At Sotheby’s Geneva, a historic pearl and diamond tiara from the Spanish royal family sold for $1.6 million.
It was given to Maria Vittoria dal Pozzo by her father when she married Amedeo of Savoy, Duke of Aosta, in 1867. Amedeo of Savoy, Duke of Aosta later became King of Spain as Amadeo I. (1870 until his abdication in 1873). She became Queen Maria Vittoria of Spain and died at the age of 29 nine years later.
It is thought to have been produced by Musy Padre e Figli, Turin’s court jeweller and one of Europe’s oldest goldsmiths.
The tiara (shown) features 11 drop-shaped natural pearls and 150 to 170 carats of cushion-shaped, round, and single-cut diamonds, ranging in colour from J-K to SI-I clarity.
The tiara was kept in the family until it was sold at the Magnificent Jewels and Noble Jewels auction last week. The cost was estimated to be between $1 million and $1.5 million.
