AuctionsApr 26, 2021
Hemmerle Jewels Fetch $1.4M at Sotheby’s AuctionAuctionsMay 12, 2021
The Royal Tiara ‘Tried On’ By Thousands Sells for $1.6M
Here’s how other important pieces of jewelry did at Sotheby’s auction of magnificent and noble jewels in Geneva.
This natural pearl and diamond tiara with ties to Europe’s House of Savoy sold for $1.6 million at Sotheby’s jewelry auction held Tuesday in Geneva.
Geneva—Sotheby’s created a social media filter to allow people around the world to try on a tiara with royal provenance, and the move definitely drummed up interest.
The auction house put a natural pearl and diamond tiara connected to the House of Savoy up on the block Tuesday as part of its flagship “Magnificent Jewels and Noble Jewels: Part I” auction in Geneva.
Ahead of the sale, Sotheby’s unveiled an AR filter to allow people to virtually try on the piece and take pictures with it. The auction house said users took 22,000 selfies and videos in six weeks, making it Sotheby’s most popular social media filter to date.
The tiara ended up selling for $1.6 million to an Asian buyer, slightly above its pre-sale estimate of $1 million-$1.5 million.
Sotheby’s said the piece was one of the most important tiaras to appear on the market in recent years—it’s connected to the House of Savoy, one of the world’s oldest royal dynasties and Italy’s ruling family from 1861 to 1946.
Related stories will be right here …
The auction house put a natural pearl and diamond tiara connected to the House of Savoy up on the block Tuesday as part of its flagship “Magnificent Jewels and Noble Jewels: Part I” auction in Geneva.
Ahead of the sale, Sotheby’s unveiled an AR filter to allow people to virtually try on the piece and take pictures with it. The auction house said users took 22,000 selfies and videos in six weeks, making it Sotheby’s most popular social media filter to date.
The tiara ended up selling for $1.6 million to an Asian buyer, slightly above its pre-sale estimate of $1 million-$1.5 million.
Sotheby’s said the piece was one of the most important tiaras to appear on the market in recent years—it’s connected to the House of Savoy, one of the world’s oldest royal dynasties and Italy’s ruling family from 1861 to 1946.
The tiara was likely a wedding gift to Maria Vittoria dal Pozzo, who married Amadeo I of Savoy, the King of Spain from 1870-1873, in 1867. After that, it stayed in the family for more than 150 years.
It’s believed Musy Padre e Figli, court jeweler of Turin and one of Europe’s oldest goldsmiths, made the tiara.
It has graduated scroll motifs set with cushion-shaped, circular- and single-cut diamonds framing 11 slightly baroque drop-shaped natural pearls, and can also be worn as a necklace.
Also during Tuesday’s jewelry auction in Geneva, Sotheby’s offered what it said is the largest Kashmir sapphire ever to appear at auction.
The 55.19-carat stone was sold as part of a 1930s brooch formerly in the collection of Maureen Constance Guinness, Marchioness of Dufferin and Ava (1907-1998). The sapphire is set alongside another large Kashmir sapphire weighing 25.97 carats and diamond accents.
It’s believed Musy Padre e Figli, court jeweler of Turin and one of Europe’s oldest goldsmiths, made the tiara.
It has graduated scroll motifs set with cushion-shaped, circular- and single-cut diamonds framing 11 slightly baroque drop-shaped natural pearls, and can also be worn as a necklace.
Also during Tuesday’s jewelry auction in Geneva, Sotheby’s offered what it said is the largest Kashmir sapphire ever to appear at auction.
The 55.19-carat stone was sold as part of a 1930s brooch formerly in the collection of Maureen Constance Guinness, Marchioness of Dufferin and Ava (1907-1998). The sapphire is set alongside another large Kashmir sapphire weighing 25.97 carats and diamond accents.
A 1930s sapphire and diamond brooch, featuring a 55.19-carat oval Kashmir sapphire and a 25.97-carat cushion-shaped Kashmir sapphire. It sold for $3.9 million in Geneva Tuesday.
At left, an 80.45-carat step-cut Colombian emerald, which sold for $3.5 million, and at right, a 104.40-carat pear-shaped Colombian emerald, which went for $1.9 million.
Graff bought the brooch, paying $3.9 million for the piece, above its highest pre-sale estimate of $3 million.
Both the tiara and the sapphire brooch were presented alongside an important noble collection comprising seven jewels, all of which sold for a total of $19.8 million.
The collection included two necklaces by Harry Winston, also acquired by Graff—one set with a cushion-shaped 126.43-carat Ceylon sapphire ($2.3 million) and another sapphire and diamond piece with a detachable pendant set with a 111.73-carat cushion-shaped Ceylon sapphire ($4.7 million).
Meanwhile, a circa 1974 Harry Winston brooch/pendant set with a 104.40-carat pear-shaped Colombian emerald sold for just above its pre-sale high by garnering $1.9 million, while an 80.45-carat step-cut Colombian emerald and diamond brooch/pendant fell within its range when it garnered $3.5 million.
The Magnificent Jewels and Noble Jewels: Part I auction totaled $56 million, with 70 percent of participants bidding online.
Editors' Picks
Sponsored by
More on Auctions
The Latest
CrimeAug 18, 2026
2 California Men Arrested in Fatal Vehicle Smash RobberyOne is the driver who allegedly crashed a car into a Sacramento jewelry store in April, striking a 71-year-old employee who later died.
