ROYAL AUCTION
The Duchess of Windsor's collection fetched $12.5 million at auction this week. Martyn Gregory, who produced a film about the gems, recalls Mohamed Al-Fayed's fascination with them.
Courtesy of Sotheby's,Jasper "Yogi" Gough
Commissioned by the duke in 1957 for the couple's 20th anniversary and inscribed with their initials, this heart-shaped brooch attracted "a great deal of competition" before selling for $320,067,
said Sotheby's.
Courtesy of Sotheby's
King Edward VIII abdicated his throne in 1936 to marry "the woman I love," a twice-divorced American socialite named Wallis Simpson. The Windsors—they were decreed Duke and Duchess of Windsor after he left the throne—captivated people on
both sides of the Atlantic, and a recent auction of her jewels shows how interest in their relationship has grown over the years. Many of the gems were inscribed with personal messages from the Duke of Windsor, and they sold for
$12.5 million, almost twice the presale estimate.
AP Photo
One of the 11 Cartier items in the auction, this ruby, sapphire, emerald, citrine, and diamond flamingo clip was one of the highest-profile items in the auction. Mounted by Cartier in 1940, it was featured in several famous
photographs of the duchess. It brought in $2.6 million.
Courtesy of Sotheby's
Designed in 1935, this cigarette case had a map of Europe in yellow and red gold, each city represented by a cabochon gem or brilliant-cut diamond. The interior is inscribed "David from Wallis Christmas 1935." It brought in $282,623.
Courtesy of Sotheby's
One of the 11 Cartier items in the auction, this ruby, sapphire, emerald, citrine, and diamond flamingo clip was one of the highest-profile items in the auction. Mounted by Cartier in 1940, it was featured in several famous
photographs of the duchess. It brought in $2.6 million.
Courtesy of Sotheby's
This onyx and diamond panther bracelet was designed by Jeanne Toussaint, with encouragement from the duke. It fetched
$7 million at the auction, the highest price ever received for a bracelet at an auction.
Courtesy of Sotheby's
Rumored to be among the duchess's favorite pieces, this chain bracelet was set with nine gem-set Latin crosses that each represented
special moments of Simpson's life between 1934-44.
Inscriptions included "God save the King for Wallis," "WE are too" and "Wallis—David." It sold for nearly $1 million.
Courtesy of Sotheby's
The world's fascination with the Duchess of Windsor continued at Sotheby's auction of her jewels 23 years after her death.
David Bennett, the chairman of Sotheby's Jewelry in Europe and the Middle East, said "the inscriptions tell the story of perhaps the greatest love story of the 20th century." Sotheby's did not comment on any of the owners, but Madonna was rumored to have tried on several of the items ahead of the sale and showed particular interest in the panther bracelet.
Courtesy of Sotheby's
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