Today marks the Centenary of the Birth of Aline Griffith, Countess of Romanones, who was born on this day in 1923! The American Spy who became a Spanish Countess and glamorous socialite, the Countess wore some spectacular jewels, which included her versatile Diamond Bracelet!

Emerald Necklace Tiara | Diamond Bracelet | Jewels of the Countess of Romanones

A spectacular Diamond Bracelet consisting of a tapered band set with a line of baguette diamonds between borders of brilliant-cut stones, set in platinum, with French assay marks for platinum. The provenance of the piece is unknown but it was likely acquired by the Countess at some point in the 1970s.

In 1974, the Countess of Romanones wore her Diamond Bracelet as a Tiara when she served as a Madrina at the Wedding of her eldest son, the 10th Count of Quintanilla, with the bride wearing her Emerald Necklace Tiara. 

The previous year, the Countess of Romanones had loaned the Diamond Bracelet to her friend Princess Marianne zu Sayn-Wittgenstein-Sayn, who attached the Bracelet to the base of her Diamond Flower Tiara, for the Ball held the on the eve of the Wedding of their children. The following day, Princess Theresia zu Sayn-Wittgenstein-Sayn, wore the Diamond Flower Tiara to marry Luis de Figueroa y Griffith, 11th Count of Quintanilla

A few years later, the Countess wore the Diamond Bracelet as the base of her Emerald Necklace Tiara for the 70th Birthday Party for Malcolm Forbes in Tangier, which she attended with Elizabeth Taylor.

The Countess of Romanones regularly wore the Diamond Bracelet for a plethora of occasions through the 1980s, the 1990s and the 2000s, often with her Emerald Necklace Tiara and Ruby Suite, with the jewels becoming an iconic symbol of her glamorous lifestyle and public persona well into her old age.

In 2011, the Countess of Romanones decided to Auction her Jewels at Sotheby’s in Geneva, which included her Emerald Necklace Tiara, Ruby Suite and other Jewels, as well as this Diamond Bracelet, which had an estimate of 37,000 – 55,000 CHF and ended up fetching 362,500 CHF. 

Emerald Necklace Tiara | Diamond Bracelet | Jewels of the Countess of Romanones