It will be princely the auction programmed on May 18 at Christie’s in Geneva. For sale, in fact, there will be the jewels of His Serene Highness the Princess Gabriela zu Leiningen, ex-wife (until 2014) for 16 years of the Aga Khan. The head of the Ismaili community, rich international entrepreneur, pulled off a check for 65 million dollars on the occasion of divorce. But the princess, who has held the title of Inaara Begum Aga Khan, during the years next to her ex-husband, has put together an extensive collection of jewelry. Many of them will be part of Magnificent Jewels auction in May. For example, the Diamond Pohl: a ring of diamonds over 36 carats mounted by Cartier. It was part of a large 287 carat rough stone. The gem, D color, was sold to Bernice Chrysler Garbisch, the Chrysler family, in 1943. It was then bought by the Princess, by Cartier, in 1998.
It’s estimated of 3.-5.5 million dollars. Or a necklace with five strands of pearls, estimated 350-500.000 dollars. Not worth it to keep too much jewelry in the safe, says the Princess. Among the most valuable pieces there are a diamond necklace with a large emerald pendant weighing 39.70 carat by Cartier: the stone, detachable, it can be exchanged with a Burmese sapphire. Esteem and 2.5-3.5 million. A brooch flower shaped, made with rubies and diamonds, made with the technique of the mystery-set, by Van Cleef & Arpels has an estimated value of 150-200,000 dollars. Another mystery-set with rubies and diamonds, always the Van Cleef & Arpels is offered at 40-60,000 dollars. Also note the Cartier brooch shaped like a violin, in rubies and diamonds, which hides a small clock. Estimate: 10-15,000 dollars. Federico Graglia
