Christie’s Jewels of London Tour: exclusive access to London’s most exceptional gems

By Åse Anderson

Taking place over four days from 1-4 June, Christie's Jewels of London Tour will include a private viewing of the Crown Jewels, as well as access to rarely seen private jewellery collections.

Aimed at jewellery lovers and collectors, the tour is now in its fourth year and is hosted by David Warren, Christie's senior international director of jewellery. A leading authority on emeralds, Mughal and Cartier jewellery, David will bring the precious stones to life with his captivating stories about their creation and history.

Christie's Jewels of London Tour starts with an exclusive viewing of the Crown Jewels at the Tower of London, followed by a candlelit dinner in the haunting surrounds of the 915-year-old White Tower. The second day takes in a private tour of the jewellery gallery at the Victoria & Albert Museum, which houses one of the world's most comprehensive collections, encompassing more than 3,000 jewels spanning from ancient times to the present day.

A definite highlight of the tour is the rare opportunity to meet a renowned private collector and see their personally curated assortment of precious stones up close. "Evening dress but no jewels" is the advised dress code at a dinner held at Christie's headquarters, where guests are invited to adorn themselves with the coloured gemstones from the upcoming Christie's jewellery sale.

Following behind-the-scenes visits to some of Bond Street's foremost jewellery ateliers, the trip finishes at Christie's jewellery auction, where all tour guests are given VIP access to the salesroom. Other highlights over the four days include a talk on Elizabeth Taylor, whose illustrious jewellery collection was sold for a record-breaking sum at Christie's New York in 2011.

David Warren says: "Our jewellery trips are among the most popular in the Christie's Travel programme and it is a privilege to spend time with those who share one's passion for exceptional gems. The signature moments that this tour incorporates offers rare insights into the world's greatest jewels and an unforgettable experience for those who appreciate the scarcity of these stones, and the exceptional craftsmanship involved in creating such magnificent pieces."

Launched in 2013 in association with Abercrombie & Kent, Christie's Travel specialises in tailored and highly individual tours, which give unrivalled access to experts, collectors and galleries.

Christie's Jewels of London Tour costs from £3,400 per person and includes overnight stays, local group transportation and most meals.

Christie's Jewels of London Tour is hosted by David Warren, Director of Christie's jewellery, who is a leading authority on emeralds, Mughal and Cartier jewellery. He describes the tours as "among the most popular in the Christie's Travel programme".
Part of the Christie's Jewels of London tour includes visiting the jewellery gallery at the Victoria & Albert Museum, which houses one of the world's most comprehensive collections, including 3,000 jewels from ancient times to present day.
A highlight of the tour will be a dinner held at Christie's headquarters, where guests will be invited to adorn themselves with an array of coloured gemstones from the upcoming Christie's jewellery sale.
Aimed at jewellery lovers and collectors, Christie's Jewels of London Tour, which takes place between 1-4 June 2015, is now in its fourth year.
Christie's Jewels of London Tour, which includes a private viewing of the Crown Jewels at the Tower of London, costs from £3,400 per person and includes overnight stays, local group transportation and most meals.
As well as viewings of private collections, participants of Christie's Jewels of London Tour will also enjoy an exclusive viewing of the Crown Jewels at the Tower of London followed by a candlelit dinner in the haunting surrounds of the 915-year-old White Tower.