GradingMar 06, 2026
Tom Moses Leaving GIA After Nearly 50 YearsMoses, who started at GIA’s Santa Monica lab in 1976, will leave the Gemological Institute of America in May.
AuctionsMar 25, 2021
Queen Victoria’s Mourning Jewels Find New Life at Auction
The sale of items belonging to the queen’s great-great granddaughter garnered three times more than expected.
This hardstone, enamel and diamond pendant circa 1878 belonged to Queen Victoria. The queen is believed to have commissioned the cross-shaped jewel in memory of her daughter Alice, who died of diphtheria on Dec. 14, 1878.
London—Four pieces of mourning jewelry that once belonged to Queen Victoria found new life at Sotheby’s Wednesday, with buyers paying more than double what was expected for each.
The top jewelry lot was a banded agate and diamond pendant the queen’s beloved husband, Prince Albert, had made for her in memory of her mother, Princess Victoria of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld, after she died in 1861.
The locket contains a miniature photograph of the princess, as well as a lock of her hair.
Estimated to go for £1,500, it sold for £32,760 ($44,933).
The other three mourning jewels in the sale were commissioned in memory of Princess Alice, Victoria and Albert’s third child and second daughter who died on Dec. 14, 1878 of diphtheria.
This is the locket Prince Albert had made for Queen Victoria in memory of her mother. The inscription on the back (seen here at far right), “Du warst uns Freud und Glück” translates to, “You were our joy and happiness.”
The banded agate and pearl pendant Queen Victoria had made in memory of her daughter Alice and granddaughter Marie dates to 1878. Marie died of diphtheria in November of that year and her mother followed in December.
This onyx and seed pearl button, also a mourning piece for Alice, features the inscription, “From Mama VRI 7th April 1879” on the reverse. It is believed Queen Victoria gave it to her youngest son, Prince Leopold, on his 26th birthday in remembrance of Alice.
A hardstone, enamel and diamond pendant made by Robert Phillips with “Alice” on the front, and on the reverse, a lock of hair and “Dear Alice 14th December 1878,” sold for well above its highest pre-sale estimate of £3,000, garnering £25,200 ($34,578, pictured at top of article).
A buyer paid £23,940 ($32,833) for a banded agate pendant collet-set with a pearl commissioned by Queen Victoria.
On the reverse is a glazed compartment containing a lock of hair and inscribed with two dates: Nov. 16 and Dec. 14, 1878. Princess Alice died of diphtheria on Dec. 14; she was preceded in death by her 4-year-old daughter Princess Marie of Hesse and by Rhine on Nov. 16, who also succumbed to the disease.
Finally, an onyx and seed pearl button commissioned by Queen Victoria featuring a seed pearl-set “A” and a portrait miniature of Alice inside sold for £18,900 pounds ($25,913), well above its £1,500 estimate.
Queen Victoria’s mourning jewels had been in the royal family for generations.
They went up on the block Wednesday at Sotheby’s London as part of a sale of the family collection of Patricia Knatchbull, 2nd Countess Mountbatten of Burma.
Lady Mountbatten, as she was titled, was the queen’s great-great granddaughter, in addition to being the eldest daughter of Britain’s last viceroy of India, great niece of Russia’s last tsarina and a first cousin to Prince Philip, the 99-year-old husband of Queen Elizabeth II.
She died in 2017 at the age of 93.
Wednesday’s auction included a total of 376 items that came from Newhouse, Lady Mountbatten’s 18th century home.
The sale was mostly a mix of jewelry, housewares, and art, as well as one interesting evening bag.
A buyer paid more than $150,000 for this circa 1905 mesh purse in the form of a pig at Sotheby’s auction of items belonging to Lady Mountbatten on Wednesday.
Described by Sotheby’s as “amusing,” “unusual” and “charming,” the pig purse is a Lacloche Frères creation from 1905.
The pig’s eyes are cabochon rubies, while its tail and hooves are set with rose-cut diamonds. The diamonds along its spine are cushion cut and its body is mesh, with a fancy link chain handle.
A buyer paid £109,620 ($150,327) for the swanky swine, well above its £2,000-3,000 estimate.
The sale of the family collection of Lady Mountbatten took 11 hours and garnered £$5.6 million ($7.7 million) total, three times what was expected.
Ninety-eight percent of the lots found buyers, and 90 percent topped their high estimates, the auction house said.
“An auction like today, with its heady mix of history and glamour, does not come up very often, and so it has been a truly special experience to be a part of,” said David Macdonald, Sotheby’s specialist and head of the sale.
“Over the course of the last two months, it has been wonderful to see Lady Mountbatten’s collection received so rapturously by people from all over the world, culminating in today’s sale where her belongings found brand new homes where they will be treasured for years to come.”
To see more items that sold at the auction, visit Sothebys.com.
More on Auctions
The Latest
Lab-GrownMar 06, 2026
Charles & Colvard Files for Bankruptcy, Citing Price PressuresIncreased competition, falling lab-grown diamond and moissanite prices, and the rising cost of gold took a toll on the moissanite maker.
