WatchesNov 09, 2021
This Timepiece Set an Auction Record for an Independent WatchmakerAuctionsNov 10, 2021
Marie Antoinette Bracelets Smash Auction Estimates, Selling for $8M
The Duchess of Windsor bangle, however, failed to sell.
Diamond bracelets once belonging to Marie Antoinette were the top lot at Christie’s Geneva’s Magnificent Jewels auction.
Geneva—Marie Antoinette’s diamond bracelets were in high demand at Christie’s Geneva’s Magnificent Jewels auction on Nov. 9, while a bangle belonging to the Duchess of Windsor failed to find a buyer.
Expected to fetch between $2.2 and $4.4 million per current exchange rates, the Marie Antoinette bracelets comprising 112 diamonds and believed to be in their original designs as when they belonged to the last queen of France sold for nearly $8.2 million to an undisclosed buyer.
According to Christie’s, Marie Antoinette purchased the bracelets in 1776—when she was 16 years old and two years after becoming queen—with gemstones from her collection and a sum of money from her husband, King Louis XVI.
Marie Antoinette sent them along with other personal effects for safekeeping to the former Austrian ambassador to France when she and King Louis were imprisoned in the Tuileries in Paris.
She was executed in 1793. The bracelets were given to her daughter, Madame Royale, who donned them in a portrait, and they were passed through the family’s royal lineage for 200 years.
The No. 2 lot in the Magnificent Jewels sale was an unmounted Golconda diamond. The pear modified brilliant-cut 55.5 carat, D-color, VVS2 clarity, potentially internally flawless, Type IIa diamond fell within its pre-sale estimate, earning $5.3 million.
A Van Cleef & Arpels ruby and diamond brooch earned the No. 3 spot, selling for approximately $4.6 million, though it was expected to sell for only $440,000 to $660,000.
The No. 4 lot was an important diamond ring, which sold for approximately $3.6 million, within its pre-sale estimate.
The ring features a 43.19-carat oval brilliant-cut, D-color, internally flawless, Type IIa diamond set in platinum flanked by two fancy-cut diamonds.
At No. 5 was an exceptional colored diamond and diamond ring that sold within its pre-sale range for nearly $3.1 million.
It features a fancy vivid yellow rectangular cut-cornered diamond weighing 42.98 carats, VVS1 clarity, flanked by kite-shaped diamonds weighing 1.7 and 1.69 carats, set in platinum and yellow gold.
Buyers didn’t clamor for the Cartier bangle the Duke of Windsor gave to his wife the Duchess of Windsor on the occasion of their first anniversary in 1938, less than two years after he abdicated the British throne to marry the divorced American.
Featuring two cushion-shaped no-heat Burmese rubies weighing a total 36.15 carats set in platinum and surrounded by more than 24 carats of baguette and circular-cut diamonds, Christie’s had expected the historically important piece to fetch between $1.1 million and $1.6 million.
Full results are available online.
Related stories will be right here …
Expected to fetch between $2.2 and $4.4 million per current exchange rates, the Marie Antoinette bracelets comprising 112 diamonds and believed to be in their original designs as when they belonged to the last queen of France sold for nearly $8.2 million to an undisclosed buyer.
According to Christie’s, Marie Antoinette purchased the bracelets in 1776—when she was 16 years old and two years after becoming queen—with gemstones from her collection and a sum of money from her husband, King Louis XVI.
Marie Antoinette sent them along with other personal effects for safekeeping to the former Austrian ambassador to France when she and King Louis were imprisoned in the Tuileries in Paris.
She was executed in 1793. The bracelets were given to her daughter, Madame Royale, who donned them in a portrait, and they were passed through the family’s royal lineage for 200 years.
The Marie Antoinette diamond bracelets
The No. 2 lot in the Magnificent Jewels sale was an unmounted Golconda diamond. The pear modified brilliant-cut 55.5 carat, D-color, VVS2 clarity, potentially internally flawless, Type IIa diamond fell within its pre-sale estimate, earning $5.3 million.
A Van Cleef & Arpels ruby and diamond brooch earned the No. 3 spot, selling for approximately $4.6 million, though it was expected to sell for only $440,000 to $660,000.
The No. 4 lot was an important diamond ring, which sold for approximately $3.6 million, within its pre-sale estimate.
The ring features a 43.19-carat oval brilliant-cut, D-color, internally flawless, Type IIa diamond set in platinum flanked by two fancy-cut diamonds.
At No. 5 was an exceptional colored diamond and diamond ring that sold within its pre-sale range for nearly $3.1 million.
It features a fancy vivid yellow rectangular cut-cornered diamond weighing 42.98 carats, VVS1 clarity, flanked by kite-shaped diamonds weighing 1.7 and 1.69 carats, set in platinum and yellow gold.
The Duchess of Windsor bangle
Buyers didn’t clamor for the Cartier bangle the Duke of Windsor gave to his wife the Duchess of Windsor on the occasion of their first anniversary in 1938, less than two years after he abdicated the British throne to marry the divorced American.
Featuring two cushion-shaped no-heat Burmese rubies weighing a total 36.15 carats set in platinum and surrounded by more than 24 carats of baguette and circular-cut diamonds, Christie’s had expected the historically important piece to fetch between $1.1 million and $1.6 million.
Full results are available online.
More on Auctions
The Latest
MajorsSep 08, 2026
Former Tiffany & Co. Exec Joins Exemplar Luxury GroupGretchen Koback Pursel is the new chief people officer at the company formerly known as Saks Global.
