Has the recession affected the sale of jewellery in auctions?
The recession hasn’t affected that part of auctioneering much. But what it has done is separated the rubbish from the quality pieces. The Sotheby’s sale in May gathered some record prices, despite being in the middle of the recession. You see, if you are offering genuine and rare pieces, people will buy them even during the downturn because they are keepsakes — forever. How much has technology proved to be a boon to the industry? A few years ago, Prince Charles and I had discussed how technology could kill traditional skills and craftsmanship. But mass production will need modern technology. I judge a lot of contemporary jewellery in London and Europe and I like it when they use technology to help innovation in designs. But what’s important is knowing how to create jewellery the traditional way, so it gives you an understanding and appreciation of what goes into the craft. Then you use your CAD machine or your computer to take the designs further. In my opinion, a piece designed wholly
