LONDON.- An outstanding collection of historic and rare jewels including blue diamonds, exquisite natural pearls and art deco pieces will be offered in the Fine Jewellery sale at Bonhams, New Bond Street on 18th September.

A pair of striking art deco natural pearl and diamond pendant earrings (circa 1925), valued at £150,000 - £200,000 are one of the highlights of the sale. The exceptionally large natural saltwater pearl drops, capped with rose-cut diamonds are suspended in a diamond set chandelier pendant. The extraordinary size of these pearls renders the earrings extremely valuable.

A splendid fancy intense blue diamond ring weighing 1.02 carats, mounted in platinum between radiant-cut diamonds, is offered with estimates of £160,000 - £190,000. Blue diamonds are very rarely seen on the market and fancy-coloured diamonds are among the most valuable and sought-after in the world, accounting for less than one per cent of all diamonds mined. The most celebrated of these, the Hope Diamond, has been described as "the most famous diamond in the world”.

Other top lots in the sale include fabulous Cartier designed pieces such as a cushion shaped diamond Cartier ring - the spectacular central diamond weighing 7.04 carats is set in platinum between shoulders of brilliant-cut diamonds and is expected to sell for £120,000 - £180,000.

A pioneering and rare art deco shoulder brooch (circa 1922), signed Cartier Paris, is estimated at £25,000 - £35,000. The ‘broche poignée’ or ‘drawer handle’ onyx and diamond brooch hanger holds a cascade of onyx hoops connected by diamond buckles that is finished with a tassel of seed pearls. Cartier’s designer Charles Jacqueau launched the firm’s Art Deco style, inspired by exotic motifs. This brooch typifies Jacqueau’s vision.

Another noteworthy lot with an historic past is a necklace of single-row natural pearls offered at £6,000 - £8,000. By family tradition, the pearls in this necklace are said to have belonged to Frances Cromwell (1638-1720), the youngest daughter of Oliver Cromwell. She is pictured above in the painting by John Michael Wright (Glasgow Museums Collection). This necklace, along with the Cromwell family’s country home, Chequers, has been passed down through direct descendents of the Cromwell family for generations.