AuctionsJul 26, 2023
Tupac’s Crown Ring Sells for Over $1M at Auction CollectionsJul 27, 2023
Bow Brooch With Royal History For Sale At $2.7M
The piece was worn to Queen Victoria's wedding in 1840 and the crowning of King George VI in 1937.
This 200-carat old mine cut diamond bow brooch has attended a handful of royal occasions, and a New Orleans antiques dealer now has it up for sale.
New Orleans— Antique, art and jewelry dealer M.S. Rau is offering a 19th-century ribbon brooch with royal provenance.
The store acquired the piece from a private seller.
Featuring gold plating over silver and 200 carats of pear-cut and old mine cushion-cut diamonds, it’s one of the few existing brooches of its caliber, the company said. It comes in its original fitted case and is priced at $2.7 million.
The brooch boasts a fascinating royal provenance.
The 5th Duke of Newcastle, Henry Pelham-Clinton, commissioned the brooch for his wife, Lady Susan Hamilton in 1840. It was crafted by French jeweler Maison Babst, the Crown Jeweler to the French court for decades.
According to Rau’s description of the jewel, its design likely inspired the iconic bow brooch worn by Empress Eugenie, wife of Napoléon III, that was acquired by the Louvre for $10.5 million in 2008.
Lady Susan donned the brooch at the royal wedding of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert the same year it was created, and it was passed down in the family as an heirloom.
Related stories will be right here …
The store acquired the piece from a private seller.
Featuring gold plating over silver and 200 carats of pear-cut and old mine cushion-cut diamonds, it’s one of the few existing brooches of its caliber, the company said. It comes in its original fitted case and is priced at $2.7 million.
The brooch boasts a fascinating royal provenance.
The royal diamond bow brooch in its original case
The 5th Duke of Newcastle, Henry Pelham-Clinton, commissioned the brooch for his wife, Lady Susan Hamilton in 1840. It was crafted by French jeweler Maison Babst, the Crown Jeweler to the French court for decades.
According to Rau’s description of the jewel, its design likely inspired the iconic bow brooch worn by Empress Eugenie, wife of Napoléon III, that was acquired by the Louvre for $10.5 million in 2008.
Lady Susan Hamilton’s diamond bow brooch, pictured above, is thought to have inspired the design for Empress Eugenie’s bowknot a little more than a decade later in 1855.
Lady Susan donned the brooch at the royal wedding of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert the same year it was created, and it was passed down in the family as an heirloom.
In 1889, the 7th Duke of Newcastle gave it to his second wife, socialite Kathleen Florence May Pelham-Clinton, Duchess of Newcastle.
She famously wore the brooch in 1897 to the Devonshire Ball, held to honor Queen Victoria’s “Diamond Jubilee,” marking 60 years in power.
In 1937, the Duchess wore the piece again at the coronation of King George VI, posing for photographs by royal photographer Bassano.
Kathleen Florence May Pelham-Clinton, Duchess of Newcastle, wearing the brooch in 1897 at the Devonshire Ball
The Duchess of Newcastle wearing the diamond bow brooch as a stomacher at King George VI’s coronation in 1937
Editors' Picks
Sponsored by
More on Collections
The Latest
Policies & IssuesJul 20, 2026
Tariffs on Brazil to Increase But Rough Gemstones ExemptThe new tariff, imposed after a Trump administration study, is 25 percent and will stack on top of existing tariffs.
MajorsJul 20, 2026
Krista Collins Walters Promoted to Publisher of InstoreShe will also take on the role of vice president of jewelry for SmartWork Media, a newly created position.
Events & AwardsJul 20, 2026
TJS Accepting Speaker Proposals for 2027 EventOrganizers are looking for presentations on topics like manufacturing, technology and research, bench work, gemstones, and sustainability.
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.
SourcingJul 17, 2026
U.K. Woman Pays £5 for £15K Diamond Ring at Car Boot SaleA WeBuyVintage jewelry expert uncovered how much the flea market find was actually worth.
Weekly QuizJul 17, 2026
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
SourcingJul 17, 2026
Diamond Dealer Jeff Pancis Pens MemoirThe founder of natural colored diamond wholesaler Pancis Gems shares stories from his five decades in the industry.
Events & AwardsJul 17, 2026
Gem Awards Opens 2027 Nomination PeriodSubmissions for the milestone 25th annual Gem Awards will be accepted across three categories from now through July 31.
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.
EditorsJul 16, 2026
Q&A: Guzema’s Co-Owners On Its US Expansion, 10-Year AnniversaryValeriya Guzema and Mariana Lenha look back on the last decade and discuss the Ukrainian brand’s first U.S. store.
SourcingJul 16, 2026
Ekati to Close, Leaving Canada With One Diamond Mine The diamond mine, which opened nearly 30 years ago in Canada’s Northwest Territories, is expected to shut down by mid-August.
FinancialsJul 16, 2026
Richemont’s Jewelry Sales Soar for the Seventh Quarter in a RowJewelry sales for the company, which owns Cartier, Van Cleef & Arpels, Vhernier, and Buccellati, rose 21 percent in the first quarter.
Events & AwardsJul 16, 2026
MJSA Mentor & Apprenticeship Program Certifies First Advanced Apprentice GraduateThe graduate, Grace Barden, credited the program with helping her secure a job as a bench jeweler.
Events & AwardsJul 16, 2026
Jewelers of Louisiana to Host 80th ConventionThe event, scheduled for next month in New Orleans, will include dinner, a custom jewelry design contest, and education sessions.
SourcingJul 15, 2026
1,305-Carat Diamond Recovered from Mine in BotswanaThe yet-to-be named stone is the 10th diamond weighing more than 1,000 carats to come out of Lucara’s Karowe mine.
IndependentsJul 15, 2026
New Jersey Jeweler Barry Berman Dies at 81The founder of Fords Jewelers, Berman is remembered for his love of connecting with his community.
FinancialsJul 15, 2026
Watches of Switzerland’s US Sales Jump 18%, Declines to Comment on Sale Report The watch and jewelry retailer had a strong fiscal year despite what its CEO described as a “complex operating backdrop.”
Events & AwardsJul 15, 2026
Hamptons Jewelry Show to Return in JulyThe open-to-the-public luxury jewelry and timepiece show, in its second year, is slated for July 23-26.
CollectionsJul 15, 2026
Pomellato’s New High Jewelry Is LiberatingBold color, expressive gem-setting, and sculptural form define the three chapters that make up “Stile Libero.”
IndependentsJul 14, 2026
Foundrae Opens First Standalone Store Outside USThe New York-based jewelry brand has expanded overseas, opening a store in London’s Mayfair district.
ColumnistsJul 14, 2026
Sherry Smith: What Today’s Jewelry Consumer Is Telling Us Rising revenue does not automatically mean a healthy business, particularly in the current economic landscape, Smith writes.
TrendsJul 14, 2026
Amanda’s Style File: Shoulder Dusters These long, fluid drop earrings are sure to catch the eye.
CrimeJul 14, 2026
Man Charged in $1M Jewelry Store Heist Lands on FBI Most Wanted ListAlberto Perez-Elias is one of four men charged with robbing a Cape Coral, Florida, jewelry store and is the only one still at large.
Events & AwardsJul 14, 2026
Conference on Mining, Sustainability Kicks Off in NYCInitiatives in Art and Culture is hosting its 16th annual Gold and Diamond Conference, with the theme of “Resilience.”
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.
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.
