Low rates boost jewellery sales

Monday 28th June 2010, 2:30PM BST.

Graeme Thompson of Bonham’s values a local piece. (Picture by Peter Frankland, 0988565)

LOW interest rates are leading more people to invest in jewellery, according to Bonham’s expert Graeme Thompson.

He was in Guernsey last week to help value islanders’ jewellery and said that trade was on the up.

Recently the company, which is the leading jewellery seller in the UK, had one of its biggest sales ever at its Knightsbridge auction house, with pieces selling above their estimates.

‘Gold prices are very high and diamond prices have bounced back,’ he said. ‘People do leave their money languishing in bank accounts, with very low interest rates, so having tangible goods and collectibles appeals to them.’