Nigel O’Reilly, the acclaimed Irish high-jewelry maker master, will showcase his works in Sotheby’s Important Jewels live sale, to be held in New York on October 22nd. O’Reilly’s bespoke craftsmanship will be represented at Sotheby’s by two signature rings from his Haute-Joaillerie collection. This event marks the first time ever that the auction house includes a jewelry designer from the Emerald Isles!
In the years before the pandemic, O’Reilly developed a network of private clients worldwide. He established his relationship with his US Agent BeauGeste Luxury Brands in 2019, headed by Thierry Chaunu, who has a long track record in jewelry and high jewelry with senior management positions at Cartier, Chopard, Leviev Diamonds, and several consulting clients such as Louis Vuitton High Jewelry, Damiani, Marina B, Jacob&Co, Anna Hu, to name a few.
The ‘Damask Rose’; folded velvet petals featuring 757 individually hand set rubies, embracing an inner central 0.54ct DVVS1 pear cut diamond. This floral ring is a stunning arrangement on the hand; its green tsavorite garnet leaves sit along with the finger & are set in 18kt rose gold. Both rings were carefully selected by Frank Everett, Sotheby’s Senior Vice President of High Jewellery, in New York. He quoted O’Reilly “as a young designer to watch” in a recent interview. Chaunu quotes, “O’Reilly is a perfect choice for a new generation of high-jewelry buyers who want to assert their style and develop their heirlooms for future generations”.
‘Plato’s Garnet’; a ring inspired by O’Reilly’s interest in beekeeping through which he has observed the strong structure of honeycomb and how its natural pattern allows a hive community to thrive. The octagonal spaces in this ring were designed as perfect repositories for pollen-like jewels (pink sapphires, rubies, and cognac diamonds specifically), glinting with sparkle and warmth, making a feature along the body of the ring. Erwin Springbrunn cut the central 10.69ct umbalite garnet, (a renowned German master who mentored Nigel as an apprentice & crafted pieces for Elizabeth Taylor. Erwin’s works are part of the National Gallery of Ireland collection).
O’Reilly’s jewelry has been highlighted internationally in the Financial Times (How to Spend It) with Vivienne Becker; Town & Country (US); FORBES (with Anthony DiMarco); Rapaport (with Sonia Esther Soltani); AS If Magazine (USA): EQ Magazine (USA); and worn by celebrities including Saoirse Ronan and Hadley Robinson.
