If you are fond of pearls, you have an opportunity: 2 December, in London, you can get a necklace that belonged to Queen Isabella II of Spain. The auction of Important Jewels at Christie’s includes, in fact, the natural pearl necklace (originally consisted of 46 elements) of the 19th century belonged to the queen. Now the necklace is composed of 43 natural colored pearls, from about 13.8 to 6.5 mm, in different shades of black, gray and bronze. The length of the necklace is 46.2 centimeters. La estimate is 700 thousand-1 million EUR. The beads were originally purchased by King Ferdinand VII of Spain for his wife Maria Cristina of Bourbon-Two Sicilies. Then, the Queen Isabella (born in Madrid in 1830), when her father’s died, was proclaimed sovereign at the age of three years, and his mother, Maria Cristina of Bourbon-Two Sicilies, as regent. He reigned until the uprising of 1868, which forced her into exile in France and ushered in the First Spanish Republic in power.
The Isabel II necklace is the highlight of the auction, which also will saw another pearl necklace, but more recent, valued at up to 183.000 dollars.
The auction, which does not provide pieces that can do a record, still has valuable jewelry. As an Art Deco Cartier necklace with diamonds and emeralds, valued at up to 274.000 dollars. Or a set by Bulgari, consists of necklace and earrings with diamonds and sapphires, rated at up to 916.000 dollars. A ring with a big sapphire cabochon, also by Bulgari, is offered with an estimate until 458.000 dollars. Federico Graglia
