Jewelry Belonging to Victoria, Lady de Rothschild, Heads to Auction
Pieces from the style icon’s personal collection will go up for sale at UK auction house Dreweatts in March.

The auction is scheduled for March 8 and 9, featuring her jewelry as well as a selection of silver and tableware.
Victoria, Lady de Rothschild, was born in Daytona Beach, Florida on Sept. 17, 1949, as Victoria Lou Schott, according to her obituary in The New York Times.
Born into a wealthy family, her father, Lewis M. Schott, was a lawyer and a businessman, while her mother Marcia Lou Whitney was a descendant of the Daughters of the American Revolution.
Victoria was a successful woman in her own right, earning a B.A. in economics and later studying at the Columbia University Graduate School of Business.
In 1973, she married British financier Evelyn de Rothschild, a member of the Rothschild family. They had three children together, Jessica, Anthony, and David.
In addition to being a style icon, Victoria was a philanthropist, patron of the arts, and an avid collector, particularly of art and design pieces by 20th- and 21st-century designers.
She died Jan. 18, 2021, at the age of 71.
Her style was simple and clean, said Dreweatts, and so many of her jewels are statement beads, made by modern designers and craftsmen.
“She was a true champion of modern design and supported upcoming designers and artisans, which is demonstrated by the exciting pieces offered in the sale,” said James Nicholson, deputy chairman and international head of jewelry, silver and watches at Dreweatts.
“Her impeccable taste was much celebrated and I’m sure therefore that this collection will prove to be very popular.”
Among the highlights of the sale is a Modernist style gold-colored disc necklace by American jeweler and sculptor Irena Borzena Ustjanowski, known artistically as “IBU.” The necklace is estimated to sell for £4,000 to £6,000 ($5,400-$8,100).
A Boucheron pink sapphire and ruby ring (seen above) in the shape of a coiled serpent will also hit the auction block. Its eyes are set with cabochon emeralds and its tail is set with a black diamond.
The signed piece is estimated to sell for £2,000 to £3,000 ($2,700-$4,000).
Also heading to auction is a lapis lazuli and gold-colored necklace from contemporary British designer Jacqueline Ryan.
Ryan’s nature-inspired, organic forms spoke to Rothschild’s style, said Dreweatts, making the designer a favorite of hers.
The statement necklace is expected to sell for £1,500 to £2,000 ($2,000-$2,700)
A necklace by Algerian designer Taher Chemirk, also in the Modernist style, also is part of the sale.
The necklace features an azurite crystal set with a pair of brilliant-cut diamonds in a bezel setting with circular panels of cornelian and banded agate.
Chemirk’s work is characterized by his simplified shapes and clean lines as well as his experimentation with new and unusual materials, said Dreweatts.
The necklace is expected to sell for £700 to £1,000 ($950-$1,300).
A gold-colored and stainless-steel necklace by German designer Dorothea Prühl is another auction highlight.
Titled “Haken,” the necklace features circular links with lightning bolt-shaped gold-colored connectors.
Similar to Rothschild’s pieces from Jacqueline Ryan, Prühl’s work is also inspired by nature. The necklace is expected to sell for £300 to £500 ($400-$675).
A collection of Rothschild’s personal items was auctioned at Christie’s in December 2021, prior to her death that January, bringing in nearly £3.8 million ($5.1 million).
The Latest

Jim Springer, owner of Dunkelberger’s Fine Jewelry, is heading into retirement.

When conducting its May consumer confidence survey, The Conference Board asked extra questions about consumers’ budgeting strategies.

The “Tunnel” charm, our Piece of the Week, celebrates Pride Month with its design inspired by hope and the light at the end of the tunnel.

As gold prices rise, today’s retailers are looking for alternatives at prices that will appeal to wider audiences.

The jewelry industry is reassessing its positioning as Gen Z reshapes the retail landscape and lab grown continues to gain market share.


The Miami-based fine jewelry brand will host its first summer residency in the Colorado mountain town from June 5 to Aug. 23.

The organization also announced its international board of directors for the 2026-2027 term.

With the trade and customer trust in mind, GIA® developed NextGem™ – on-demand training designed specifically for retail.

Saks Global confirmed the closure this week, spelling the end for a store that’s been part of downtown Dallas for more than 100 years.

Smith discusses how managers should handle a top performer's exit, warning that a poor response could have a lasting impact.

The Gemological Institute of America is now a 30 percent stakeholder in Tracr, the De Beers-backed blockchain for diamonds.

The retailer is bringing Rolex Certified Pre-Owned watches to five U.S. cities in 2026 for collectors to see, try on, and purchase.

The actress and entrepreneur stars in the jeweler’s new campaign that celebrates life’s quiet moments.

The price of gold has risen, affecting the number of pieces designers make, the materials they use, and how they position themselves.

The jewelry retailer is zeroing in on Zales, Jared, Kay Jewelers, and Blue Nile as it looks to create unique brand identities for each.

Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, a development economist, will head the fund created to help Botswana diversify its economy.

Sotheby’s has appointed the former Phillips executive as its global head of private sales and retail in its watches division.

From Gen Z’s view of luxury to “doom spending,” these are the six consumer trends to note this year.

The show started by honoring Mildred Marcano, ended with a tearful Beth Anne Bonanno, and recognized a dozen-plus designers in between.

The revamped online diamond marketplace will feature pricing intelligence and data-driven tools for more efficient buying and selling.

The miner said demand for higher-quality emeralds is stable, but there is notable caution in the market.

The “River of Heaven” necklace, our Piece of the Week debuting at Couture, combines 26 salt and pepper diamonds spaced by Tahitian pearls.

This year’s inductees include second-, third-, and fourth-generation jewelers.

The author, speaker, and entrepreneur will give his presentation, “Spiritual Billionaire,” on Saturday morning.

Three-time Grammy award-winning artist Nelly is set to perform at the annual event at Tao Beach on Sunday night.

Signet will integrate the online-only, natural diamond-focused jeweler into Blue Nile, which it wants to position as a higher-end retailer.

These up-and-coming jewelry brands are bringing their distinct aesthetic and unique point-of-view to the Design Atelier for the first time.

























