It’s that time of year again! The major European Auction Houses are having their annual autumn Royal and Noble Jewellery Sales, and we are featuring splendid Royal and Noble Jewels, which include Jewels from the Bourbon-Parma Royal Family and the Thurn and Taxis Princely Family, on Auction at Christie’s in Geneva today!
Christie’s Geneva | 10 November 2022
Pearl, Emerald and Diamond Necklace
Estimate: CHF 30,000 – CHF 50,000
Property of a Royal Family
A striking necklace of natural and cultured pearls with a hexagonal-shaped emerald from Pakistan and old-cut diamonds, which is the property of a Royal Family.
Art Deco Diamond Brooch
Estimate: CHF 10,000 – CHF 15,000
Property of a Noble Family
An Art Deco Diamond brooch of old-cut and round diamonds in platinum, circa 1930, which is the property of a Noble Family.
Star Sapphire and Diamond Brooch
Estimate: CHF 15,000 – CHF 20,000
Property of a Noble Family
A striking Brooch with a sugarloaf cabochon star sapphire and old-cushion and round diamonds circa 1930, which is the property of a Noble Family.
Aquamarine and Diamond Jewellery
Estimate: CHF 10,000 – CHF 15,000
Property of a European Princely Family
A necklace with square and triangular-shaped aquamarines, earrings with briolette-shaped aquamarine, and a brooch with a pear-shaped aquamarine, which by family tradition comes from the Estate of Princess Margaret of Thurn and Taxis and thence by descent, to her daughter, the late Princess Diana of Bourbon-Parma.
Aquamarine and Diamond Suite
Estimate: CHF 10,000 – CHF 15,000
Property of a European Princely Family
An spectacular Aquamarine and Diamond Suite of oval and briolette-cut aquamarines and old and rose-cut diamonds from the 1880s, in a brown Janesich fitted case, which by family tradition comes from the Estate of Princess Margaret of Thurn and Taxis and thence by descent, to her daughter, the late Princess Diana of Bourbon-Parma.
Art Deco Amethyst, Rock Crystal and Diamond Necklace
Estimate: CHF 15,000 – CHF 20,000
Property of a European Princely Family
A striking necklace of oval-shaped amethysts, rock crystal panels, rose-cut diamonds, circa 1920, which by family tradition was a wedding gift to Princess Margaret of Thurn and Taxis, daughter of the Duke of Castel Duino, when she married Prince Gaetano of Bourbon-Parma, from Princess Eugenie of Greece (who later married the 2nd Duke of Castel Duino) and thence by descent to her daughter, the late Princess Diana of Bourbon-Parma.
Cartier Diamond Earrings
Estimate: CHF 15,000 – CHF 20,000
Property of a European Princely Family
A pair of Cartier Diamond Earrings from the 1950s, which by family tradition were a gift from Princess Marie Bonaparte, mother of the aforementioned Princess Eugenie of Greece, to Princess Margaret of Thurn and Taxis and thence by descent to her daughter, the late Princess Diana of Bourbon-Parma.
Pearl and Diamond Ring
Estimate: CHF 4,000 – CHF 6,000
Property of a European Princely Family
A cultured pearl and diamond ring, which by family tradition comes from the Estate of Prince Gaetano of Bourbon-Parma, who offered it to his wife Princess Margaret of Thurn and Taxis and thence by descent, to their daughter, the late Princess Diana of Bourbon-Parma.
Many of the Jewels on Auction come from the collection of Princess Margaret of Thurn and Taxis, daughter of Prince Alexander von Thurn und Taxis, the 1st Duke of Castel Duino and Princess Marie de Ligne, who was married to Prince Gaetano of Bourbon-Parma, son of Robert I, Duke of Parma and his second wife, Infanta Maria Antonia of Portugal. Princess Margaret’s brother was married to Princess Eugenie of Greece, and her daughter, Princess Diana of Bourbon-Parma (whose first husband was Prince Franz Joseph of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen), passed away in 2020, so it is likely her children who are selling these Jewels. More Jewels were sold at the Christie’s Magnificent Jewels Sale on November 8th.
Christie’s Magnificent Jewels | 8 November 2022
Sapphire and Diamond Brooch
Estimate: CHF 40,000 – CHF 60,000
Property of a European Princely Family
An antique Sapphire and Diamond Brooch feating an oval-shaped sapphire, that according to family tradition comes from the Estate of Princess Maria Antonia Adelaide of Braganza and thence by descent, possibly to the late Princess Diana of Bourbon-Parma.
Sapphire and Diamond Bracelet
Estimate: CHF 80,000 – CHF 140,000
Property of a European Princely Family
An Sapphire and Diamond Bracelet, with an oval-shaped sapphire and old-cut diamonds, which by family tradition was a wedding gift from Duke Robert I of Parma to his wife Princess Maria Antonia of Braganza and thence by descent through her son, Prince Gaetano, and likely to his daughter, Princess Diana of Bourbon-Parma.
An Art Deco Pearl, Ruby and Diamond ‘Chimera’ Bangle
Estimate: CHF 100,000 – CHF 180,000
Property of a European Princely Family
An Art Deco Pearl, Ruby and Diamond ‘Chimera’ Bangle which comes from the Estate of Princess Helena ‘Ella’ of Thurn and Taxis and thence by descent to her stepdaughter, Princess Margarete of Thurn and Taxis, and then likely to her daughter, Princess Diana of Bourbon-Parma.
Bulgari Pearl Necklace
Estimate: CHF 300,000 – CHF 500,000
Property of a European Princely Family
A Bulgari Pearl Necklace three strands of graduated natural and cultured pearls with a clasp of old and baguette-cut diamonds with a rectangular-shaped green doublet, from the 1930s, signed Bvlgari, by family tradition this necklace was a wedding gift from Prince Gaetano of Bourbon-Parma to his wife Princess Margarete of Thurn and Taxis and thence by descent to their daughter, the late Princess Diana of Bourbon-Parma.