The Gladyne K. Mitchell Collection Of Important Estate Jewelry Comes To Turner Auctions + Appraisals On April 5
SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, CA, March 21, 2025 – Turner Auctions + Appraisals is very pleased to present the Gladyne K. Mitchell Collection of Important Estate Jewelry on Saturday, April 5, 2025, at 10:30 am PST. Featuring pieces from the personal collection of the San Francisco philanthropist, the auction features sumptuous jewelry for women, including beautiful ear clips, rings, brooches and clip brooches, bracelets, necklaces, and pendants. Most are 18k or 14k gold, richly adorned with jewels such as diamonds, emeralds, rubies, sapphires, blue topaz, and/or pearls. Famed creators or sellers include Van Cleef & Arpels, Fred Leighton, Lalaounis, Judith Ripka, Seaman Schepps, Oscar Heyman, Nicolas Varney, Jewel House of Minyon, Shreve, and H. Stern. Several timepieces are also on offer: watches for both women and men made by Breguet and Omega, a pocket watch, and a late 17th-early 18th-century gilt oignon verge fusee keywind watch from Mousset a Paris.
Turner Auctions + Appraisals begins its online auction on Saturday, April 5, 2025, at 10:30 am PST; sale items are available for preview and bidding now. The auction will be featured live on four platforms: LiveAuctioneers, Invaluable, Bidsquare, and Turner Auctions + Appraisals’ free mobile app, which can be downloaded from the App Store or Google Apps (“Turner Auctions”). Both are easily accessed through ‘Upcoming Auctions’ at the company’s website: www.turnerauctionsonline.com/upcoming-auctions/.
Born and bred in San Francisco, Gladyne Kenderdine Mitchell (1940-2024) was the daughter of Mitchel and Emma Mitchell, a hardworking, industrious, and successful family whose efforts contributed meaningfully to the betterment of San Francisco and beyond. Educated in the United States, Switzerland, and Italy, Gladyne graduated with degrees in art history and music. Returning to the U.S., she taught kindergarten for several years. Subsequently, following in her family’s real estate footsteps, she worked for her father in property management, then managed her properties after her parents’ deaths.
Gladyne enjoyed traveling and learning other languages, fine dining and wine, and helping others. Well-known in San Francisco society, she was a patron of the arts and a generous benefactor of many charities and organizations, saying “I give to things that I love.” Among those in San Francisco who were recipients of her largesse were the symphony, opera, museums, hospitals, historical preservation, educating underprivileged children, and feeding the hungry in San Francisco.
According to her devoted family and friends, Gladyne was a “class act” who loved art, jewelry, antiques, and beautiful things. Her enthusiasm for fine jewelry developed later in her life, acquiring exceptional pieces from visits to the Italy she loved; Las Vegas, where she enjoyed numerous shows; and favorite jewelry shops in San Francisco.
Those who share Gladyne’s refined taste for stunning jewelry are sure to enjoy perusing and acquiring these outstanding items at auction.
Here below are some highlights of the upcoming online sale (please see lot details in the online catalog):
Lot 49: Van Cleef & Arpels, A Diamond and 18k Gold Necklace. Feather motif, set with 25 round brilliant-cut diamonds; estimated total diamond weight: 2.90 carats; signed Van Cleef & Arpels NY4V43-6; weighing approximately 69.75 grams; length: 14 3/4 in. Estimate $8,000-$12,000.
Lot 50: Breguet Reine de Naples Automatic 18k Gold Wristwatch. Ref. 8928, 2826AK, oval case, diamond and mother-of-pearl dial, bezel and lugs, 12-hour, self-winding; exhibition case back, gold link bracelet with deployant clasp, sapphire crystal; estimated total diamond weight: 1.50 carats; width: 25mm; fits 5 3/4 in. wrist with extra links; weighing 93.90 grams. Estimate $8,000-$12,000.
Lot 31: A Diamond, Gem-Set and Platinum Bracelet. The tutti frutti style link bracelet set throughout with square, European and old single-cut diamonds, accented by calibre-cut synthetic rubies, emerald and onyx; estimated total diamond weight: 15.00 carats; weighing approximately 74.12 grams; length: 6 1/2in.; width: 1in. Estimate $8,000-$12,000.
Lot 46: A Freshwater Cultured Pearl, Diamond and 18k Gold Necklace. The triple strand necklace composed of freshwater cultured pearls, completed by a fully detachable stylized wind motif clasp set with round brilliant-cut diamonds; estimated total diamond weight: 0.80 carat; with 14k gold findings; signed Renee; weighing approximately 143.58 grams; length: 25-28 in. Estimate $1,000-$1,500.
Lot 2: Fred Leighton, A Diamond and 18k White Gold Band. The wide eternity band centering a row of baguette-cut diamonds, framed on both sides with round brilliant-cut diamonds; estimated total diamond weight: 5.70 carats; with maker’s mark; weighing approximately 11.06 grams; size: 7 (void two stones). Estimate $1,800-$2,500.
