Phillips Appoints Worldwide Head of Jewelry
Benoît Repellin joined the auction house last year.
Auctioneer Benoît Repellin has been promoted to the role. He joined Phillips in February 2022 as the head of jewelry for Europe, before assuming the interim worldwide head of jewelry role in the second half of the year.
Phillips noted Repellin’s contribution to its fall auction season, with highlights including the sale of a 4.05-carat fancy intense pink oval diamond for $1.9 million and a 26.12-carat round brilliant-cut, D-flawless, diamond that sold for $2.5 million.
“As a seasoned specialist and dynamic auctioneer, Benoît has brought to Phillips a depth of knowledge and expertise that has championed our Jewels department, achieving successful sales in both Hong Kong and New York over the past two seasons,” noted Phillips CEO Stephen Brooks.
“The global team welcomes Benoît as he assumes his new position and we look forward to the continued growth and expansion of the Jewels department.”
In his role as worldwide head of jewelry, Repellin will work with Phillips teams in New York, London, Hong Kong, and Geneva, helping to bolster their networks of collectors and dealers.
Prior to joining Phillips, Repellin spent nine years at Sotheby’s where he conducted many jewelry auctions in Europe. He was director and head of the auction house’s “Magnificent Jewels” sales in Geneva.
When Repellin took on the worldwide head of jewelry role late last year, he replaced Graeme Thompson, who was the first to take on the position.
Phillips noted the growth of its jewelry department, which achieved a record annual total in 2021, up 75 percent from its 2019 performance.
The auction house noted 2022 was “highly successful,” with its best jewelry performance in Asia yet.
Next up is the sale of a sapphire and diamond necklace by Bulgari featuring an unheated 118.35-carat Ceylon sapphire.
Expected to sell for between $3 million and $4.5 million, it will be offered next month at the new Phillips Hong Kong location.
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