By Denise Marray/GT London Correspondent


If you have ever thought that you would like to look like a princess then you might want to put in a bid at Sotheby’s Geneva auction next month where no less than five stunning tiaras are up for sale.
These can be viewed at the Katara Art Centre on April 14 and 15 at a pre-sale exhibition alongside a stunning collection of jewellery pieces including an extremely rare natural pearl and diamond necklace by Cartier and the much-coveted Sunrise Ruby of exceptional size and outstanding depth of colour.
Jessica Silli of Sotheby’s said she expects clients in Qatar to be particularly interested in the Cartier pearl and diamond necklace dating from the 1950s. It is composed of two graduated rows strung with 78 natural pearls. It carries an estimate price of $3-5mn. Qatari clients, she noted, are particularly knowledgeable about pearls.
As for the tiaras, she explained that today you will find these rare pieces being worn at private parties by women looking for something truly unique and outstanding; part of their appeal is undoubtedly their history. The tiaras from the estate of Mary, Duchess of Roxburghe come with some wonderful history. The Duchess was named after her godmother, Queen Mary: King George V was her godfather. She grew up at Crewe House in the heart of Mayfair amidst London’s glittering High Society. She was one of the six aristocratic beauties who attended Queen Elizabeth as maids of honour at her coronation.
Her own fairytale wedding at Westminster Abbey in 1935 was such a significant social occasion that it was screened in cinemas nationwide.
The Duchess owned three tiaras; a diamond headpiece made by Cartier in the 1930s, an early 19th century diamond tiara that could also be worn as a necklace, and a delicate ruby and diamond tiara dated to the second half of the 19th century.
In the sale there will also be two tiaras from the collection of the Earl of Mar & Kellie; an 1880s tiara/necklace worn by the 12th Countess of Mar at the coronation of King Edward VII in 1902, and an elegant emerald and diamond tiara dating to the early 20th century.
A piece that is also likely to draw considerable interest is the Sunrise Ruby, an extremely rare Burmese ruby weighing 25.59 carats and carrying an estimate of of $12-18mn. When you consider that Sotheby’s holds the world auction record for any ruby ($8.6mn, November 2014) you can understand that this stone is in a class of its own.
Its name is inspired by the poem of the same name by the Sufi poet, Rumi; “The ruby and the sunrise are one.”
It is described by the Swiss Gemmological Institute as a “unique treasure of nature”.
Alongside the Sunrise Ruby, are three exceptional jewels by Cartier including a brooch set with a 30.23 carat sapphire from Kashmir, the most highly sought after origin for sapphires and a diamond necklace featuring diamonds totalling close to 190 carats with an estimate of $6-10mn.