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Summer jewellery should work as hard as your diary. From leisurely lunches and garden parties to elegant evenings and active weekends, the best pieces transition effortlessly between occasions while bringing personality, colour and sparkle to every outfit.
Our forthcoming Fine Jewellery Auction offers exactly that. Whether you are searching for a statement piece to elevate daytime dressing, glamorous jewels for summer soirées, or versatile treasures that can keep pace with a more active lifestyle, this sale is packed with inspiration.
Summer days call for colour, lightness and a touch of fun, and several lots in the auction capture that mood perfectly.
Leading the way is Lot 2, a charming retro turquoise and ruby starfish brooch dating from the 1960s. Set with vibrant turquoise cabochons and a ruby centre, this wonderfully playful Italian gold brooch feels tailor-made for summer. Pinned to a linen jacket, straw tote or even a scarf, it brings instant Riviera-inspired style.
For those who favour understated elegance, Lot 49, a carved jade pendant suspended from an 18-carat gold chain, offers timeless appeal. Jade’s calming green tones complement summer wardrobes beautifully, making it an easy choice for everyday wear.
Colour lovers will be drawn to Lot 47, a striking citrine dress ring featuring an impressive marquise-shaped citrine of approximately 8 carats. Its warm golden hues mirror the sunshine itself and make a bold statement without feeling overly formal.
Nothing tells a personal story quite like a charm bracelet, and Lot 74 offers a delightful collection of twenty gold charms suspended from a classic 9-caratgold bracelet. It is a piece that invites conversation and carries a sense of nostalgia, making it ideal for relaxed summer gatherings.
Nature provides further inspiration in Lot 99, a De Vroomen enamel and diamond butterfly brooch. With beautifully executed guilloché enamel wings and a diamond-set body, it is a joyful celebration of colour and craftsmanship that feels perfectly suited to the season.
For a touch of sophisticated glamour during the day, Lot 119 presents multi-gem and diamond pendent earrings featuring aquamarines, morganites and green tourmalines. The fresh pastel palette evokes clear skies and summer gardens, while Lot 122, a gem-set and diamond bracelet bursting with rubies, sapphires, emeralds and other colourful gemstones, offers a wearable rainbow that can enliven even the simplest outfit.
As the sun sets and the invitations arrive, jewellery takes centre stage.
Lot 36, a pair of 19th-century garnet and seed pearl pendent earrings, embodies antique romance. Their rich garnet cabochons and delicate pearls make them a beautiful choice for candlelit dinners and formal occasions alike.
For those who enjoy vibrant colour, Lot 78 combines sapphires, ruby cabochons and diamonds in an eye-catching pair of pendent earrings. Their striking colour contrast ensures they will not go unnoticed.
Summer evenings often call for a little extra drama, and Lot 123 certainly delivers. These gem-set and diamond cluster earrings feature an impressive array of tourmalines, aquamarines, morganites and diamonds, creating a dazzling display of colour and brilliance.
Sometimes, however, simplicity is the ultimate luxury. Lot 173, a pair of ruby and diamond earrings, offers timeless sophistication. Compact yet impactful, they are equally at home with a cocktail dress or a tailored evening ensemble.
For maximum sparkle, few pieces can compete with Lot 186, a pair of diamond pendent earrings containing approximately 9 carats of diamonds. Their elegant openwork design creates movement and light with every turn of the head, making them ideal companions for any summer celebration.
No evening look is complete without a refined timepiece, and Lot 12, an 18-carat gold Omega Seamaster De Ville watch, combines vintage sophistication with enduring style. Whether worn as a watch or appreciated as a piece of jewellery, it is an elegant finishing touch.
Modern jewellery collections are increasingly about versatility. Pieces that can move from the tennis court to lunch, or from a morning walk to an afternoon gathering, are highly sought after.
Diamond line bracelets remain one of the most versatile jewellery staples, and both Lot 104 and Lot 188 fit the brief perfectly. Their clean, elegant lines provide just the right amount of sparkle without ever feeling overdone. Worn alone or layered with a watch, they bring effortless polish to casual summer dressing.
Similarly versatile is Lot 285, a diamond eternity ring. Elegant, practical and endlessly wearable, it is the sort of piece that quickly becomes part of a daily uniform, adding subtle brilliance to every occasion.
