Friday, May 20, 2011

Noble Jewels

I love these jewels that speak of another time and place. Here are two of my favorites from the Sotheby's Auction.

A Magnificent and Extremely Ra
re Emerald and Diamond Tiara...
formerly in the Collection of Princess Katharina Henckel von Donnersmarck Achieves
$12,736,927 (Est. $5-10 million)
...also Represents a World Auction Record for a Piece of Emerald Jewelery




Among other highlights of the Noble Jewels section were jewels from the Collection of the Excelentísima Sra. Condesa vda. de Romanones, a Grande de España who was recruited to become an OSS agent in Madrid during World War II before marrying Don Luis de Figueroa y Perez de Guzmán el Bueno, Count of Quintanilla in 1947. From the Countess of Romanones collection was an emerald and diamond demi-parure from the 1960s, which was competed for by six bidders and sold for $409,230 (lot 407, est. $103,000-147,000), a ruby and diamond necklace/brooch combination from the 1970s, which sold for $192,479 (lot 409, est. $81,500-147,000)