An extremely rare emerald and diamond tiara – the most important to have come to auction in 30 years – will be offered at Sotheby’s sale of magnificent jewels in Geneva on May 17. It is composed of 11 exceptionally rare Columbian emerald pear-shaped drops which weigh over 500 carats in total. The tiara was commissioned by the First Prince von Donnersmarck for his second wife Princess Katharina (1862-1929). Their jewellery collection was known to be on a par with, or even to have exceeded, those of many of the crowned heads of Europe.
The emeralds may have originally adorned the neck of a Maharajah and are believed to have been in the personal collection of Princess Eugénie. It is thought the piece may have been commissioned from renowned jewellers Chaumet. The estimate is £3.1-6.2 million (CHF 4.5-9 million / $5-10 million). (click on image to enlarge)
UPDATE: IT MADE CHF 11,282,500/ $12,736,927, the highest price ever achieved for a tiara at auction.