I began my twenty-year career in the jewellery field as an expert cataloguer at Phillip's London in 1981. Three years later I moved to a leading London auction house as an expert valuer having in the meantime qualified as a gemmologist and gained the Gemmological Association's Diamond Diploma.
I became the youngest ever Deputy Director in 1989 and qualified as an auctioneer in 1991. Two years later I left for Amsterdam where I became Head of the Jewellery Department, regularly visiting the important diamond-trading centre of Antwerp. I was appointed as a Director of the International Jewellery Department in 1994 and returned to London in 1996 where I became Head of UK Jewellery Sales. I was chosen as the expert to value the Imelda Marcos collection of jewellery in Manila in 1994.
In 1999, I left in order to fulfil my long held ambition of founding my own private consultancy. I receive instructions both from Solicitors, Art Agents Insurance Brokers and Private Individuals. I am often recommended by both Christies Valuation & Jewellery departments. I regularly assist with the valuation of important Jewellery Collections, Diamonds & Precious Stones.
I lecture regularly on jewellery history and highlights include talks to the Gemmological Associations in London and Hong Kong on "The World's Finest Coloured Diamonds;" "The Jewels of The Duchess of Windsor;" "Three Hundred Years of Romantic Jewels" and Art Deco, 1914-1939: Freedom From The Choker," all at the Victoria & Albert Museum, London and "Glorious & Romantic: The Personal Jewellery Collection of H.M. Queen Elizabeth II" in England, Europe, South Africa & America. I have also appeared on NBC (America), the BBC, Radio 4 and the World Service to talk about jewels.