Completing our sporting selection is Lot 13, a Jean Marcel gold wristwatch. Its textured gold bracelet and refined design make it an excellent choice for those seeking a practical yet stylish accessory that can transition seamlessly throughout the day.
Whether your summer calendar is filled with beachside lunches, garden parties, black-tie events or active weekends, jewellery has the power to transform an outfit and express your personality.
From whimsical starfish and butterflies to vibrant gemstones, timeless diamonds and elegant watches, our Fine Jewellery Auction offers treasures for every occasion. Wherever the season takes you, there is a piece waiting to accompany the journey.
Emmalie Conroy, June 2026
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"I should declare my hand. I have a weakness for pictures that punch above their physical weight, and for artists who have been quietly underrated for too long. This pair is both. They are intimate enough to live with at close quarters and serious enough to repay any amount of looking. If the market has lately shown signs of catching up with eighteenth-century Irish painting and I think it has, these two small panels feel, to me, like exactly the sort of thing that will look obvious in twenty years’ time."
Adam’s is honoured to present works from the collection of Lord Rossmore in the upcoming Country House Collections auction at Howth Castle on 28th April. It is seldom that an influential Irish family collection that has survived through the generations comes to the open market.
Works Sold at Adam’s Now in the Irish National Collection
A great opportunity to purchase both established and lesser-known artist’s work at an accessible price point, the Online Picture Auction is the first of many sales to be hosted at Adam’s in 2026. It is perfect for those looking to start a collection and the discerning collector alike.
Through this article, let our expert Adam Pearson guiding you to the (re)discovery of the once established Irish painter Richard O’Neill.
Buying at Auction and the Role of Antiques in a Modern Home
Important Irish Art Auction Highlights
Oliver Dowling Collection by Aidan Dunne
2024 is a year in which Adam’s wants to recognise the key role buying antique furniture and furnishings at auction contributes greatly to the sustainable initiative. In 2019 the Environmental Protection Agency reported stark figures that each year in Ireland 1.2 million reusable bulky items, primarily furniture goes into landfill. Similar to the problem of ‘fast fashion’, the constant production and consumption of new items is leading to rapidly growing waste problem. We want to acknowledge those who are already buying second hand or antique furniture at auction and to encourage new buyers by highlighting the benefits of acquiring affordable, well-made quality items that are built to last.
Irish author, recipe creator and lifestyle influencer, Indy Parsons, selects her favourite pieces from our upcoming Fine Jewellery & Watches auction
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Cork-born Irish actress, Sarah Greene, selects her favourite pieces from our upcoming Fine Jewellery & Watches auction
Yvonne Aupicq had met Orpen, we understand, while working as a nurse during the war. He had been admitted to hospital with a suspected case of scabies which ended up being a far more serious case of blood poisoning as he recounts in his wartime memoir ‘An Onlooker in France’. Their relationship continued after 1918 when Orpen was appointed as the official artist to The Paris Peace Conference. They relocated to capital and over the following decade he painted her numerous times, often nude as in Amiens 1914, or The Rape and Nude Girl Reading (1921). Working with her as his model during these early years after the war allowed Orpen an opportunity to re-fuel his creativity.
Editor-in-Chief of IMAGE Publications, Lizzie Gore-Grimes, selects her favourite pieces from our upcoming Fine Jewellery & Watches auction
Our upcoming Fine Jewellery & Watches auction on September 13th features a prime example of Van Cleef & Arpel's renowned 'Mystery Setting'
Our June auction offers a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to acquire one of the great masterpieces of Irish art and icons of Dublin’s history.
Georgia Chiesa selects some of her favourite lots in the upcoming Vintage Wine & Spirits Auction
"Beating the bounds is a tradition that can be traced back to the medieval period. At this time, land was divided into parishes and the clergy and church wardens held the responsibility for its upkeep and management. It was up to the Church to ensure that its parishioners knew the local boundary lines and, before maps became commonplace, this had to be kept as a mental record."
James Adam & Sons Ltd, Fine Art Auctioneers and Valuers, 26 St. Stephen’s Green, Dublin 2,
D02 X665, Ireland