Lot 45: Seaman Schepps, A Mammoth Tusk & Diamond Cuff Bracelet. The 18k white gold ‘Rigate’ hinged bangle bracelet, carved of mammoth tusk, and accented by numerous rounds brilliant-cut diamonds; total diamond weight: 2.86 carats; signed Seaman Schepps, ref. no. #21034, with signed box and original receipt; weighing approx. 111.28 grams; inner circumference: 5 1/4 in, gap: 3/4 in., width: 1 3/8 in. Estimate $5,000-$7,000.
Lot 30: Breguet Automatic 18k Gold Classique Diamond Wristwatch. Re. 5178, 566 AV, 18k gold on a strap with an 18k gold buckle, automatic movement, sweep second hand, white grand feu enamel dial with Breguet numerals, bezel set with 84 diamonds weighing approximately: 0.63 ct.), date at 3 o’clock, power reserve up to 55 hours, display back, size: 38mm, thickness: 8.25mm, sapphire crystal. Estimate $6,000-$8,000.
Lot 10: A 14k Gold Ram’s Head Necklace. Weighing approximately 101.00 grams; length: 15 in. Estimate $2,000-$3,000.
Lot 28: Mousset a Paris, A gilt Oignon Verge Fusee Keywind Watch. Late 17th century/early 18th century, single hand, enamel Roman numerals, seconds in enameled Arabic numerals, with key; 56mm diameter, thickness: 34mm. Estimate $1,500-$2,500.
Lot 1: A Pair of Diamond, Platinum and 18k White Gold Ear Clips, French. Circa 1935, the paisley-shaped clip earrings featuring tow round brilliant-cut diamonds weighing approximately 0.60 carat each, further accented with 38 round brilliant-cut diamonds; estimated total diamond weight: 4.90 carats; with French assay marks; weighing approximately 11.23 grams; length: 1 1/4 in. (minor damage on findings). Estimate $1,800-$2,500.
Lot 48: Jewel House of Minyon, A Diamond and 22k Gold Bracelet. The flexible strap with sun motif clasp, set with numerous round brilliant-cut diamonds; estimated total diamond weight: 0.65 carat; weighing approximately 62.14 grams; length: 6 3/4 in., width: 1 5/16 in. The bracelet was handcrafted in northern Turkey for Jewel House of Minyon, by a women’s collective who practice the ancient art of weaving gold. Estimate $1,800-$2,500.
Lot 14: Seaman Schepps, A pair of Turbo Shell, Diamond, Ruby Ear Clips. The 18k gold ear-clips designed with turbo shells encased with 48 round brilliant-cut diamonds, accented above and below with oval ruby cabochon accents; total diamond weight: 2.00 carats; signed Seaman Schepps, no. 16736, with signed box and original receipt; weighing approximately 20.83 grams; measures 1 1/8 x 1 in. Estimate $1,500-$2,500.
Lot 38: A Belle Epoque Diamond, Pearl and Platinum Necklace. The pendant set with old mine, old European, rose and table-cut diamonds, accented by round and button pearls, suspending a drop-shaped pearl measuring approximately 12.0 x 10.0 x 8.0mm, to a detachable seed pearl and platinum chain with white gold clasp; estimated total diamond weight: 4.00 carats; weighing approximately 21.62 grams; length: 16 1/2 in. (pearls not tested for origin). Estimate $1,500-$2,500.
Lot 20: Lalaounis, A Diamond, Ruby and 18k Gold Bangle. The cuff bracelet with lion’s head terminals, with ruby eyes; weighing approximately 26.33 grams; inner circumference: 6 1/4 in. Estimate $1,000-$1,500.
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ABOUT TURNER AUCTIONS + APPRAISALS
Based in South San Francisco, Turner Auctions + Appraisals was founded by Stephen Turner to expand and complement the capabilities of Stephen G. Turner Associates, an auction and appraisal consulting firm founded in 2004. Turner Auctions + Appraisals presents online auctions in diverse categories of personal property (www.turnerauctionsonline.com). Among them are Fine Arts, Decorative Arts, Asian Arts, Toys, Jewelry, Militaria, Ethnic Arts, and others. The company offers a range of auction and appraisal services for buyers, sellers, and collectors. Online auctions are held several times a month. Working with leading live and online auction houses on the West Coast since 1991, Turner is a professional appraiser of personal property and seasoned auctioneer. His areas of expertise include fine art, decorative arts, antiques & residential contents.
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For more information about the company, please contact:
Stephen Turner, President
Turner Auctions + Appraisals, 461 Littlefield Avenue, South San Francisco, CA 94080
415-964-5250 / [email protected] / www.turnerauctionsonline.com
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