Lot 534. The Bessborough Diamond Tiara. An impressive Chaumet Art Deco diamond tiara. Marquise-shaped diamond, single and old-cut diamonds, platinum (French marks), 1931, maker's mark. Price realised CHF 945,000 (Estimate CHF 800,000 – CHF 1,500,000). © Christie's Images Ltd 2023

Size/Dimensions: inner circumference 52.5 cm. Gross weight: 136.5 grams. 

Provenance: Vere Brabazon Ponsonby, 9th Earl of Bessborough (1880-1956) for his wife, Roberte Countess of Bessborough [née Poupart de Neuflize] (1892 - 1979).
The marquise-shaped diamond was offered to the Earl, in 1931, as a gift by the De Beers diamond company when he left his position of director.
Thence by descent through the family.

British businessman and politician Vere Ponsonby, 9th Earl of Bessborough and his wife, Roberte Ponsonby, Countess of Bessborough, are pictured on Coronation Day in May 1937 (General Photographic Agency/Keystone/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)

Literature: D. Scarisbrick, R. Hurel, Chaumet Paris, Deux siècles de création, Paris-Musées, 1998, pp. 138 - 139
Imperial Splendours, The art of Jewellery since the 18th century, Chaumet and The Palace Museum, 2017, p. 89
H. Loyrette, Chaumet, Parisian Jeweler since 1780, Flammarion, Paris, 2017, pp. 174 - 175

Exhibited: Crowning Glories: Two centuries of Tiaras, Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, USA, 2000
Dignity and Beauty: The Story of the Tiara, Bunkamura Museum of Art, Tokyo, and Nigata Bandaijima Museum of Art, Japan, 2007.

Lot 530. Victorian diamond tiara/necklace. Old and rose-cut diamonds, silver and gold, main part detachable and wearable as a necklace or a tiara, lower part detachable and wearable as a bandeau and as a choker, circa 1890. Size/Dimensions: tiara inner circumference 44.5 cm, height 7.0 cm; necklace 44.5 cm, detachable panels of 6.6 and 5.4 cm; bandeau/choker inner circumference 45.8 cm, detachable panels of 9.8 and 5.4 cm. Gross weight: 310.20 grams. Price realised CHF 932,400 (Estimate CHF 700,000 – CHF 1,000,000). © Christie's Images Ltd 2023

Provenance: Formerly the property of Mary, Duchess of Roxburghe (1915-2014)
Geneva, 12 May 2015, lot 493.

Note: This tiara is understood to have been passed on to the Duchess by the Marchioness of Crewe, daughter of Hanna Rothschild, Countess of Rosebery, and the mother of the Duchess of Roxburghe. As the wife of an important Liberal statesman and ambassador to France, Lady Crewe was a prominent figure in London society.

Lot 537. The Württemberg Sapphire Jewels. An impressive mid 19th century suite of sapphire and diamond jewellery. Comprising a floral tiara and a brooch, together with an associated necklace. Sapphires of various shapes, rose and old-cut diamonds, silver and gold, tiara detachable into four separate brooches, 1860s. Price realised CHF 680,400 (Estimate CHF 600,000 – CHF 1,000,000). © Christie's Images Ltd 2023

SSEF, 2023, report no. 128558 (tiara): 7 sapphires, Ceylon (Sri Lanka), no indications of heating
SSEF, 2016, copy of report no. 89131 (brooch): 10 sapphires, Ceylon (Sri Lanka), no indications of heating
SSEF, 2016, copy of report no. 89130 (necklace): 23 sapphires, Ceylon (Sri Lanka), except nos. 11 and 14 Basaltic deposits, no indications of heating.

Size/Dimensions: tiara 16.0 cm; brooch 11.6 cm; necklace 42.5 cm. Gross weight: 246.6 grams. 

Provenance: Her Serene Highness Princess Marguarete of Urach (1901-1975), Countess of Württemberg, from the Royal House of Württemberg
Geneva, 15 November 2017, lots 344 - 345.

Lot 536. The Württemberg Diamond Jewels. Impressive 19th century suite of diamond and natural pearl jewellery. Comprising a fringe necklace, a pendent brooch, two pairs of earrings including one pair with natural pearls. Old and rose-cut diamonds, natural pearls, gold and silver, circa 1890. Price realised CHF 441,000 (Estimate CHF 400,000 – CHF 600,000). © Christie's Images Ltd 2023

Size/Dimensions: necklace 34.4 cm; pendent brooch 11.5 cm; diamond earrings 6.0 cm; pearl earrings 4.8 cm. Gross weight: 121.2 grams. 

Provenance: Formerly in the Collection of Mathilde of Württemberg, Princess of Urach, Countess of Württemberg (1854-1907), daughter of Théodolinde of Beauharnais, Princess of Leuchtenberg (1814-1857), and Wilhelm of Württemberg, Earl of Württemberg, Prince of Urach (1810-1869)
Thence by descent
Geneva, 15 November 2017, lots 338 - 343.

Lot 531. Victorian diamond tiara/necklace. Old-cut diamonds of various shapes, silver and gold, circa 1860. . Price realised CHF 403,200 (Estimate CHF 300,000 – CHF 600,000). © Christie's Images Ltd 2023

Size/Dimensions: tiara inner circumference 32.4 cm, height 5.2 cm; necklace inner circumference 37.5 cm. Gross weight: 115.5 grams.

Lot 533.  Chaumet Early 20th century Sapphire and diamond tiara/necklace. Oval and round-shaped cabochon sapphires, rectangular-shaped sugarloaf sapphire, old and rose-cut diamonds, platinum (French mark), 18k white gold (French marks) clasp, tiara fitting, 1921, unsigned, maker's maker (Michel Ballada). Price realised CHF 403,200 (Estimate CHF 300,000 – CHF 600,000). © Christie's Images Ltd 2023

SSEF, 2023, report no. 128560: 8 sapphires, Ceylon (Sri Lanka), no indications of heating

Size/Dimensions: tiara internal diameter 16.1 cm; necklace 38.5 cm. Gross weight: 152.9 grams

Christie's. Magnificent Jewels, Geneva, 17 may 2023