"A late Victorian opal and diamond tiara/necklace, consisting of seven knife-edge gold bars graduating from the centre, each set with two round cabochon-cut opals and an old-cut diamond in-between, the bars connected with six diamond-set arches each arch with a diamond-trefoil and a round cabochon-cut opal within, terminating on each side with a small diamond and opal trefoil motif, the diamonds estimated to weigh 2.9 carats in total, all mounted in gold and silver, attached to silver-gilt tiara frame and accompanied by gold chain back section to convert to a necklace, circa 1890, measuring 4 x 14.5cm, gross weight 36.4 grams."
"Aqua parure including a necklace, 2 pairs of earrings, a bracelet, a ring and a pair of clips by Seaman Schepps in original fitted box."
- 1st Dibs
"Pat Saling is well-known for her signed pieces from Art Deco through mid-century. This Seaman Schepps aquamarine suite from the 1950s is a true find for collectors who prefer retro and vintage pieces to those of the Georgian and Victorian time periods. The aquamarines are of the finest quality – deep and clear, conjuring up sea-blue waters. The pieces in the suite combine both aquamarine beads and faceted small and large pear-shaped stones in a warm gold setting, with various earring and pendant options and a central necklace with an oval-set aquamarine and gold clasp."
The moonstone (some say opal), opal glass, sliver, and gilt silver parure of Hortense de Beauharnais (daughter of Empress Josephine and of her first husband Alexandre de Beauharnais, wife of Louis Bonaparte, King of Holland, and mother of Emperor Napoleon III) at the Napoleon Museum, Thurgau.
'MONTRE EXTRAORDINAIRE LA ROSE', LADY'S GEM SET AND DIAMOND BANGLE-WATCH
Designed as a blooming rose with circular-cut ruby and pink sapphire and brilliant-cut diamond-set petals, featuring a circular dial, to the tsavorite garnet stems and leaf, mounted in 18 karat white gold, inner circumference approximately 155mm, signed Jaeger-LeCoultre, numbered, limited edition 2/3, case stamped Jaeger-Lecolutre.
The present bangle watch exemplifies a simple flower with all its delicacy and beauty. With its delicately interwoven petals and fine curved leaf veins, every detail of the ‘Queen of Flowers’ has been reproduced as faithfully as possible. The dial is concealed under lifelike motion of layered petals frosted with sapphires of different shades. This extraordinary timepiece is powered with caliber 846 mechanical movement hidden at the heart of this floral creation."
"A outstanding VERDURA Sapphire and Diamond necklace with large natural baroque Pearl drop… Photograph from 'Verdura - The Life And Work Of A Master Jeweler'"
"PROPERTY FROM A DISTINGUISHED NEW JERSEY COLLECTION
TOURMALINE AND DIAMOND FEATHER BROOCH
Designs as a diamond-set feather centering on a pear shaped pink tourmaline
Metal: 18k yellow and white gold
Diamonds: 153 round diamonds with approximate total weight of 2.00 - 2.30 carats
Stones: 1 pear shaped tourmaline measuring approximately 14.25 x 9.36 x 4.93 mm and weighing approximately 4.00 carats
Marks: 750, jeweler's mark
Size/Dimensions: 7.4 x 3.0 cm
Gross Weight: 17.7 grams"
the yellow metal band set to centre with three pear shaped cultured pearls, mounted in rose cut diamond caps, on curled ribbons down to the band, with a further two similarly set pear shaped cultured pearls to either side, pearls approx. 7.2 - 7.6mm diameter, total weight of diamonds estimated approx. 1.34cts, all set in white metal to a plain yellow metal headband, unmarked (tests as approx. 9ct gold and silver), ornament 8cm wide, band overall 12cm wide, (22g)"
"Property from the Collection of Margaret Thompson Biddle
CHAUMET ART DECO DIAMOND TIARA
Old-cut diamonds, platinum (French marks), circa 1930, maker's mark.
Margaret Thompson Biddle was born in Helena, Montana in 1896. She was the daughter of notable copper miner and financier, William Boyce Thompson.
Margaret’s father was born and raised around mining in Montana, so it was no surprise that he went on to make a name for himself in the copper mining industry. He attended the prestigious Philips Exeter Academy in New Hampshire, and Columbia University. After retiring from the New York Stock Exchange around 1915, Thompson’s interests returned back to mining where he founded the Newmont Mining Corporation.
Margaret Thompson married Anthony Drexel Biddle Jr. in 1931. That year he was also appointed the Minister to Norway by President Roosevelt, and then Ambassador to Poland 1937. This role led Biddle and his family all over the world. After fleeing Poland in 1939, they landed in England for one of Anthony’s commissions. In this position, he worked with the governments-in-exile of Belgium, Czechoslovakia, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland and Yugoslavia. Biddle held numerous ambassador positions in the years that followed before re-enlisting in the army in 1944.
Margaret relocated to France after she and Anthony separated at the end of World War II. She had a home on the French Riviera, and a spectacular hotel particulier on the notable boulevard St. Germain in Paris. Not only was she a writer and author of The Women of England, Margaret was also known to be quite the hostess and socialite. One could find the Eisenhowers, the Duke and Duchess of Windsor, and many other notable French creatives at her soirees.
In addition to having a wonderful jewelry collection, Margaret was an avid collector of fine porcelain, silver, home furnishings and art by the most distinguished artists and makers. She gifted a 1,575 piece dinnerware service to former First Lady Eisenhower. Select pieces of the ‘Vermeil’ collection are still on display at The White House present day."
