Here’s How 2 Royal Jewels Performed at Auction in Denmark
A princess’s tiara fell within its pre-sale estimate while an Art Deco bracelet from a queen doubled it.

A highlight of the sale was Princess Thyra of Denmark’s sapphire tiara, pictured at top of page.
The tiara features five cabochon sapphires, which can be exchanged with turquoise cabochons, and old mine, rose, and single-cut diamonds.
It bears no maker’s mark but was presumably made by jewelry manufacturer E. Wolff & Co. in the late 19th century.
The tiara was given to Princess Thyra (1880-1945) as a gift from her parents, King Frederik VIII and Queen Lovisa of Denmark, likely on her 18th birthday in 1898, when she would’ve made her debut in society.
It was then passed down through the Danish royal family and has belonged to descendants of King Frederik VIII and Queen Lovisa until the auction.
It was estimated to sell for between 600,000 and 800,000 DKK and fell right within that when it garnered 650,000 DKK (or about $92,000 at current exchange rates).

Outperforming that, though, was Queen Alexandrine of Denmark’s Art Deco emerald and diamond bracelet, pictured above, which has five sugarloaf cabochon emeralds believed to be of Colombian origin weighing between 1 carat and 2.21 carats.
Accompanying the colored stones are four cushion-shaped old mine-cut diamonds, encircled by numerous rose and old mine-cut diamonds, mounted in platinum.
The piece was estimated at 300,000-400,000 DKK but went for well over that at 700,000 DKK (approximately $100,000).
There were several other notable lots in the auction, including a 2-carat cushion-cut natural fancy yellow-green diamond ring with brilliant-cut pink and white diamonds set in a ring that sold at the low end of its pre-sale estimate at 300,000 DKK (about $42,000).
There was also a 4.35-carat diamond ring that sold for 180,000 DKK (or about $25,000); and a Belle Époque tiara set with old-cut diamonds weighing 14 total carats once owned by landowner and lady-in-waiting Ebba Louise Marie Busky-Neergaard that went for well above its pre-sale estimate when it garnered 170,000 DKK (or about $24,000).
Meanwhile, an 18-karat gold mourning medallion for Grand Duke Nicholas Alexandrovich of Russia (1843-1865), worn by Queen Louise of Denmark (1817-1898), to whom he was supposed to get married, went for nearly double its pre-sale estimate high when it sold for 22,000 DKK (or about $3,000).
To see how all the jewelry lots did in Thursday’s sale, visit Bruun-Rasmussen.dk.
The Latest

Pritesh Patel, the lab’s chief operating officer, will take over as president and CEO of GIA.

National Jeweler and Jewelers of America discuss the standout jewelry trends and biggest news to emerge from the shows this year.

Signatories to the “Luanda Accord” committed to allocating 1 percent of annual diamond revenue to the Natural Diamond Council.

The Seymour & Evelyn Holtzman Bench Scholarship from Jewelers of America returns for a second year.

The winning designs captured the “Radiance” theme.


Nominations in the categories of Jewelry Design, Media Excellence, and Retail Innovation will be accepted through July 30.

The singer’s ring ticks off many bridal trends, with a thick band, half-bezel setting, and solitaire diamond.

The countdown is on for the JCK Las Vegas Show and JA is pulling out all the stops.

The bracelet references vintage high jewelry and snake symbolism as a playful piece where a python’s head becomes a working belt buckle.

The heist happened in Lebec, California, in 2022 when a Brinks truck was transporting goods from one show in California to another.

The Starboard Cruises SVP discusses who is shopping for jewelry on ships, how much they’re spending, and why brands should get on board.

To mark the milestone, the brand is introducing new non-bridal fine jewelry designs for the first time in two decades.

The gemstone is the third most valuable ruby to come out of the Montepuez mine, Gemfields said.

Founder and longtime CEO Ben Smithee will stay with the agency, transitioning into the role of founding partner and strategic advisor.

Associate Editor Natalie Francisco shares 20 of her favorite pieces from the jewelry collections that debuted at Couture.

If you want to attract good salespeople and generate a stream of “sleeping money” for your jewelry store, then you are going to have to pay.

The top lot was a colorless Graff diamond, followed by a Burmese ruby necklace by Marcus & Co.

Gizzi, who has been in the industry since 2001, is now Jewelers of America’s senior vice president of corporate affairs.

Luca de Meo, a 30-year veteran of the auto industry, will succeed longtime CEO François-Henri Pinault.

Following visits to Vegas and New York, Botswana’s minerals minister sat down with Michelle Graff to discuss the state of the diamond market.

The “Your Love Has the Perfect Ring” campaign showcases the strength of love and need for inclusivity and representation, the jeweler said.

The former De Beers executive is the jewelry house’s new director of high jewelry for the Americas.

The New York Liberty forward is the first athlete to represent the Brooklyn-based jewelry brand.

Take a bite out of the 14-karat yellow gold “Fruits of Love Pear” earrings featuring peridots, diamond stems, and tsavorite leaves.

The one-day virtual event will feature speakers from De Beers, GIA, and Gemworld International.

The California-based creative talks jewelry photography in the modern era and tackles FAQs about working with a pro for the first time.

Al Capone’s pocket watch also found a buyer, though it went for less than half of what it did at auction four years ago.