Emerald brooch of Russian empress sold for over $1.6 mn
April 23rd, 2010 - 6:34 am ICT by IANSNew York, April 23 (IANS/RIA Novosti) A diamond and emerald brooch owned by Empress Catherine II the Great of Russia went under the hammer for more than $1.6 million at a Christie’s auction.
The imperial gem was bought by an anonymous phone bidder, for the price which exceeded the pre-sale estimate of $1-$1.5 million.
The unique item is made of silver-topped gold, and combines a hexagonal-cut Colombian emerald of exceptional quality weighing between 60 and 70 carats and three rows of rose and old mine cut diamonds.
The brooch was presumably made in Russia and is believed to originally belong to Catherine II the Great, who was enthroned in 1762. She was known for her fondness of jewelry.
In 1776, the brooch was given as a wedding gift to Sophie Dorothea, princess of Wurttemberg, who became the second wife of Catherine’s son and successor, Emperor Paul I.
Another outstanding historic jewel, the Emperor Maximilian Diamond weighing almost 40 carat, was sold for $1.762 million.
Archduke Ferdinand Maximilian Joseph of Austria was proclaimed Emperor Maximilian I of Mexico in 1864 during the Second Mexican Empire, and ruled about three years before being captured and court-marshaled by republican forces.
According to a legend, the emperor wore the diamond ring in a small satchel tied around his neck when he was executed by a firing squad June 19, 1867. After the execution the ring was returned to his consort, Princess Charlotte of Belgium.
–IANS/RIA Novosti
snb
- Large diamond found in Siberia - Apr 21, 2011
- J.Lo shows off $5m worth rocks at Golden Globes - Jan 18, 2011
- Rare Golconda diamonds on sale at Christie's - Apr 02, 2011
- Russia exported $4 bn worth diamonds: India major buyer - Mar 23, 2012
- Russia seeks 900 stolen artworks via Interpol - Dec 29, 2011
- $8-mn iPad 2 features dinosaur bone - Jul 30, 2011
- Russia to sell silver, diamonds worth over $300 mn - Feb 22, 2012
- Hollywood star jeweller's India-inspired works on auction - Oct 10, 2010
- John Paul II's beatification may draw a million pilgrims to Rome - Apr 28, 2011
- Russian thieves steal platinum - Dec 26, 2011
- Details of Reese Witherspoon's 4-carat engagement ring - Dec 30, 2010
- Coptic Pope Shenouda III dies in Cairo - Mar 18, 2012
- 1 mn pound ring stolen from Hong Kong hotel - Jan 18, 2012
- Europe's largest emerald mine reopens in Urals - Dec 03, 2011
- 19th century painting sells for record $5.2 mn - Apr 26, 2012
Tags: brooch, carats, catherine ii, charlotte of belgium, colombian emerald, cut diamonds, diamond ring, emperor maximilian, emperor paul, empress catherine, ferdinand maximilian, maximilian i, mexican empire, princess charlotte, republican forces, ria novosti, russian empress, snb, sophie dorothea, wurttemberg