Auctions

Bonhams Names New Global Head of Jewelry

AuctionsJan 03, 2018

Bonhams Names New Global Head of Jewelry

Jean Ghika, who has been with the auction house for 25 years, succeeds Matthew Girling in the role.

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Jean Ghika, formerly Bonhams director of jewelry for the U.K. & Europe, now will serve as its global head of jewelry.

New York--Bonhams announced Wednesday the appointment of Jean Ghika as its global head of jewelry.

In her new role, Ghika will oversee sales in the auction house’s global offices in London, New York, Hong Kong and Los Angeles.

She succeeds Matthew Girling, Bonhams global CEO, in the position.

Girling will stay closely involved with the jewelry department and assume a “chairman emeritus” role for fine jewelry. He also will continue to lead key jewelry auctions in London, New York and Hong Kong.

Ghika has been with Bonhams for 25 years and was named director of jewelry for the U.K. and Europe in 2007.

During her career with the auction house, she has been responsible for directing the sale of the 5.30-carat fancy deep blue diamond that went for $1.8 million per carat in 2013, the current auction world record price per carat for a fancy deep blue diamond; the sale of the 50.13-carat “Hope Spinel” for $1.5 million, the current world record price for a spinel; and the first auction dedicated solely to the work of British jewelry designer Andrew Grima in 2006, among many others notable sales.

“I have worked with Jean for more than 21 years, and I am delighted to hand over this global role to her,” Girling said. “She has demonstrated excellent business acumen in her current role and has been instrumental in giving strategic direction to the U.K. and European fine jewelry teams.”

Brecken Branstratoris the senior editor, gemstones at National Jeweler, covering sourcing, pricing and other developments in the colored stone sector.

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