Area of Specialism: Jewellery
Sarah Duncan, GG, has been a Fine Jewellery Specialist based in the London auction world for over 15 years.
After completing her postgraduate studies at the University of St Andrews, she joined Bonhams Auctioneers and began a career specialising in antique and contemporary fine jewellery and gemstones. There, she personally consigned the top lot of jewellery sold worldwide in 2015 and worked on several impressive private collections, garnering international media attention. She trained on the job with industry experts, as well as completing her Graduate Gemmologist diploma with the Gemmological Institute of America.
After six years, Sarah decided to join West London–based auctioneers Chiswick Auctions, where she founded their Jewellery Department from scratch. She transformed a non-existent department into a robust market position, regularly achieving international attention for record-breaking results, including large unheated Burmese rubies, Art Deco Cartier pieces and “lost” works by historical designers.
Sarah is widely regarded as a top industry expert in antique and vintage jewels, as well as pre-loved luxury fine jewellery. She has contributed to publications on the subject of fine jewellery, including The Times, the Financial Times, the Express, Gems & Jewellery, Jewellery History Today and Rapaport Magazine, among others, as well as educating clients through various podcasts and lectures with organisations such as the National Association of Jewellers, the Arts Scholars Guild and the De Beers Institute of Diamonds.
Since her time with Lyon & Turnbull, the London Jewellery Department has grown by over 300% in turnover and moved into an industry-leading market position. Top results include the white-glove sales of the late Countess of Airlie’s jewellery collection in 2025, as well as the collection of former First Lady Yolette Leconte Magloire in 2024; a world-record auction price for a rare Van Cleef & Arpels Alhambra necklace; and the largest collection of Charles de Temple jewellery ever to come to auction. Sarah was also the driving force behind the unique Cartier Curated auction in 2025.
