#wartski

'Caligula Ring'

A sapphire Hololith (a ring carved from a single stone), one of the missing Arundel and Marlborough gems, once catalogued as belonging to the Emperor Caligula.

The 2,000-year-old sky-blue hololith has a face believed to be that of fourth wife Caesonia engraved into the bezel.

Antique Diamond and Topaz Cross Pendant, English, Circa 1895

Photo Courtesy: Wartski

Have you ever discussed the Snowdon Floral tiara that Lady Sarah Chatto wore at her wedding in 1994? I had read that it can be broken up into brooches - would love to hear your information on it, thanks!

Yes, I've got a post on it here. Princess Margaret only wore it as a set of brooches and so far Lady Sarah Chatto is the only person thathas worn it as a tiara. The brooches were a gift from the Earl of Snowdon to Princess Margaret for their wedding in 1960. Then in 1994, Jasper Conran, who designed Lady Sarah's wedding dress, saw the brooches and thought they would make a good tiara so they had Wartski put them on a frame. Lady Sarah still owns them and wears them as brooches occasionally.

Irredescent beetles parure c.1880′s

René Lalique for Maison Vever (Paul Vever and Henri Vever) diamond corsage ornament, cherry blossom brooch, 1885-1890.

Designed as an articulated floral branch, set with cushion-shaped, circular- and rose-cut diamonds, the flower heads set en tremblant, mounted in silver, yellow and pink gold, signed Vever, French assay and maker's mark, can be detached into three smaller brooches, accompanied by two detachable diamond set caps. Length approximately 290mm. 

Sotheby’s

This piece, intended to be worn descending from one shoulder, begins with a broken off bit of “branch” and ends with a tiny pair of leaves. Despite the bling, it conveys a delicate naturalism, with each cherry blossom seemingly thin as paper and trembling with every movement (an effect created by invisible springs). New research undertaken by Wartski's Katherine Purcell, the exhibition curator and author of its excellent catalogue, reveals that the brooch, long thought to be by Vever, is in fact by Renée Lalique, adding to its rarity. Lalique made few diamond-encrusted pieces and none other on this scale.

A jewelled and enamelled brooch

by James Cromar Watt  (Scottish 1862-1940)

Diamond Rosebud Brooch by Paul Flato, New York, Circa 1938

Photo Courtesy: Wartski