Catherine Southon's 20th auction is on Wednesday, 2nd May 2018 and with over 200 lots of jewellery it is the best collection ever and makes up one third of the auction. It includes jewellery from two large estates and appropriately among them are some gorgeous engagement rings. If anyone is inspired by the Royal Wedding in May, the auction is a good opportunity to find the perfect ring to propose with. The auction can be previewed on the 1st May and immediately before the beginning of the auction at Farleigh Golf Club.

You will always get more diamond for your money if buying at auction than buying from retail and there is a wide range of styles available, but the highlights are two magnificent diamond rings. If you want to get a reaction from a crowd then the 8.5 diamond ring will definitely do just that and it is estimated at £15,000 – 20,000. Another good quality Art Deco large diamond set ring The centre stone approximately 2.5 ct. clean and of good colour, flanked on either side by a pair of baguette cut diamonds. The diamond is particularly bright white and lively with no visible inclusions it is estimated at £6,000 - £8,000.

To keep with the Royal theme the auction also includes an amazing diamond Prince of Wales Feathers brooch after the original which was gifted to Wallis Simpson by Edward VII and later purchased at auction by Elizabeth Taylor, which sold for over $1,000,000 in 2011. The platinum brooch designed as a plume of three feathers, signifying The Prince of Wales and set with baguette and brilliant cut diamonds the baguettes forming the feather spines, the three feathers gathered by a diamond set yellow gold crown and almost 7 cm high. It was bought in to a valuation day in Sutton and it was a jaw dropping moment. It is expected to fetch £3,000 - £5,000. 

Don't forget though that auctions are a great way to buy unique wedding gifts. If you are close to the couple and know their taste, why not have a look and see if you find something a little more special for the big day. 

For all motor sport fans there are a few lots included relating to the winner of the Veteran speed trial at the last Brooklands Automobile Racing Club meeting ever held at Brooklands on 7th August 1939, including the silver cup he was awarded on that day. Charles Herbert Montague Amias Vere, born in Friern Park, London in 1880, was the winner in his 1903 'De Dion Bouton'. Known as Monty, he was a keen motoring enthusiast and he regularly entered the London to Brighton Veteran Car Run as well as racing in the veteran races at Brooklands. He ran the Sun Inn on Feering Hill, Kelvedon, Essex and died in 1953. There had always been rumours that he was a descendant (if illegitimate) from the Vere Poulett family (Earls of Poulett), which would probably explain some of the family silver as well as his better than expected upbringing and possibly even his love for fast cars at a time when that was still very much reserved for the upper classes. 

The conclusion of the Smilby, Francis Wilford-Smith (British, 1927-2009) cartoon, illustrations and drawings archive will be sold in the forthcoming Timed Auction on the-saleroom.com starting on Thursday, 3rd May at noon and running for two weeks until Thursday, 17th May at noon. This collection includes drawings and rough sketches by Smilby, some of which were used in the Punch Magazine UK, Diners Club Magazine Austria, Housewife Magazine UK, New Yorker Magazine USA, Playboy Magazine USA & Germany, Pardon Magazine Germany, Nebelsplater Switzerland and in advertising campaigns for Guinness, Oxydol, Sunday Pictorial, Ballantines Scotch, Double Diamond and BP.