ColumnistsAug 18, 2026
Peter Smith: The IKEA Effect and Bridal Branding In a new column, Peter Smith posits that people actually enjoy putting together IKEA furniture, and the same is true for engagement rings.
CrimeAug 18, 2026
Thieves Snatch $1M in Jewelry From New Jersey Jeweler9lakha Jewelers in Iselin, New Jersey, was the target of a smash-and-grab robbery on Aug. 8.
Brought to you by
Why More Jewelry Retailers Are Hosting Turnkey Estate Buying EventsRetailers are seeking new ways to attract customers, increase traffic, and create revenue – Estate buying events are a popular solution.
Lab-GrownAug 18, 2026
Ring Concierge, Kendall Jenner Collab on Bridal Earrings GiveawayThe jeweler has partnered with Jenner’s 818 Tequila brand to gift lab-grown diamond studs to a bride-to-be and their bridal party.
Weekly QuizAug 13, 2026
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
Events & AwardsAug 17, 2026
Exhibition on Louis Comfort Tiffany’s Studios to Open at The MetThe exhibition will feature more than 100 drawings of stained-glass lampshades, windows, and more, many created by women and émigrés.
CollectionsAug 17, 2026
Marquise Diamonds Dance in Spinelli Kilcollin’s ‘Wren’ CollectionMarquise-cut diamonds in drop charms are the center of the new collection, reflecting the movement of a dancer in modular styles.
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 & AwardsAug 17, 2026
There’s a New Jewelry Show Coming to FloridaThe inaugural Fort Lauderdale Jewelry, Antique, & Object Show will be held from Jan. 28 through Feb. 1, 2027.
IndependentsAug 14, 2026
Smyth Jewelers to Open Fourth LocationThe family-owned jeweler will open a new showroom in Bel Air, Maryland, this fall.
CrimeAug 14, 2026
Wife of Man Convicted in Jeweler’s Murder Sentenced for Conspiracy Amanda Ileana Hernandez is married to Carlos Hernandez, one of two men in prison for the 2024 murder of Michigan jeweler Hussein Murray.
TrendsAug 14, 2026
Paul Morelli’s Latest ‘Wavey Vine’ Earrings Embrace ColorThe reimagined jewel, our Piece of the Week, trades the diamonds in the original 1998 design for blue, pink, yellow, and green sapphires.
Supplier BulletinAug 13, 2026
Your Piece Could Be the One Editors Talk AboutSponsored by American Gem Trade Association
FinancialsAug 13, 2026
Pandora’s ‘Talisman’ Collection Shines, Lab-Grown Diamond Sales FallIn the United States, second-quarter sales were flat amid soft consumer sentiment and lower in-store traffic.
SourcingAug 13, 2026
2,488-Carat Diamond, Largest Found in Botswana, Has a New Owner Lucara Diamond Corp., which recovered the “Motswedi” diamond from the Karowe mine, sold the stone for an undisclosed amount.
CollectionsAug 13, 2026
John Hardy Infuses ‘Icon,’ ‘Heishi’ Collections with ColorThe expanded collections now feature hand-cut gemstones like topaz, tanzanite, chrysoprase, chalcedony, smoky quartz, and fire opal.
Lab-GrownAug 13, 2026
Jean Dousset Opens Third StoreThe lab-grown diamond jewelry brand’s newest boutique is in Westfield Valley Fair in Santa Clara, California.
SourcingAug 12, 2026
Eshed-Gemstar on the Painstaking Process of Cutting ‘The Legacy Emerald’The gemstone supplier and manufacturer acquired the remarkable 104-gram Zambian emerald at Gemfields’ auction in May.
CrimeAug 12, 2026
Elderly NYC Woman Targeted in Jewelry Swap SchemeTwo suspects offered to trade the woman a “winning” lottery ticket for her jewelry.
SourcingAug 12, 2026
Another Diamond Mine Poised to CloseFinsch has been in business rescue since May, and owner Petra Diamonds said it sees no viable path forward for the mine.
CrimeAug 12, 2026
Jewelry Store Employee Gets 20 Years to Life in Choking Death of BossMichel Patrick DeSalles was sentenced after pleading guilty to the 2017 murder of Omid Gholian, who owned a jewelry store in Manhattan.
MajorsAug 12, 2026
Frederick Goldman Names New SVP of SalesLongtime industry executive Beth Miller has taken on the role.
MajorsAug 11, 2026
Signet Jewelers Selects Mattel Exec to Lead Zales, BanterJamie Cygielman will take on the role on Aug. 24.
IndependentsAug 11, 2026
Polly’s Fine Jewelry Co-Owner Richard Moore Dies at 69Moore, Polly’s husband, is remembered as a family man with an easygoing spirit and a love for sports and the outdoors.
ColumnistsAug 11, 2026
Creative Connecting: How to Sell Colored Gemstones to Gen ZDuvall O’Steen and Jen Cullen Williams share the best ways to display, present, and explain colored gemstones to younger customers.
Events & AwardsAug 11, 2026
NAJA Announces Lineup For 2026 Fall Virtual ConferenceThe mid-year conference for jewelry and watch appraisers will take place Sept. 5-6 on Zoom.
TechnologyAug 10, 2026
Colorado Jeweler Launches Customization Tool He Built HimselfHonest Hands Ring Co. Founder Benjamin Bosworth shared his thoughts on jewelry technology and why AI can never replace the human element.
