Waddington's Fine Jewellery Auction, held in our Toronto gallery on May 28th 2008, will be an exciting auction of 200 lots of fine modern and antique jewellery including necklaces, bracelets, earrings and rings, as well as selected watches.

The highlight of the auction is a platinum ring set with a superb 11.47ct. unheated, richly colored natural Burmese sapphire, with AGTA certificate.

Lot 75 Platinum Ring set with a fine octagonal step cut sapphire (11.47ct.) flanked by 2 half moon cut diamonds (0.75ct. each) and 8 small brilliant cut diamonds with AGTA certificate #12003107 stating the sapphire to be natural and of Burmese origin and shows no indication of heat-treating size 5, 11.7 g Est. $180,000 / 225,000

The sapphires mined in Burma today are considered the finest in the world, and a premium is placed on richly coloured stones known to be of Burmese origin. They are renowned for their depth of saturation, and the lack of colour-banding typical of the sapphires of Sri Lanka, Thailand and Australia.

The heating of sapphires to improve the quality of their colour has been reported for centuries. It is estimated that almost 99% of the sapphires on the market today have had their colour improved in some way through a heat treatment process, making a stone whose colour is completely natural a highly prized commodity to connoisseurs of the gem world.

This unheated, natural, Burmese stone combines these two attributes, placing it at the very top level of quality for gem sapphires.

Among other sapphire jewellery featured in the auction is a G�belin white gold ring set with a 13.83ct. sapphire, together with the G�belin certificate describing the stone as of Madagascar origin with no indications of heat treatment.

Lot 160 G�belin 18k White Gold Ring set with an oval cut sapphire (13.83ct.) flanked by 2 trilliant cut diamonds (approx. 0.34ct. each) with G�belin certificate #0002080 stating the stone is of Madagascar origin and shows no indications of heating size 5 1/2, 6.9 g Est. $26,000 / 30,000

Several diamond solitaire rings in this auction are accompanied by certificates from leading gemological laboratories, including a 1.29ct. brilliant cut with GIA grading of VVS2, E color and a 2.28ct. brilliant cut with EGL and IGI grading of SI1, E color. Also of interest are a pair of white gold stud earrings with perfectly matched 1.02ct. emerald cut diamonds, each with GIA certificates grading them SI1, E color. Waddington's is also proud to be offering a superb platinum ring set with a 5.20ct. emerald cut diamond.

One of the more interesting items on the block will be a gold ring set with a fine 12.50ct. Zultanite, a fascinating new gemstone from Turkey which displays amazing color changing properties. This stone is in a yellow gold mount decorated with brilliant cut champagne diamonds.

Lot 163 14k Yellow Gold Ring set with a fancy cushion cut �zultanite� diaspore (approx. 12.50ct.) and decorated with 14 brilliant cut champagne diamonds (approx. 0.65ct.t.w.) size 8, 21.8 g Est. $5,000 / 7,500

Diaspore is an extremely rare mineral which displays an amazing ability to change colour depending on the lighting conditions. Cut gemstones are marketed under the name �zultanite� and are a rising star in the gem world.

First identified as a mineral in 1801, diaspore remained a rare curiosity until 1977 when the first deposit of material suitable for cutting into gemstones was discovered. Today, all cut zultanite comes from this single known deposit, located 4,000 feet up in the mountains of Anatolia, Turkey. The gems are laboriously mined with chisels and pick-axes, and high quality stones over 5 carats are considered very rare.

The auction will begin with numerous items of silver jewellery by the world famous Georg Jensen workshops, and through out the auction there are selected fine pocket and wristwatches including a Rolex "Prince Brancard" with the Eaton's 1/4 Century Club Dial in a 14k gold two tone case, and a gold cased Patek Philippe & Co. pocket watch with chronograph, circa 1911.

To learn more about this auction and view all the fine jewellery we are offering, please visit our website at www.waddingtons.ca/finejewellery