A turquoise and diamond Cartier tiara belonging to Viscountess Nancy Astor will lead an upcoming jewelry sale at Bonhams in London, carrying an estimate of up to GBP 350,000 ($461,864).
The tiara, which is coming to auction for the first time since Lord Astor purchased it in 1930, contains old brilliant-, single- and rose-cut diamonds, with a principal old brilliant-cut diamond at the center. It features three turquoise plumes set with brilliant and single-cut diamond stems, while each side of the tiara has a radiating fan-shaped turquoise panel design. The piece will be the star of the June 5 London Jewels sale, Bonhams said last week.
Viscountess Astor, born Nancy Witcher Langhorne, was an American-born British politician who became the first woman to take her seat in Parliament, serving from 1919 to 1945. She met her husband, American-born Waldorf Astor, on the boat in which she traveled across the Atlantic Ocean when she moved to England in 1905.
Other highlights include a toi et moi ring featuring a fancy-pink diamond weighing 2.05 carats and a fancy-bluish-green diamond weighing 1.42 carats. It has a top price of GBP 250,000 ($329,971).
Bonhams will also offer a set of three antique rose-cut diamond brooches circa mid-19th century; they are expected to fetch up to GBP 80,000 ($105,593). A Tiffany & Co. diamond and gem-set leaves necklace, formed of pavé-set diamond leaves entwined with gold stems, has a high estimate of GBP 60,000 ($79,193), while a pair of diamond chandelier earrings, each sporting a drop cascading with a graduation of pear-cut diamonds weighing 3.17 and 4.02 carats, is being offered for GBP 60,000 ($79,193).
Another notable item is a Cartier citrine and diamond clip brooch, from around 1930, which features an oval buckle motif set with circular-cut citrines issuing old brilliant-cut diamond accents. It has an upper estimate of GBP 20,000 ($26,398).
Image: The Astor tiara. (Bonhams)
