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
Lab-GrownJul 13, 2026
Stephanie Gottlieb Changes Her Mind on Lab-Grown DiamondsThe designer, who once said she’d never sell lab-grown diamonds, debuted two capsule collections designed to be fun and easy to wear.
SourcingJul 13, 2026
De Beers Announces Potential Layoffs, 2-Year Production Pause at VenetiaThe diamond miner and marketer is undergoing another round of cost-cutting measures ahead of its sale by Anglo American.
Events & AwardsJul 13, 2026
Registration Opens for JIS Fall 2026 ShowThe annual trade-only buying event is slated for Oct. 16-19 in Miami Beach, Florida.
Brought to you by
Wedding Band Trends 2026: Personalization Takes Center StageColored gemstones, artisan finishes, mixed metals, and meaningful details are shaping demand in bridal jewelry.
Events & AwardsJul 13, 2026
AGTA Accepting Entries for Spectrum 2026AGTA also has announced the lineup of judges for the colored gemstone cutting and jewelry design contest’s various categories.
Weekly QuizJul 09, 2026
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
TechnologyJul 10, 2026
There’s a New Blind Box for Luxury Watches Collectibles platform Arena Club’s new Time Boxes could contain a Rolex or Patek Philippe watch.
TrendsJul 10, 2026
Jade Trau Creates a Constellation of DiamondsThe “Constellation Plié” collar, our Piece of the Week, features diamonds arranged in a constellation of shining stars.
Brought to you by
Building the Future of Jewelry Retail: DCA Expands Education, Leadership Development, and Workforce SolutionsDCA is preparing the next generation of professionals by supporting workforce development, leadership growth, and career advancement.
SourcingJul 10, 2026
CFO of De Beers’ Consumer-Facing Division Leaves Company Shaun Wills joined the company in 2024 and was chief financial officer of the De Beers Brands and Consumer Markets division.
WatchesJul 10, 2026
Brilliant Earth Expands Into WatchesIn honor of its 20th anniversary, the jewelry brand has released a limited-edition collection of Swiss-made timepieces.
CollectionsJul 09, 2026
Boucheron’s New High Jewelry Collection Is an Ode to the Human Touch“Human Being” highlights the similarities and differences between us through five sets of jewelry that celebrate fine craftsmanship.
WatchesJul 09, 2026
Damiani Group Finalizes Acquisition of Baume & MercierRichemont will continue to provide operational services for the watch brand for a period while the group prepares to integrate it.
Events & AwardsJul 09, 2026
Halstead Names 2026 Grant WinnerEnoch Platero, founder and designer behind Enoch Michael, is the first Native American jeweler to win the award.
Events & AwardsJul 09, 2026
AGS, GIA Name 2026 Beatrice Shipley Scholarship WinnerAGS also announced the recipient of its “Women in Leadership” scholarship.
MajorsJul 08, 2026
Kendra Scott Joins ‘Shark Tank’ As Permanent Investor The founder of the billion-dollar jewelry and lifestyle brand will debut as a full-time “Shark” on the upcoming season of the show.
SurveysJul 08, 2026
Signet Jewelers Falls 5 Spots on NRF’s ‘Top 100’ Retailers ListPlus, why retailers should be ready to adjust as the U.S. population may decline this year for the first time since the Great Depression.
CrimeJul 08, 2026
Here’s What Thieves Stole From the Lalique Museum René Lalique’s “Woman Dragonfly With Open Wings” pendant, the first piece the museum acquired, was one of the jewels taken.
MajorsJul 08, 2026
Richline Group Promotes 2 ExecsArien Gessner and Moss Makhoulian have been elevated into newly created roles.
ColumnistsJul 07, 2026
Peter Smith: Diamond Branding and the Origin ParadoxA podcast prompted Smith to share his views on where origin fits into the natural diamond story and the viability of branded diamonds.
Events & AwardsJul 07, 2026
JA Announces 2026 Impact Initiative RecipientsThe association selected eight recipients for the funding program, which is in its second year.
TrendsJul 07, 2026
Amanda’s Style File: Ruby, White and Blue Whether celebrating America’s 250th birthday or the USA’s World Cup run, July birthstone jewelry can double as a patriotic accessory.
CrimeJul 07, 2026
Thieves Steal Millions in Jewels From France’s Musée LaliqueAround 20 pieces of jewelry were stolen from the museum dedicated to French jeweler and glassmaker René Lalique.
CollectionsJul 07, 2026
Robinson Pelham Is Partying Like It’s 1996The “Summer of ’96” campaign and collection celebrate the year the brand was founded for its 30th anniversary.
SourcingJul 06, 2026
Gemfields CEO Sean Gilbertson Steps DownAfter eight years, Gilbertson is leaving his post at the mining company, which is currently facing a slew of operational challenges.
IndependentsJul 06, 2026
Bachendorf’s To Open Fifth Store In DallasThe new location is set to open this winter, featuring the retailer’s first rotating jewelry designer residency.
MajorsJul 06, 2026
Graff Names BTS Star Jung Kook as New AmbassadorThe pop artist appears in the latest campaign for the “Laurence Graff Signature” collection.
CollectionsJul 06, 2026
Pandora’s New Baroque Pearl Collection Is a Whimsical ‘Wonder’One-of-a-kind pearls take the shape of ice cream cones, frogs, submarines, and other imaginative charms.
