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F E AT U R E<br />
Treasure tales<br />
THERE ARE TREASURES GALORE BEING UNCOVERED RIGHT IN THE CENTRE OF LICHFIELD -<br />
THANKS TO A NEW SPECIALIST WEEKLY VALUATION BY RICHARD WINTERTON AUCTIONEERS<br />
Imagine finding thousands of pounds<br />
tucked away in the back of a dressing<br />
table drawer or bedside cabinet.<br />
An heirloom, a keepsake, that old<br />
curiosity; whatever it is could be just<br />
a trinket. Or it could be some serious<br />
treasure…<br />
Such a triumphant revelation may be<br />
closer than you think – all you need to<br />
do is speak to the right people.<br />
Luckily, that expert advice is easily on<br />
hand thanks to Lichfield’s Richard<br />
Winterton Auctioneers.<br />
The family firm – which has been<br />
auctioneering in the city for seven<br />
generations – has launched weekly<br />
valuations specialising in jewellery and<br />
watches right in the beating heart of<br />
Lichfield city centre.<br />
Between 10am and 4pm every Monday<br />
(except Bank Holidays), gemmologists,<br />
jewellery experts and watch specialists<br />
will be upstairs at St Mary’s in the<br />
Market Square giving free valuations,<br />
advice and help uncovering the story<br />
behind the treasure in hand.<br />
The line-up will include gemmologist Heather<br />
Callaway, vintage jewellery expert Louise Ludlam-<br />
Snook and watch valuer Ben Winterton.<br />
The regular event had a most auspicious start, too,<br />
when on the very first Monday last month a woman<br />
dropped in with a very special item…<br />
It was a large single-stone diamond ring, the<br />
transitional brilliant cut diamond measuring 9mm in<br />
diameter and boasting a calculated weight of 2.67ct.<br />
The ring’s shoulders are also set with diamonds<br />
weighing 0.16ct.<br />
Heather estimates the piece will fetch between<br />
£10,000 and £12,000 at auction in the Fine and<br />
Decorative Arts Sale on June 19.<br />
A beautiful find in a fittingly beautiful space, St<br />
Mary’s reopened at the end of last year following<br />
a visionary £1.4m transformation which saw the<br />
Grade II* listed building incorporate Lichfield<br />
Library.<br />
THE VERY FIRST VALUATION AT ST MARY’S UNCOVERED<br />
THIS FABULOUS SINGLE-STONE 2.67CT DIAMOND RING,<br />
WHICH IS ESTIMATED TO FETCH BETWEEN £10,000 AND<br />
£12,000 AT AUCTION<br />
In early <strong>2019</strong>, a “perfect” partnership was<br />
announced between Richard Winterton Auctioneers<br />
and The Guild Of St Mary’s – a registered<br />
charity – blending heritage, culture, education and<br />
entertainment, reflecting the ethos of both.<br />
As well as the free valuations and an ever-changing<br />
Fine Arts display, plans are in the pipeline for a<br />
special luxury sale at St Mary’s on July 15, with<br />
proceeds going to the We Love Lichfield fund, a<br />
charity for which Richard Winterton Auctioneers has<br />
raised £3,000 in the past year.<br />
“The new look St Mary’s is just stunning – the<br />
moment I saw the redevelopment I was utterly<br />
captivated. It is a lovely space and we are proud and<br />
privileged to be a part of it,” said Richard Winterton.<br />
As well as the Mondays at St Mary’s, free valuations<br />
of jewellery, watches, antiques and all manner of<br />
collectables are offered at The Lichfield Auction<br />
Centre off Wood End Lane, Fradley Park, every<br />
Tuesday between 9.30am-4pm. Call 01543 251081<br />
or email office@richardwinterton.co.uk.<br />
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