A trip to one of the UK's many specialist auction houses in November could net you a covetable designer handbag or a vintage cocktail dress, while collectors of fine jewellery and watches will find some sought-after pieces from top luxury brands. Here's our pick of the best fashion and accessories auctions taking place this month.
On 21 November, Chiswick Auctions is holding a Jewellery auction, which follows its successful September Jewellery sale, in which a 6.51ct Burmese ruby and diamond cluster ring sold for £147,600. Notable lots in this month's sale include a 6.36ct Colombian emerald and diamond ring, with a guide price of £20,000-30,000. A week later, the auction house has a Designer Handbags & Fashion sale, which includes a rare Hermes orange porosus crocodile Birkin 35 with palladium hardware from circa 2004 (£16,000-20,000).
Vintage fashion specialist Kerry Taylor Auctions also has a Birkin among the line-up at its biannual Passion for Fashion auction on 20 November. In cyclamen pink Togo leather and from circa 2007, it comes with an estimate of £6,000-10,000. Other highlights at the sale include a 1990s Chanel black quilted leather 2.55 handbag (£800-1,200), a 1958 Yves Saint Laurent for Christian Dior couture embroidered cocktail dress (£3,000-5,000) and an Ossie Clark/Celia Birtwell 'Acapulco Gold' chiffon dress from 1970 (£1,200-1,800).
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On 20 November, Birmingham-based Fellows is holding a Designer Collection sale, which also includes some Birkin handbags, such as this 2009 taupe Fjord Birkin 35 (£4,500-5,500). Another notable lot is a Louis Vuitton burgundy Neverfull MM shoulder bag (£400-600).
It's a busy month for Fellows, with an Antique & Modern Jewellery Sale on 9 November that will feature one of the most valuable rings Fellows has had up for auction this year – a 5ct diamond single-stone ring with flawless D colour and VVS2 clarity (£150,000-200,000). It also has a Watch Sale on 28 November, where highlights include an Omega Speedmaster 'Ed White' chronograph (£5,500-7,500) – named after the American astronaut who wore the model on his historic spacewalk – and a Rolex Oyster Perpetual Milgauss bracelet watch (£40,000-60,000).
Lyon & Turnbull also has a number of Rolex watches (pictured top) for sale at its Select Jewellery & Watches auction on 15 November, taking place at its Connaught Street saleroom. The auction will feature timepieces from top marques such as IWC, Blancpain and Jaeger-LeCoultre, but particularly eye-catching are these three Rolex Oyster Perpetual Datejust watches; one with a polished ruby and diamond dial (£7,000-9,000), one in 18ct gold and diamond (£3,000-5,000) and one in 18ct white gold and diamond (£3,000-5,000).
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