A Cartier bracelet that was previously part of the imperial Russian crown jewels more than doubled its high estimate to bring in CHF 4.1 million ($4.9 million) at a recent Sotheby’s auction in Geneva.
The piece centers the cushion-shaped, 197.80-carat Romanov sapphire with the bracelet featuring brilliant-cut diamonds and accented with modified shield-step-cut diamonds. It has an interchangeable engraved rock crystal center embellished with triangular diamonds. The lot was the top seller, beating its CHF 850,000 to CHF 1.7 million ($1 million to $2 million) estimate.
In total, the November 11 Royal & Noble Jewels auction garnered CHF 15.3 million ($18.4 million). Jewels from famous design houses, including Van Cleef & Arpels, Bulgari, and Bucherer, also went under the hammer.
Here are the rest of the top 10 lots:
Estimate: CHF 780,000 to CHF 1.1 million ($936,233 to $1.3 million)
Another Cartier piece, this one a necklace that can also be worn as a tiara, containing five detachable brooches. It’s set with oval black opals and variously cut diamonds. Created in 1937, the jewel was formerly in the collection of Mary Cavendish, Duchess of Devonshire.
Estimate: CHF 320,000 to CHF 480,000 ($384,095 to $576,121)
Originating from the collection of an Italian noble family is this necklace, centering a collet-set octagonal step-cut Ceylon sapphire weighing 43.07 carats. The front is accented with mother-of-pearl, decorated with cultured pearls, and pavé-set throughout with brilliant-cut diamonds. The front is signed Bucherer, while the clasp is signed Adler.
Estimate: CHF 40,000 to CHF 60,000 ($48,013 to $72,019)
A Belle Epoque brooch with a cushion-shaped, 23.64-carat padparadscha sapphire within a border millegrain-set with circular- and single-cut diamonds. Created in 1910, it comes from the collection of Sibylla of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, Duchess of Vasterbotten.
Estimate: CHF 300,000 to CHF 500,000 ($360,126 to $600,210)
A demi-parure comprising a necklace and a pair of pendant earrings featuring a graduated series of cabochon sapphires, framed with millegrain-set old European-cut diamonds and highlighted by single- and rose-cut diamonds. The pendants on the necklace, which is also from the collection of Sibylla of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, Duchess of Vasterbotten, are detachable.
Estimate: CHF 300,000 to CHF 400,000 ($360,126 to $480,280)
A necklace with a detachable pendant featuring an oval Ceylon sapphire, within a frame of old European-cut diamonds. Created in the 1920s, it once belonged to Countess Contini Bonacossi.
Estimate: CHF 70,000 to CHF 100,000 ($84,045 to $120,064)
This Van Cleef & Arpels necklace was the property of a European princely family. It is transformable, comprising a pair of brooches set with cushion-shaped blue sapphires accented with rubies, and cushion-shaped yellow sapphires accented with blue sapphires, as well as a chain of gas-pipe linking. In total, it can form several different necklaces, a choker, a bracelet, a belt and two brooches.
Estimate: CHF 300,000 to CHF 500,000 ($360,126 to $600,210)
Made by Mellerio circa 1862, this tiara is of meander design, and includes old mine- and rose-cut diamonds throughout. It is from the collection of Marie Isabelle of Orleans, Countess of Paris.
Estimate: CHF 350,000 to CHF 500,000 ($420,126 to $600,210)
Having belonged to Catherine, Lady Walston, this toi et moi ring has a cabochon Kashmir sapphire weighing 7.83 carats and a similarly shaped, 6.77-carat Colombian emerald.
Estimate: CHF 80,000 to CHF 120,000 ($96,024 to $144,036)
Van Cleef & Arpels designed this necklace, which is from the property of an Italian noble family. It’s set throughout with brilliant-cut diamonds and suspends a detachable pendant that can double as a brooch.
Main image: The Romanov sapphire bracelet. (Sotheby’s)
