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  • DUCHESS OF WINDSOR JEWELS EXCEED ESTIMATES

    This onyx and diamond panther bracelet with emerald eyes by Cartier established a new record price for any bracelet at auction. (click to enlarge)

    The 20 exceptional jewels and precious objects formerly in the collection of The Duchess of Windsor made £7,975,550 at Sotheby’s in London on November 30.  This figure was well in excess of the pre-sale expectations of £2,906,000.  The sale was 100% sold by lot and value.

    The top-selling lot was an onyx and diamond panther bracelet by Cartier, Paris in 1952.  It was chased by four bidders and made £4,521,250, more than double the pre-sale estimate of £1-1.5 million.  This price establishes a new record for Cartier at auction and for any bracelet at auction.  The second highest price was paid for a ruby, sapphire, emerald, citrine and diamond flamingo clip, mounted by Cartier, Paris, 1940.  It was purchased by Collection Cartier for £1,721,250, a price comfortably over pre-sale expectations of £1-1.5 million.
    The jewellery was mostly bought by Edward VIII for his American wife Wallis Simpson.  He renounced his claim to the British throne in 1936 to marry the American divorcee and they became the Duke and Duchess of Windsor.
    The original Jewels of the Duchess of Windsor sale in 1986 made 31 million pounds and still ranks as the most valuable single owner jewellery sale ever.  The 20 pieces in this sale came from a single owner who acquired them at the 1986 auction.

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