IndependentsSep 08, 2026
Ricky Bromberg, Longtime President of Bromberg & Co., Dies at 67 Bromberg is remembered as a Southern gentleman who always wore a suit and tie and treated others with kindness.
TrendsSep 08, 2026
Amanda’s Style File: A Hot Take on September’s Birthstone With high durability and a wide range of colors to choose from, sapphires may be the ultimate birthstone, Gizzi claims.
Brought to you by
Your Piece Could Be the One Editors Talk AboutSubmit your pieces for a chance to win in this year's competition.
ColumnistsSep 08, 2026
Peter Smith: Humor Is No Laughing MatterLaughter is often considered a distraction in the workplace, but it has benefits for both staff and management, Peter Smith writes.
Weekly QuizSep 03, 2026
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
IndependentsSep 04, 2026
Orloff Jewelers Will Soon Unveil a Bigger, Better LocationThe California jeweler is renovating its store in Fresno, with plans to show off the new space in December.
CollectionsSep 04, 2026
Chelsea Gabrielle Transforms Pilates Reformer Springs Into Ring A lifelong practitioner of Pilates, Gabrielle looked to the springs’ tension and suspension when creating this ring, our Piece of the Week.
Brought to you by
Why More Jewelry Retailers Are Hosting Turnkey Estate Buying EventsRetailers are seeking new ways to attract customers, increase traffic, and create revenue – Estate buying events are a popular solution.
Events & AwardsSep 04, 2026
JCK Industry Fund Accepting 2027 ApplicationsThe deadline to apply is Nov. 13.
EditorsSep 03, 2026
Q&A: Simon G.’s CEO on Why He Won’t Use AI for Jewelry DesignZaven Ghanimian discussed the value of human craftsmanship and where the implementation of artificial intelligence does work.
Events & AwardsSep 03, 2026
Here Are the First Recipients of Nina Pugliese Memorial Scholarship Jewelers of America also revealed the recipients of the Seymour & Evelyn Holtzman Bench Scholarship and its own scholarship programs.
WatchesSep 03, 2026
Robert Pattinson Joins Jaeger-LeCoultre as Brand AmbassadorThe British actor, known for his roles in “Twilight” and “The Odyssey,” will star in a campaign for the Master Control Chronometre.
CollectionsSep 03, 2026
Sydney Evan Celebrates 25 Years With 4 New CollectionsThe “Confetti Disco,” “Champagne Cheers,” “Tuxedo,” and “Classic Punk” jewelry collections each capture a distinct spirit of celebration.
CrimeSep 02, 2026
CA Jeweler Gets 5 Years in ‘Phantom Rolex’ Ponzi SchemeNelson Holdo of Newport Beach pleaded guilty to multiple counts of felony grand theft and writing bad checks and was sentenced Monday.
MajorsSep 02, 2026
Messika Names Former Omega Exec as New President, CEO of AmericasArnaud Michon, the former Omega USA President, will now lead Messika’s Americas region during its international development.
Events & AwardsSep 02, 2026
Emerald’s New Owner Introduces ‘Glitter in the Grove’The branding references the back-to-back jewelry shows that new parent company Forge will host in Miami's Coconut Grove this November.
AuctionsSep 01, 2026
UK Woman Uncovers Rare Patek Philippe Watch in Mom’s Jewelry BoxThe stainless steel Patek Philippe “Calatrava” watch from the 1930s sold for nearly $80,000 at a recent Hansons Cornwall auction.
ColumnistsSep 01, 2026
Your Jewelry Marketing Has a Bridal ProblemEngagement rings are important but don’t ignore the customers who are buying jewelry “just because,” Emmanuel Raheb writes.
MajorsSep 01, 2026
Kering Names New Pomellato, DoDo CEOsFormer Pomellato CEO Sabina Belli has been named president of Kering Italia amid a shakeup of Kering's new Jewelry division.
MajorsSep 01, 2026
Anne Marie Shulman Joins GPA GlobalThe veteran luxury packaging executive was appointed to help the company grow its North American business.
CrimeAug 31, 2026
$4M Van Cleef & Arpels Diamond Necklace Snatched From Vienna Museum Once the property of an Egyptian queen, the necklace was part of a larger exhibition of VCA jewelry at the Museum of Applied Arts (MAK).
GradingAug 31, 2026
GIA, Gübelin Gem Lab Confirm New Paraíba Tourmaline Deposit in EthiopiaThe labs’ separate investigations each determined that the East African country is producing copper-bearing tourmaline.
Events & AwardsAug 31, 2026
Wisconsin Museum to Host Jewelry Exhibition“Chicago Collects: Jewelry in Perspective” at the Oshkosh Public Museum will feature works by Fabergé, Lalique, and Louis Comfort Tiffany.
CollectionsAug 31, 2026
Catbird Launches First Men’s Jewelry CollectionThe “Worn Well” collection is Catbird's take on classic men's jewelry.
CollectionsAug 28, 2026
Dolly Parton Would Have Loved This Butterfly Necklace This Buddha Mama butterfly is our Piece of the Week honoring the legend, who embraced the beautiful insect as her symbol.
SourcingAug 28, 2026
Gareth Penny to Give Opening Speech at CIBJO Centenary CongressThe former De Beers CEO, and perhaps its next owner, will be a featured speaker at the event, slated for Sept. 4-7 in Italy.
IndependentsAug 28, 2026
Day’s Jewelers Honored With 3 Workplace AwardsThe employee-owned jeweler was named a “Best Place to Work” in Maine, New Hampshire, and for women.
