Editors

Dinner at Bonhams: What Wine and Jewels Have in Common

EditorsDec 30, 1969

Dinner at Bonhams: What Wine and Jewels Have in Common

For your next in-store event, why not pair wine with gems? Here’s how Bonhams did it.


Ahead of its New York Fine Jewelry sale last week, Bonhams hosted a special event for select collectors and editors I was able to attend: a tasting in which wines were paired with the auction’s top lots.

Surprisingly, there is a great deal of synergy between the two categories, to the point where I wondered why I had never thought of pairing wine with fine jewelry before.

Bonhams had its own jewelry experts, CEO and Group Jewelry Director Matthew Girling and Director of U.S. Jewelry Susan Abeles, on hand to lead the tasting, along with special guest Bianca Bosker, journalist and author of The New York Times best-selling book “Cork Dork: A Wine-Fueled Adventure Among the Obsessive Sommeliers, Big Bottle Hunters, and Rogue Scientists Who Taught Me to Live for Taste.”

A fantastic idea for in-store events or press previews, here’s how Bonhams and Bosker paired wine with jewels, for a multi-sensory experience.

Characteristics
Girling and Abeles used the sale’s top lot, a 16.9-carat diamond ring that sold for $1.8 million, to illustrate a diamond’s characteristics and how it is graded--the 4Cs. 

As the diamond was passed around the room by the wait staff, Bosker spoke about the characteristics by which one judges wine, including sweetness (also known as level of “dryness”), acidity, tannins, body and color. 

She paired the impressive diamond with a Wagner-Stempel Riesling Hollberg GG 2015, a surprisingly dry Riesling, using it to illustrate how to properly taste the wine while identifying the aforementioned characteristics. 



Provenance
Just as a gemstone’s value is partially determined by where it was mined, a wine’s value and characteristics are also determined in part by where its grapes were harvested.

The auction had several impressive sapphires for sale, and the Bonhams team used them as examples to highlight the significance of different provenances, which affect stone quality and/or value. One grouping of jewels featured stones from Kashmir, while another featured sapphires from Ceylon.

Bosker, meanwhile, had the group taste a Verdet Aurelien Gevrey Chambertin 2012, a pinot noir, to illustrate a wine that is a good representative of a classic wine region, Burgundy. 



Just like gemstones, the provenance of wine is an important aspect of its quality and perceived value. This unheated Kashmir sapphire sold at last week’s Bonhams Fine Jewelry sale in New York for $235,000. 
Similarly, the sale featured an impressive black opal, which the Bonhams team noted could 
only come from Lightning Ridge, in New South Wales, Australia, due to the vivid colors of the stone. Bosker paired the opal brooch with a wine likewise indicative of its region, the Yalumba Grenache, The Tri-Centenary 2008 from the Barossa area of Australia.

Guessing Games
The emerald, ruby and diamond brooch that was purchased for $8 at a garage sale, and went on to sell for $26,250, was paired with an interesting vino counterpart: an Exto Gredic Vineyard (toh-kai), Quattro Mani.


Just like the garage sale brooch, the wine proved that initial impressions can be deceiving. While the wine smelled somewhat like a brandy and the evening’s guests struggled to classify it in terms of region or grape varietal, Bosker revealed its atypical origin: Slovenia, thus proving that sometimes it takes an expert to properly identify the item in question.

Bonhams’ event was so much more interesting than a typical auction preview or the average store trunk show, it had me thinking about other outside-the-box event ideas. 

Why not hold an in-store event pairing a different wine with each of the 12 major birthstones, or different champagnes with different bridal styles? 

The logic behind the pairings isn’t really as important as creating an event where people are enjoying themselves and learning something. As long as the wine is flowing and there are gems to covet, the possibilities are endless. 



Ashley Davisis the senior editor, fashion at National Jeweler, covering all things related to design, style and trends.

The Latest

2025 National Jeweler Retailer Hall of Fame inductees
Events & AwardsJun 06, 2025
Here Are the 2025 Retailer Hall of Fame Inductees

This year’s honorees include a Midwest retailer and two multi-store independents, one in New York and the other in New England.

Harwell Godfrey Granny Square Eleanor Necklace
CollectionsJun 06, 2025
Piece of the Week: Harwell Godfrey’s ‘Granny Squares Eleanor’ Necklace

As an homage to iconic crochet blankets, the necklace features the nostalgic motif through a kaleidoscope of cabochon-cut stones.

 Laura Gallon Joaillerie “Dynasty” ring, Bijules “Compass” bolo tie, Löf “The Orbitalis” ring
Events & AwardsJun 05, 2025
The 12 Fresh Faces in Couture’s Design Atelier

Discover the dozen up-and-coming brands exhibiting in the Design Atelier for the first time.

Jewelers of America logo with meetup, State of the Majors, giveaway and massages
Brought to you by
Jewelers of America is Headed to Las Vegas for JCK 2025

The countdown is on for the JCK Las Vegas Show and JA is pulling out all the stops.

Jack Abraham The Royal Ruby Collection
SourcingJun 05, 2025
A Rare Suite of Rubies Has Arrived in Las Vegas

The “Royal Ruby” Collection is a quintet of untreated rubies curated by collector Jack Abraham.

