When Duncan realised the sale was likely to reach 100% sold, he asked valuer and auctioneer Jennifer Bell to don white gloves to sell the final lot. Quipping “No pressure then!” as she opened the bidding, Jennifer successfully sold the final lot. After she brought the hammer down, Duncan presented her with flowers and a bottle of fizz.

The live sale comprised 535 lots, all consigned by private individuals and estates; it included 200 lots of silver, 116 lots of coins, 45 lots of watches, with the remainder being jewellery. The average lot price was £324 and the top performing individual lot was a stainless steel fifty fathoms flyback dive Blancpain watch which sold for £4,600, with a cased set of four 1887 gold coins fetching £4,000 and an innocuous looking 18ct yellow gold watch chain, £3,400. Many bidders were present in the saleroom, while others attended via two online bidding platforms.

Jennifer, who is also our silver and jewellery specialist and curated this particular sale, says “It was a really positive auction; especially given the gloom and doom we keep hearing! It was most likely helped along by the recent increase in world commodity prices which has made silver and gold items even more desirable.

“In such a buoyant auction market, it’s a good time to think about having items valued. A valuation is free and doesn’t commit you to selling but could help you decide if it’s something you’ve been thinking about for a while.”