Britain (DGA)
  • Member of the National Association of Jewellers Institute of Registered Valuers (MIRV)
  • Member of the Jewellery Valuers Association (MJVA)
  • Applied Jewelry Professional from the Gemological Institute of America (GIA AJP)
  • Professional Jewellers Diploma from the NAJ (PJ Dip)
  • Cultured pearl specialist from Cultured Pearl Association (CPAA)
  • Diamond grader with the International Gemmological Institute Antwerp (IGI)
  • Certificate of Appraisal Theory from NAJ (CAT)

About

In her spare time, Sammantha enjoys photomicrography, which is the art of photographing gemstones and their inclusions under high magnification.

Spot-light

Sammantha’s favourite piece valued is a pair of large pink diamond earrings from the since-closed Argyle Mine in Australia. A true rarity of the jewellery world.

Covering

  • Scotland & Borders

Walking Tour of the Lights of London

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On Thursday night the team went out into the cold to have an amazing Walking Tour of the Lights of London with our guide Katie from A La Carte Tours and Events Ltd. We all had a fabulous time and learnt so much about London which we didn’t Know!

Highly recommend them!

Meet the jewellery team – Francesca & Annabell

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Profile – Francesca Valentini

Jewellery Specialist

Francesca Valentini has had experience in the jewellery world for over 20 years. Having been immersed at a young age at her family jewellery business in London, Francesca chose to train as a jewellery specialist after university.

Experience

In 2006 she joined Bonhams and latterly Christie’s Auction House, both in their jewellery departments in London. She travelled and worked around the UK as well as other parts of the world, namely Italy, Portugal, New York and Geneva.

Memberships

She is a Fellow of the Gemmological Association of Great Britain, having successfully completed her FGA and DGA qualifications and completed a coloured stones course in Basel with The Swiss GemmologicalInstitute, (SSEF).

About

In her spare time Francesca likes to go on holiday! She enjoys cooking for friends, cycling and teaching her children to speak and cook Italian.

Spot-light

Francesca’s favourite piece valued was an incredible gold and enamel necklace, made up of five double-sided medallions, each of fine cloisonne enamel, illustrating various designs of butterflies and birds, including an eagle, a crane and a dragonfly. In researching the piece, she discovered the ‘new age of luxury’ in the second half of the 19th century, a time that saw the popular influence of Japanese art on European styles.

Covering

  • London
  • Greater London
  • East of England
  • South East & South West

Profile – Annabell Parry

Jewellery and Watches Specialist

Annabell has worked with international fine jewellery and watch brands for over 27 years. The daughter of an auctioneer and valuer, it was no surprise when she followed the family into the Jewellery industry after leaving University. Since 1995 she has worked with, amongst others, Boodles, Leo De Vroomen, Rolex, Patek Phillipe and Frank Muller, where her work has revolved around certificated gemstones, high end watches, antique and handmade fine jewellery.

Experience

During those 25 years, she attained internationally recognised industry qualifications and affiliations and is a Registered Valuer with both valuing institutes of the United Kingdom. As an established specialist, she enjoys finding forgotten gems and uncovering their family history.

Memberships

  • MJVA – Founder member of the Jewellery Valuers Association
  • MIRV – Member of the Institute of Registered Valuers
  • Treasurer of the Gemmological Association of Great Britain – North West
  • Independent Consultant Valuer for selected UK jewellers and Auctioneers

Professional Qualifications

  • GA Cert – Gemmology Foundation from Gemmological Association of Great Britain (GEM-A)
  • PJ-Dip – Professional Jewellers’ Diploma from National Association of Jewellers (NAG)
  • CAT – Certificate of Appraisal Theory from National Institute of Registered Valuers (IRV)
  • CPAA – Certified Pearl Specialist with the Cultured Pearl Association of America (Pearls as One)

About

In her spare time, Annabell loves nothing more than taking her Land Rover Defender out, off roading, green laning, and camping.

Spot-light

Annabell’s favourite valued piece was a mourning brooch containing a piece of Benjamin Disraeli’s plaited hair.

Covering

  • East Midlands
  • West Midlands
  • Yorkshire
  • North East & North West

Meet the jewellery team – Aurélia & Jenny

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Profile – Aurélia Turrall

Jewellery Specialist

Aurélia has over 20 years’ experience in the auction industry. After graduating from King’s College London with BA Hons, she started her career in Business Development and Client Services at Christie’s and Sotheby’s Paris. She went on to obtain her Graduate Gemmologist degree from the Gemological Institute of America (GIA). Relocating from Paris to London, Aurélia joined the Jewellery department at Bonhams, dealing with client valuations and auction preparations.