Weekly QuizJun 05, 2025
This Week’s Quiz
Test your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
Take the Quiz
Daymond John
Events & AwardsJun 05, 2025
Daymond John to Give Keynote at JCK Las Vegas

The entrepreneur and “Shark Tank” star will share his top tips for success.

Vaishali Banerjee and Pallavi Sharma
MajorsJun 05, 2025
Platinum Guild International Updates Leadership Team

Two existing executives have been given new roles.

DCA-student-cert-NJ1872x1052-2.png
Brought to you by
The True Power Behind the Counter: Why Sales Associates Are the Heart of the Jewelry Business

When investing in your jewelry business, it's important not to overlook the most crucial element of success: the sales associates.

Meredith Tiderington
Events & AwardsJun 05, 2025
Zillion Announces 'Women in STEM' Scholarship Recipient

Meredith Tiderington, an electrical engineering student, was selected for the award.

The Gemological Institute of America’s logo
Lab-GrownJun 04, 2025
GIA Reverting to More General Terminology for Lab-Grown Diamonds

It will quit assigning the stones specific color and clarity grades in favor of applying “new descriptive terminology.”

Exterior of the Venetian and the Las Vegas Sphere
Events & AwardsJun 04, 2025
As JCK Talks Returns, Don’t Miss These 12 Sessions

From design trends to sustainability, here’s a roundup of can’t-miss education sessions at JCK Las Vegas.

JCK show
CrimeJun 04, 2025
10 Safety Tips for the Las Vegas Shows

The Jewelers’ Security Alliance offers advice for those attending the annual trade shows.

Amy Curran
MajorsJun 04, 2025
Amy Curran Promoted at Hill & Co.

Her new role is director of strategic initiatives.

The eight rings in Viviana Langhoff’s AU79 jewelry collection
CollectionsJun 03, 2025
In Her Latest Collection, Viviana Langhoff Is Leaning Into Gold

The designer is embracing bold pieces with weight to them in “AU79,” a collection she celebrated with a creative launch party.

Gold and diamond bangles on a pair of jeans
FinancialsJun 03, 2025
Signet Jewelers Sees Turnaround in Q1 With Sales Ticking Up 2%

On an earnings call, CEO J.K. Symancyk discussed what’s working for the company and how it’s preparing for the potential impact of tariffs.

Woman’s hand holding shopping bags
SurveysJun 03, 2025
Consumer Confidence Improves in May

The index partially rebounded after months of decline, due in part to the U.S.-China deal to temporarily reduce import tariffs.

Dakota Johnson as Roberto Coin Brand Ambassador
CollectionsJun 03, 2025
Dakota Johnson Is Roberto Coin’s New Brand Ambassador

The actress stars in the latest campaign set in Venice, Italy, and is set to participate in other creative initiatives for the jeweler.

Mason Kay Jade necklace
GradingJun 03, 2025
Mason-Kay Jade Adds ‘Fei Cui’ to Jade Reports

The company has joined other labs, including GIA and Lotus Gemology, in adopting the Chinese term for "jadeite jade."

Gemfields ruby
SourcingJun 02, 2025
Gemfields’ June Auction to Include 36-Carat Ruby

The large stone will be offered at its June sale along with a selection of secondary-type rubies from a new area of the Montepuez mine.

Adobe Stock image of skyline of Bangkok, Thailand
GradingJun 02, 2025
GSI Opens New Lab in Thailand

Located in Bangkok, the laboratory is Gemological Science International’s 14th location worldwide.

Seaman Schepps pearl earrings
TrendsJun 02, 2025
Amanda’s Style File: Three Gems for June

Those born in June have a myriad of options for their birthstone jewelry.

David Allouche
SourcingJun 02, 2025
David Allouche Joins Grandview Klein Diamonds

The diamond industry veteran has been named its senior sales executive.

Movado Connect 2.0 watches
FinancialsMay 30, 2025
Movado’s Q1 Sales Slip Amid ‘Challenging’ Retail Environment

The company plans to raise the prices of select watches to offset the impact of tariffs.

Zoë Chicco Bracelets
Policies & IssuesMay 30, 2025
Tariffs & Designers: Navigating Pricing in an Unstable Environment

Between tariffs and the sky-high cost of gold, designers enter this year’s Las Vegas shows with a lot of questions and few answers.

Renato Cipullo Hematite Blaze Necklace
CollectionsMay 30, 2025
Piece of the Week: Renato Cipullo’s ‘Hematite Blaze’ Necklace

Designed by founder Renato and his daughter Serena Cipullo, it showcases a flame motif representing unity and the power of gathering.

Stock image of shipping containers
Policies & IssuesMay 30, 2025
Trade Court Declares Trump’s Tariffs Invalid

However, the tariffs remain in effect in the short term, as an appeals court has stayed the U.S. Court of International Trade’s decision.

Britney Spears
CollectionsMay 29, 2025
Britney Spears Files Trademark for New Jewelry Line

The pop icon is one step closer to launching her “B Tiny” jewelry collection, a collection she first began posting about last fall.

×

This site uses cookies to give you the best online experience. By continuing to use & browse this site, we assume you agree to our Privacy Policy