CollectionsMar 06, 2026
Zome’s ‘Solara’ Earrings Embody Celestial BeautyThe earrings, our Piece of the Week, feature pink tourmalines as planets orbiting around an aquamarine center set in 18-karat rose gold.
Brought to you by
Is This You? Every Jeweler Has This Problem; We Have the Solution.Every jeweler faces the same challenge: helping customers protect what they love. Here’s the solution designed for today’s jewelry business.
MajorsMar 06, 2026
Pomellato’s 2026 IWD Campaign Spotlights Economic Abuse“The Price of Freedom” campaign video for International Women’s Day confronts the quiet violence of financial control.
Weekly QuizMar 05, 2026
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
Policies & IssuesMar 05, 2026
Tariffs to Increase to 15% This Week, Treasury Secretary Says Also, a federal judge has ordered that companies that paid tariffs implemented under the IEEPA are entitled to refunds.
CollectionsMar 05, 2026
Common Era Honors ‘Difficult Women’ in CollectionThe ever-growing collection, which just expanded with the addition of Olga of Kyiv, features cameos of 12 women from history.
Brought to you by
DCA Enters a New Chapter in Jewelry EducationWith refreshed branding, a new website, updated courses, and a pathway for growth, DCA is dedicated to supporting retail staff development.
TrendsMar 05, 2026
Engagement Ring Trends 2026: What’s In, and WhyWe asked a jewelry historian, designer, bridal director, and wedding expert what’s trending in engagement rings. Here’s what they said.
Events & AwardsMar 05, 2026
AGS Announces Conclave 2026 Speaker LineupThe annual event will be held in Orlando, Florida, from Sept. 14-17.
TrendsMar 05, 2026
Caitríona Balfe Fronts Only Natural Diamonds CoverThe “Outlander” star modeled for the digital cover of the magazine’s spring issue, which features a story on her relationship with jewelry.
MajorsMar 05, 2026
Registration Opens for CIBJO Centenary CongressThis year’s annual congress, which will mark the confederation’s 100th anniversary, will take place this fall in Italy.
MajorsMar 04, 2026
Michael M Opens First StoreBeverly Hills was chosen as the location for the brand’s first store, designed as a “private residence for modern monarchs.”
Policies & IssuesMar 04, 2026
Luxury Brands Temporarily Shutter Middle East StoresKering, Apple, and other retailers have reportedly temporarily closed stores in the Middle East region in light of the recent conflicts.
EditorsMar 04, 2026
Q&A: Brilliant Earth’s CEO on the New Beverly Hills StoreBeth Gerstein discusses the vibe of the new store, what customers want when fine jewelry shopping today, and the details of “Date Night.”
Events & AwardsMar 04, 2026
JIS Miami Spring Show to Feature New Gifts Pavilion, Pop-Up Trends TalksNearly half of buyers are prioritizing silver and fashion collections this season, organizers said.
TrendsMar 04, 2026
Spinelli Kilcollin Rides Free In Year of the Horse CampaignThe “Live Now. Polish Later.” campaign features equestrians wearing the brand’s jewels while galloping across the icy plains of Kazakhstan.
MajorsMar 04, 2026
LeachGarner Names New Brand DirectorThe precious metals provider has promoted Jennifer Ashworth to the role.
Events & AwardsMar 03, 2026
Johnny Nelson Wins David Yurman Gem Awards GrantNelson will be honored as the inaugural grant winner at the Gem Awards gala on March 13.
SourcingMar 03, 2026
7 Trends That Could Define the Diamond Industry’s FutureExperts from India weigh in the politics, policies, and market dynamics for diamantaires to monitor in 2026 and beyond.
MajorsMar 03, 2026
Swiss Refiner Completes Acquisition of Gannon & ScottThe American precious metals refiner’s day-to-day operations remain the same post-acquisition.
TrendsMar 03, 2026
Amanda’s Style File: AquatopiaThese aquamarine jewels channel the calming energy of the March birthstone.
Events & AwardsMar 03, 2026
AGTA Adds Another New Category for SpectrumThe “Innovative Design” category and award will debut in the Spectrum division of this year’s AGTA Spectrum & Cutting Edge Awards.
EditorsMar 02, 2026
Jewelry at the Actor Awards: Reimagining Hollywood GlamourDiamond jewelry was the star of the event formerly known as the SAG Awards.
SurveysMar 02, 2026
Consumer Confidence Edges Up in FebruaryConsumers were somewhat less worried about the future, though concerns about rising prices and politics remained.
Events & AwardsMar 02, 2026
JVC to Honor Rebecca Foerster at Annual LuncheonFoerster is this year’s Stanley Schechter Award recipient.
Events & AwardsMar 02, 2026
JFC Names 2026 ‘Facets’ Honorees Sponsorships and tickets to the annual fundraising event, set for May 31, are available now.
