Royal Jewels Fetch a Princely Sum

We recently showcased five pieces of incredible antique jewelry here on The Court Jeweller that would soon be sold at auction. Now that the sales have happened, here’s a look at the amount each piece fetched in the auction room…

Crown Princess Cecilie’s Fabergé Tiara

Likely made ca. 1903 by Fabergé, this diamond kokoshnik was given to Duchess Cecilie of Mecklenburg-Schwerin when she married Crown Prince Wilhelm of Prussia. The piece features three distinctive circular elements set in the middle of the tiara’s lattice and quatrefoil design. Auction estimates for the tiara ranged from just around $200,000-$300,000. When the hammer fell at Sotheby’s on May 14, the tiara sold for almost $435,000.

Grand Duchess Alexandra’s Fabergé Tiara

On May 15, Christie’s sold a diamond and aquamarine tiara made by Fabergé in 1905 for Princess Alexandra of Hanover. The piece was a wedding gift from her new husband, Grand Duke Friedrich Franz IV of Mecklenburg-Schwerin, and the tiara’s design appropriately incorporated many love symbols in its design. The piece was estimated to fetch around $230,000-$335,000, but it sold for significantly more: just over $1,020,000.

Princess Helene’s Emerald and Diamond Necklace

For the second time in recent memory, an emerald and diamond necklace that once belonged to Princess Helene, Duchess of Aosta was sold at auction. In May 2015, a buyer purchased the necklace at auction for more than $2.5 million. On May 15 in Geneva, the necklace sold for a lesser sum of $1.8 million — though this price fell within the piece’s auction estimate, which was set between $1.5 million and $2.5 million.

The Beaumont Emerald Art Deco Necklace

This versatile, convertible emerald and diamond necklace, made by Van Cleef and Arpels, is an excellent example of the Art Deco style. It belonged to one of the wealthy socialites of the period, Helene Beaumont. The auction estimate for the stunning piece was set at around $3 million-$4 million. When the bidding finished at Sotheby’s on May 14, the necklace sold neatly within that range, fetching more than $3.5 million.

Grand Duchess Vladimir’s Emerald Pendant

One of the most impressive auctions of royal jewels last week was the sale of an emerald that once belonged to Grand Duchess Vladimir. The stone, which has since been recut and is now set as a pendant in a diamond necklace, weighs more than 75 carats. Christie’s set the auction estimate for the necklace at a whopping $2.3-$3.5 million, and on May 15 in Geneva, it shattered those numbers, selling for more than $4.2 million.