Those seeking heirloom pieces that will stand the test of time should head for the much-anticipated auction of vintage jewellery at the Vienna Dorotheum on 13 October. Diamonds and coloured gemstones are valued particularly highly this season. The auction’s 189 lots include a necklace of cultured pearls with old-cut diamonds and an outstanding sapphire dating back to 1880. Another highlight is a pair of 19th-century diamond and sapphire earrings that display masterly French craftsmanship. The editor’s pick, however, would be an unpretentious early-20th-century platinum bracelet embellished with a myriad of square-cut, emerald-cut and octagonal-cut diamonds guaranteed to make the jewellery aficionado’s heart beat faster.

Dorotheum, Dorotheergasse 17, 1010 Vienna, +43 (0)1 515600