Experience

Aurélia has a Bachelor of Arts degree from King’s College London and a Baccalaureate in Economics and Literature. She speaks English, French being her native language, and some Spanish. Aurelia has also had experience of working with specialist lenders Borro and working for SYMEV (French Association of Auctioneers) in Paris where she was Head of Communications.

About

In her spare time, Aurélia writes feature length screenplays and children books. Being able to value clients’ jewellery is what she loves to do and she has been privileged to handle some unique pieces.

Spot-light

Aurélia’s favourite piece valued was an Art Déco pigeon blood ruby and diamond three-stone ring by Cartier.

Covering

  • London, Greater London
  • East of England
  • South West, South East
  • Guernsey & Jersey

Profile – Jenny Knott

Silver & Jewellery Specialist

Jenny has been working in the Silver and Jewellery industry for over 35 years. She is a graduate of Reading University, where she gained a BA Hons in English literature. She joined Bonham’s auctioneers in Knightsbridge as a post-graduate in the silver, jewellery, clocks and watches departments, specialising in silver and jewellery. Jenny soon rose to the position of deputy head of the department.

Experience

Her career has seen her run Bonham’s highly successful Gentlemen’s sales. Jenny worked with the John Lewis Partnership for 25 years, supplying them with antique jewellery for their retail sales. She also enjoyed working with Bloomingdales in the United States for many years, supplying cufflinks and gentlemen’s accessories. Both these roles involved training their staff.

Furthermore, she worked with the Buckingham Palace team and supplied their store, lectured extensively in the UK (including lectures to NAFAS and the National Association of Jewellers) and in the States on her specialist areas. Jenny has also co-curated a cufflink exhibition with The Goldsmiths Company. She is highly experienced in insurance and probate work and continues alongside doing valuations, supplying antiques, particularly wine related items, to the Rothschild Waddesdon Trust and National Trust.

About

Jenny is very sporty and loves the outdoors. In her spare time, you’re likely to find her out and about, walking her dog, playing tennis, cycling, or skiing down a mountain.

Spot-light

Jenny’s favourite things to value are quirky or unusual antique pieces, both silver and jewellery. She also loves wonderful enamel work be it Fabergé, Scandinavian enamel or French guilloché enamelling.

Covering

  • London, Greater London
  • East of England
  • South West, South East
  • Oxfordshire & Warwickshire

Meet the team – Alastair Meiklejon

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Over the next couple of weeks we will be introducing you to our amazing team…

Profile

Alastair has been involved in the wristwatch and antiques industry for over 20 years as an auctioneer and valuer. He has a particularly broad knowledge with interests and passions to include the following specialities; militaria, watches, automobilia, rock and pop, posters, comic books, and musical instruments.

Over the years watches have become as much pieces of jewellery and a celebration of mechanical art, as well as timepieces, as wristwatches specialist Alastair has had the pleasure of valuing some of the world’s great collections, including Patek Phillipe, Audemars Piguet, Voutilainen, Rolex, and many other great marques’.

Membership

Alastair is a qualified, professional member of the National Association of Valuers and Auctioneers and was elected a Fellow of The Royal Society of Arts in 2017.

About

In his spare time Alastair likes nothing more than enjoying a lovely meal with a nice bottle of red with family and friends. He has, in the past attempted to be a racing driver, however these days he’s happy watching a race from the comfort of his own seat.

Spot-light

Alastair’s favourite part of valuations is hearing the stories behind the item.

Covering

Contact

[email protected]

The NFT Gallery

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We had another fun and interesting evening at the NFT Gallery, Mayfair!

Thank you to the Gallery for having us and to Co-Founder Lilien Hornung-Mary, for a very informative presentation.

Also thank you to those who attended. We hope you enjoyed it as much as we did!

Philip Mould event

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We had a fabulous time at our latest Wednesday Club last night – ‘In Conversation with Philip Mould’ at his Gallery on Pall Mall: @philip_mould_gallery

Philip shared his knowledge with us, talking about the various works hanging in the gallery, a couple of highlights from his career and even a moment about the ‘One that got away’!

Watch out for Philip’s article, which he agreed to write for us as part of our current series by our team!

The evening was lots of fun, and it was lovely to share our passions with everyone!

Next week Wednesday 20th July, we will be at the NFT Gallery in Mayfair, enjoying an evening all about NFTs and unmaking the mystique around them.

If you would like to join us, email [email protected] for more details. We still have spaces available, and it is not one to be missed!