By Le Figaro with AFP
Published on 05/17/2023 at 20:31
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The Bessborough Diamond Tiara, worn at two British coronations. ROBIN MILLARD
A tiara worn at two British coronations and the ‘Star of Egypt’ diamond thought to have belonged to King Farouk were sold on Wednesday after a week of jewelry auctions in Geneva. Less than two weeks after the coronation of Britain’s King Charles III. Bidders competed for Bessborough’s diamond tiara, worn at the coronations of King Charles’ grandfather, King George VI, in 1937 and his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, in 1953.
A diamond was sold for $25 million
The 136.5 gram platinum Art Deco object sold for 945,000 Swiss francs ($1.06 million). On Tuesday, Sotheby’s held its own auction in Geneva, which brought in over 76.7 million Swiss francs ($85.4 million). Sales were dominated by the “Bulgari Laguna Blu,” an 11.16-carat blue diamond, which grossed 22.6 million Swiss francs ($25.2 million). The sale came after a four-minute battle between one bidder in the room and three on the phone, one of whom ultimately snagged the gem.
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At the Christie’s auction, the “Star of Egypt” was presented, the origin of which is obscure. The 105.52 carat unset diamond is believed to have been purchased by the Viceroy of Egypt in 1850, who resold it in 1880. It first appeared on the London market in 1939. He was apparently later bought by King Farouk, who ruled Egypt from 1936 to 1952. This sale raised 2.7 million Swiss francs ($3.02 million) in less than three minutes of bidding time.