8.52 carats Diamond ring, Chantecler

Set with a marquise-shaped diamond weighing 8.52 carats, between tapered shoulders of baguette and square-cut diamonds, the mount partly pavé-set with brilliant-cut diamonds of pink tint, mounted in white and yellow gold, signed Chantecler, Italian assay marks, fitted case. size 51, with ring sizer. Accompanied by GIA report no. 17454079 stating that the diamond is I Colour, VVS2 Clarity. Estimate 180,000—410,000 CHF- Lot sold  200,500 CHF

NOTE: Named 'Chantecler' after the play of the same name by Edmond Rostand, Pietro Capuano was a member of a famous Neapolitan family of jewellers. He decided to open a small boutique with his partner Salvatore Aprea on the island of Capri in 1947. Their fanciful and multicoloured jewels soon became a great success among the the new clientele of the Dolce Vita smart set, Hollywood stars and exiled kings, famous writers and Italian nobility, from Grace Kelly, Ingrid Bergman, Audrey Hepburn, Jacqueline Kennedy and Aristote Onassis. They all stepped down from their yachts anchored next to the Grotta Azzura to wonder at Chantecler windows and bring back a jewelled souvenir from their travels. Today the family still runs the company and the Chantecler style has been passed down by Aprea's children, Maria Elena, Costanza, Gabriele and his wife Teresa with shops in Capri, Milan, Cortina d'Ampezzo and Tokyo.

Sotheby's. Magnificent Jewels. 19 Nov 08. Geneva. Photo courtesy Sotheby's. www.sothebys.com