HONG KONG.- Bonhams has appointed international gem specialist and auctioneer, Graeme Thompson, to head the company’s Jewellery Department in Hong Kong.

Matthew Girling, Bonhams European and Middle East CEO, comments: “I’m delighted that Graeme Thompson has rejoined Bonhams and will be heading our Jewellery team in Hong Kong. Asia is, without doubt, going to be one of our most dynamic and burgeoning markets and Graeme will be responsible for building Bonhams jewellery business across this exciting region. Without doubt his appointment will assist our expansion in the international jewellery auction market.”

Graeme Thompson began his jewellery career in 2001 in London and in 2005 moved to New York where he studied at the prestigious Gemmological Institute of America and qualified as a Graduate Gemmologist.

During his time in New York, Graeme worked with the jewellery team at Bonhams and in 2006 he was appointed by the company as its Jewellery Specialist in London. While at Bonhams, Graeme gained a wide knowledge of the global fine jewellery, diamond and coloured stone markets and became one of the Jewellery Department’s principal auctioneers. As Head of Department, he led Bonhams Knightsbridge jewellery team to their most successful year.

In 2010 he set up his own business dealing exclusively in fine jewellery, diamonds and coloured stones, trading successfully with both wholesale and private clients from around the world.

Graeme’s skill as an auctioneer on the rostrum, learned from the best at Bonhams, has benefited several charities, and recently raised nearly £200,000 for JDRF, the world’s leading Type I diabetes research charity.