There are many striking antique Jewels coming up for Auction this month, with an Emerald and Diamond Necklace from a Royal Collection among the magnificent Jewels on Auction in the Sotheby’s ‘High Jewelry’ Sale in Geneva tomorrow!
Sotheby’s High Jewelry | 12 May 2026
Ansuini Sapphire and Diamond Brooch
Estimate: 45,000 – 75,000 CHF
Formerly in the Collection of Countess Patrizia De Blanck y Menocal
An Ansuini Sapphire and Diamond Brooch of stylised floral design decorated with cushion-shaped sapphires highlighted by brilliant-cut and baguette diamonds, unsigned; 1960s.
Countess Patrizia De Blanck y Menocal is the descendant of an ancient Venetian family as well as of the Blanck y Menocal family, a prominent Spanish noble house that owned the luxurious villa ‘Hermitage’ on the Côte d’Azur and many sprawling sugar cane and tobacco plantations in Cuba.
Patrizia’s father Guillermo de Blanck y Menocal, a multifaceted man of letters, passionate about music, theatre and history, decided to embarked on a diplomatic career that brought him prestige in his various roles as Ambassador or Minister. Her childhood was spent between Italy and Cuba where her uncle Mario García y Menocal, called ‘Il Caudillo’, was elected President.
Patrizia finally settled in Italy in 1958, where she started a successful career in the newly emerging Italian television industry. Since then, she has appeared as a regular guest on many tv shows and radio programs over the course of several decades.
Silver-Topped Gold, Natural Pearl and Diamond Pendant
Estimate: 16,000 – 24,000 CHF
A Silver-Topped Gold, Natural Pearl and Diamond Pendant featuring a baroque natural pearl, suspending a detachable pendant featuring a baroque natural pearl surmounted by a bow motif, set throughout with old mine- and rose-cut diamonds.
Diamond Pendent Earrings
Estimate: 20,000 – 30,000 CHF
A pair of Diamond Pendent Earrings of girandole design, set throughout with rose-cut diamonds in closed back settings, screwback fittings, partial French maker’s marks, French assay marks for gold; 1830s.
Yellow Diamond Pendant
Estimate: 24,000 – 40,000 CHF
A fancy light Yellow Diamond Pendant featuring a cushion-shaped fancy light yellow diamond weighing 13.18 carats, the gallery decorated with openwork heart-shaped motifs, surmounted by a foliate spray accented by old European-cut diamonds; circa 1900.
Marzo Sapphire and Diamond Pendant
Estimate: 65,000 – 95,000 CHF
A Marzo Sapphire and Diamond Pendant featuring oval sapphires weighing 36.73 and 20.87 carats respectively, each within a laurel wreath border connected by a bow, suspending an articulated fringe, millegrain-set with old mine-, old European- and single-cut diamonds, signed Marzo Paris, French assay marks for platinum; circa 1905.
Boucheron Emerald, Gem-Set and Diamond Brooch/Pendant
Estimate: 65,000 – 95,000 CHF
A Boucheron Emerald, Gem-Set and Diamond Brooch/Pendant designed as a giardinetto, the pear-shaped rose-cut emerald urn issuing a delicate floral and foliate spray of old mine and single-cut diamonds, one of yellow tint, and vari-cut rubies, emeralds and sapphires, suspended from a diamond-set ribbon bow surmount, the whole suspending three elongated diamond briolette drops, signed F. Boucheron Paris, French assay mark for gold; circa 1900.
This jewel is a superb example of Boucheron’s exquisite craftsmanship. Each gem is precision-cut and beautifully matched and the pendant is impeccably weighted. The elongated diamond briolettes are not only an unusual design feature but an opulent addition to this masterpiece in miniature.
Boucheron relied on a network of specialised craftsmen rather than a single, centralised workshop. Auguste Bugniot and Theophile Picot were two such jewellers who were employed.
Auguste Bugnoit, engaged by Boucheron from around 1890, appears to have focused on naturalistic forms and his compositions frequently returned to floral motifs. His use of calibré-cut gemstones is especially noteworthy. This specific technique required stones to be cut and faceted by hand to precise, custom dimensions to fit seamlessly within complex, often curved settings such as petals and buds.
Théophile Picot, by contrast, may be characterised as operating at the intersection of jewellery and sculpture, creating “little marvels of extraordinary precision and finish” (Gilles Néret). His work is distinguished by an acute attention to microscopic modelling and three-dimensional form.
Cartier Diamond Double Clip/Bangle
Estimate: 95,000 – 140,000 CHF
A Cartier Diamond Double Clip/Bangle, the detachable clips of geometric design set with bullet-shaped, square, hexagonal, single- and old European-cut diamonds, together with a pair of sprung bangles applied with black lacquer, one intended to feature both clips, the other intended to feature one clip; 1930s.
Bulgari Ruby and Diamond Brooch
Estimate: 60,000 – 80,000 CHF
Formerly in the Collection of Countess Patrizia De Blanck y Menocal
A Bulgari Ruby and Diamond Brooch, circa 1962, designed as a flowerhead, centering a cluster of oval, circular-cut and cushion-shaped rubies, the openwork petals enhanced with brilliant-cut and marquise-shaped diamonds, to a baguette diamond stem, signed Bulgari.
Countess Patrizia De Blanck y Menocal is the descendant of an ancient Venetian family as well as of the Blanck y Menocal family, a prominent Spanish noble house that owned the luxurious villa ‘Hermitage’ on the Côte d’Azur and many sprawling sugar cane and tobacco plantations in Cuba.
Patrizia’s father Guillermo de Blanck y Menocal, a multifaceted man of letters, passionate about music, theatre and history, decided to embarked on a diplomatic career that brought him prestige in his various roles such as Ambassador or Minister. Her childhood was spent between Italy and Cuba where her uncle Mario García y Menocal, called ‘Il Caudillo’, was elected President.
Patrizia finally settled in Italy in 1958, where she started a successful career in the newly emerging Italian television industry. Since then, she has appeared as a regular guest on many tv shows and radio programs over the course of several decades.
Emerald and Diamond Necklace
Estimate: 800,000 – 1,600,000 CHF
From a Royal Collection
A magnificent Emerald and Diamond Necklace featuring a graduated fringe of drop-shaped emeralds weighing 57.82, 40.20, 31.77, 29.26, 28.65, 28.61, 26.14, 24.75, 21.13, 17.19, 16.80, 13.41 and 11.38 carats respectively, centring a cabochon emerald weighing 11.76 carats, set with baguette, old mine-, old European and single-cut diamonds.
