Bracelet featuring Romanov sapphire sells for $4.9 mln at Geneva auction

Detailed summary

The 197.8-carat gemstone is set in a bracelet adorned with diamonds and rock crystal

GENEVA, November 12. /TASS/. A bracelet featuring a unique sapphire from the collection of the Russian imperial House of Romanov sold for $4.9 million at an auction in Geneva, the Sotheby's auction house said.

According to information on its website, the 197.8-carat gemstone is set in a bracelet adorned with diamonds and rock crystal. Before the sale, the piece was estimated at approximately $1.02 million to $2.05 million.

The lot description says that many of the significant gemstones in the Romanov collection were acquired by Empresses Elizabeth Petrovna and Catherine II in the 18th century, although the exact date when this sapphire was acquired is unknown. The gemstone, set in a diamond mount crafted by Faberge, was worn by Dowager Empress Maria Fyodorovna, the wife of Alexander III.

The piece was sold after the October Revolution. The sapphire jewelry subsequently appeared at auction several times. The gemstone was mounted in its current bracelet setting in 2015.

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