Christie’s High Jewelry | 13 May 2026

There are many striking antique Jewels coming up for Auction this month, with a Cartier Diamond Tiara among the magnificent Jewels on Auction in the Christie’s ‘High Jewelry’ Sale in Geneva tomorrow!

Christie’s High Jewelry | 13 May 2026

Chaumet Pearl and Diamond Necklace

Estimate: CHF 90,000 – CHF 140,000

A Chaumet mid-20th century Natural Pearl And Diamond Necklace with drop-shaped natural pearls, old and rose-cut diamonds, 1949, unsigned, unique piece.

Belle Époque Sapphire and Diamond Brooch/Pendant

Estimate: CHF 55,000 – CHF 90,000

A Belle Époque Sapphire and Diamond Brooch/Pendant with cushion-shaped sapphire, pear-shaped, old and single-cut diamonds, circa 1910.

Cartier Art Deco Diamond Tiara

Estimate: CHF 260,000 – CHF 480,000

An impressive Cartier Art Deco Diamond Tiara with pear-shaped diamond, old and rose-cut diamonds, platinum (French marks), circa 1920, signed Cartier Londres, Paris, New York, maker’s mark (Gustave Renault), later fitted Cartier case.

Christie’s, Geneva, 18 May 2016, lot 191

This tiara is distinguished by its striking composition of stylised fountains. The graduated diamond-set arches reflect the refined symmetry associated with the Art Deco style, while subtly retaining the soft, flowing curves of earlier design traditions, creating a harmonious balance between structure and movement. The fountain motif was highly fashionable in the mid-1920s, influencing jewellery, couture, and architecture alike. Notable expressions of this aesthetic include the Parfumerie Française pavilion at the Éxposition Internationale des Arts Décoratifs et Industriels Modernes, (1925), glasswork by René Lalique and creations by Paul Poiret.

Encapsulating the spirit of 1920s design, this tiara reflects a transitional moment that produced some of the most innovative creations of the century. Signed by Cartier during its most celebrated period, it was crafted by the renowned Atelier Renault workshop, famed for its exquisite delicacy and technical mastery, an exceptional and highly coveted work of art that stands among the finest achievements of 20th-century jewellery design.

In 2011, Hilda Armada Falcó, a niece of the current Duchess of Montellano, completed her bridal look with a stunning diamond tiara set in platinum worn low across her forehead. This Art-Deco tiara features stylised fountains, a design widely used by Maison Cartier in the 1920s, of which several examples remain.

Unfortunately, the piece was stolen some time after the wedding and seems to have been broken down. After the ceremony, it was kept in a safe inside the family’s summer property in Asturias, where the ceremony took place. It appears that the Bolivian couple who looked after the house during the family’s absences brought four members of a gang specialised in luxury burglars, who opened the safe and stole a watch, 35.000 euros, various antiques and the tiara. Five people were arrested, but a sixth managed to flee back to Bolivia reportedly bringing the tiara with him. In 2014, the Police concluded that it might have been dismantled, and the diamonds sold separately.