Jill Ciraldo and Grace Flynt are admiring the McLean Jewel Collection at the establishment of Harry Winston, Inc., international jewer dealer, of New York. The Hope Diamond is at left above and the "Star of the East" at right, 1949.Bettmann/Corbis
It’s no surprise that diamonds are expensive, but one lot in a sale of jewels being held on Tuesday at Sotheby’s in Geneva goes above and beyond: the “magnificent fancy vivid pink diamond ring” dubbed the Historic Pink is expected to be sold for up to 17.5 million Swiss Francs, which is nearly $19 million.
That price is due to more than just the 8.72-carat stone at the center of the ring. The diamond is believed to have belonged to Princess Mathilde Bonaparte, a niece of Napoleon Bonaparte and member of the Russian royal family who became a famous Parisian socialite. According to Sotheby’s research, the stone was sold as part of a collection from Princess Mathilde in 1904, after which it can be traced directly to the collection of its recent owner, Huguette Clark. Clark herself was pretty much as close to a princess as an American can get: the heiress and philanthropist, who died in 2011 after a reclusive old age, came from spectacular wealth and pedigree.
But the Historic Pink is far from the only gem with a rich back story. Here are some of history’s fanciest and most famous jewels.
Jill Ciraldo and Grace Flynt are admiring the McLean Jewel Collection at the establishment of Harry Winston, Inc., international jewer dealer, of New York. The Hope Diamond is at left above and the "Star of the East" at right, 1949.Bettmann/CorbisEvalyn Walsh McLean, owner of the Hope Diamond, circa early 1900sCorbisThe famous Wittelsbach Blue Diamond, brought into the Wittelsbach family by Maria Amelia of Austria on her marriage to Charles Albert Duke of Bavaria in 1722 and part of the collection of the Bavarian Royal Jewels, 1931.Planet News Archive—SSPL via Getty ImagesModel Mara Byron displays jewels valued at $ 10,000,000 at a preview of a United Hospital Fund art project exhibition in New York, November 17, 1949. On her forehead is the Hope Diamond, 44 carats. Pear-shaped diamond earrings are 30 carats each. Necklaces from top to bottom are Earl of Dudley emeralds, the Spanish Inquisition period emerald and diamond necklace and, attached to a diamond necklace, the 100-carat Star of the East Diamond. Flanking the latter are two pear shaped largest perfectly matched twin diamonds, in the world, totaling 100 carats. Below the Star of the East is the 126-carat Jonker Diamond. On the right arm is the largest sapphire in the world, 337 carats. On third finger right hand is the marquise ring, over 40 carats. On left arm is 100-carat diamond bracelet made of diamonds from the Gary estate. On the third finger left hand is 60-carat Mabel Boll ring. On small finger is the 35-carat McLean ring. John Rooney—AP PhotoAn 80-carat uncut diamond from Tiffany's, seen in 1969.Yale Joel—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty ImagesAudrey Hepburn, about to begin filming for the 1961 movie 'Breakfast At Tiffany's,' wears one of the store's most expensive diamond necklaces. New York.Bettmann/CorbisRussian Imperial Gems shown In New York City at the Hammer Galleries in 1937. Spinach jade Fabergé Easter egg, decorated with pansies of enamel and diamonds, mounted on a pedestal of twisted gold leaves and twigs, also studded with diamonds. It contains a folding easel in the shape of a diamond-studded heart, covered with translucent enamel. The heart is surmounted by the Imperial Crown in diamonds. It was presented by Czar Nicholas II to his mother, the Dowager Empress Marie, at Easter in 1899. Bettmann/CorbisOn November 9, 1971, while the painting by Hans Eworth (right) representing the Queen of England Mary Tudor is sold at Sotheby's in London, the American actress Elizabeth Taylor wears the Queen's pearls around her neck and on her forehead during a party in Paris. This jewel is named La Peregrina; Philip of Spain gave the pearl to Mary Tudor in 1554.Keystone-France—Gamma-Keystone via Getty ImagesThe famous tear drop shaped pearl, known as La Peregrina, weighing 203.84 grams. Bettmann/CorbisThe heart-shaped watch given to Josephine by Napoleon Bonaparte. Evans/Three Lions—Getty ImagesDiamond mounter H G Goodship fits the Black Prince's ruby into one of the four crosses above the circlet of the Imperial State Crown, one of the British Crown Jewels, as the crown is remodeled in 1953.Fox Photos—Getty ImagesThe Imperial State Crown lit by special spot lights in the Queen Alexandra's State Carriage as it precedes the Queen on her way to the State Opening of Parliament, in 1962.Fox Photos—Getty ImagesQueen Elizabeth II wearing the Imperial state Crown and carrying the Orb and sceptre, leaving the state coach and entering Buckingham Palace, after the coronation on June 2, 1953.Hulton Archive—Getty ImagesThe Monomakh's Cap, before 1884. The Monomakh's Cap was the crown of all Muscovite Grand Princes and Tsars from Dmitri Donskoi to Peter the Great, who replaced it with the Imperial Crown of Russia in 1721. Fine Art Images/Heritage Images—Getty Images
