Two bracelets from the estate of Margaret Nielsen Stiegele at Bonhams Fine Jewelry sale in New York. Photo courtesy Bonhams

Bonhams is honored to present the following selection of jewelry from the Estate of Margaret Nielsen Stiegele. 

Mrs. Stiegele was born in 1922 in Chicago to Gertrude and Arthur Nielsen. Her father was best known for the Nielsen television ratings which he invented and made into the industry standard.

She spent the first 45 years of her life on the North Shore of Chicago before moving to California in 1967. She first lived in the San Francisco area and later moved to Ojai in southern California.

Traveling extensively to most countries of the world, Mrs. Stiegele gained an appreciation for fine jewelry from many international venues. Her collection represents both beautifully crafted fine jewelry as well as more casual jewelry for less formal occasions. She amassed a remarkable collection of jewelry and wore it proudly throughout her life.

Mrs. Stiegele was also a fine athlete, having won the National Father and Daughter tennis tournament. She was also a generous donor to many charities, primarily concentrating on medical research.

Additional selections from the Estate of Margaret Nielsen Stiegele, including jewelry by Van Cleef & Arpels, Cartier and others, will be included in Bonhams' upcoming auction of Fine Jewelry on October 17.

Lot 280 – An emerald and diamond bracelet, Cartier, circa 1935. Photo courtesy Bonhams.

the central arched section set with five emerald cabochons, flanked by lines of graduated diamond baguettes, surrounded by pave-set transitional, old European, and single-cut diamonds, completed by brickwork links and a conforming diamond clasp; signed Cartier, no. 4398; estimated total emerald weight: 14.35 carats; estimated total diamond weight: 22.20 carats; mounted in platinum; length: 6in. Estimate: US$ 60,000 - 80,000 (€44,000 - 59,000) (£38,000 - 50,000)T

The estate of Margaret Nielsen Stiegele

the double-hinged form set with three cabochon star sapphires, within an arched mount, pavé-set with transitional, old European, and baguette-cut diamonds, pierced edges and terminals set with single and transitional-cut diamonds; estimated total sapphire weight: 35.00 carats; estimated total diamond weight: 5.75 carats; gross weight approximately: 61.3 grams; diameter: 2 1/8in. Estimate: US$ 30,000 - 50,000 (€22,000 - 37,000) (£19,000 - 31,000)