Bargains

Sharon Clinch was gifted an empty Rosendorff box by her husband for their 25th wedding anniversary in March, and told her to buy anything she wanted.

Shoppers queue for a bargain at the Rosendorff’s closing down sale in Perth.

Hundreds of bargain-hunters have swamped Rosendorff’s $9million clearance sale, paying up to $125,000 for cut-price fine jewellery and diamonds.

The collapsed jeweller’s Hay Street Mall store raked in more than $500,000 in sales yesterday, easily exceeding the expectations of insolvency experts seeking to save the business.

The bargains included a $250,000 emerald cut diamond ring, which sold for $125,000.

Sharon Clinch is served by diamond consultant Patricia Flannery.

“The level of support has been tremendous,” said Richard Tucker, one of the receivers appointed to Craig Rosendorff’s Rosendorff Diamond Jewellers this week.

The store opened to long lines of waiting customers that forced Perth City Council rangers to cordon off part of the mall to try and minimise disruption.

Among those waiting was Sharon Clinch, who has bought all her rings from Rosendorff.She said her husband had given her an empty Rosendorff box for their 25th wedding anniversary in March and told her to buy anything she wanted.

“A friend texted me about the sale and I also saw it on social media, so this morning I hopped right on the train,” she said.

Mrs Clinch joined the queue about 9.30am and waited for more than an hour before being able to enter the store but she said it was worth it.

“The staff have been so helpful as always and hopefully I can find what I’m looking for,” she said.

Chris Milan, who heard about the sale on the news, said he was hoping to get a diamond as an investment and hopefully “find something for my missus”.

The receivers, from insolvency firm KordaMentha, are seeking to clear Rosendorff’s excess stock while they pursue a recapitalisation or sale of the business, which was founded in 1963.

Originally published as Bargains