THE DORIS DUKE COLLECTION OF IMPORTANT JEWELRY

•   IMPORTANT PAIR OF ART DECO DIAMOND BRACELETS, BY CARTIER
  Each composed of three independent circular, navette, marquise and baguette-cut diamond lines, intersected by pavé-set diamond sculpted motifs, mounted in platinum, (may also be worn as a choker, 13¼ ins.), circa 1930, 6 5/8 and 7 ins. Signed Cartier
  



• AN EXQUISITE DIAMOND RING, BY TIFFANY & CO.
  Set with a rectangular-cut diamond, weighing approximately 19.72 carats, to the pavé-set diamond gallery and shoulders, mounted in platinum, circa 1935
  Signed Tiffany & Co.
  With report 0402031 dated 9 February 2004 from the Gübelin Gemmological Laboratory stating that the diamond is D color, VS2 clarity; accompanied by a note stating that based on its infared spectrum, the 19.72 ct diamond described in Diamond Report No. 0402031 is classified as a type IIa

  With report 13149214 dated 26 January 2004 from the Gemological Institute of America stating that the diamond is D color, VS1 clarity; accompanied by a working diagram stating the the clarity is potentially flawless
  
  Provenance Nanaline Duke, and by descent to Doris Duke
  
  
  ***

  The King of Diamonds

  The name Tiffany & Co. has long been associated with fine and important diamonds.
  The founder, Charles Louis Tiffany, was nicknamed the "King of Diamonds" during the late 1800s when his
  firm began purchasing fabulous diamonds from aristocratic European estates. Over the course of the past hundred years, Tiffany & Co. has cut, sold and collected some of the most magnificent stones in the world.

  
  By the early 1840s, the American company had built up enough capital to enter the high-end gold and diamond jewelry market; but soon enough they became aware that their Parisian and London workshops could not meet
  their demand. Tiffany met this challenge by scouring all of Europe for diamonds.
  Eighteenth century diamond jewelry belonging to European aristocracy was an excellent source. The turbulence created by the French Revolution had increased supply, and hence the value of aristocratic jewels had dropped dramatically.

  
  Tiffany & Co. purchased important stones from renowned collections including the estate of the Hungarian Prince Esterhazy, from the noblest and richest family in Hungary; the "jewel-mad" Duke of Brunswick, including a 30 carat canary diamond; and the acquisition of the Spanish Crown Jewels.

  
  In 1887, the firm purchased a major share of the French Crown Jewels that had once belonged to Empress Eugenie. These magnificent jewels were brought back to America and soon adorned the newly wealthy industrial class. Perhaps the most remarkable of Tiffany's acquisitions was the purchase of a 287.42 cts. rough diamond from the Compagnie Francaise de Diamant du Cap Mine, a branch of the Kimberley mine, in 1877.
  It was cut in Paris to the current weight of 128.54 carats and named "The Tiffany Diamond". This was the largest flawless yellow diamond the world had ever seen.
  The twentieth century witnessed a renewed interest in diamonds and the designers at Tiffany & Co. pioneered the trend. The firm continued to mount important gems into jewelry including the ring illustrated.

  This ring, dating from 1935, is a magnificent example of both Nanaline Duke's exquisite taste and the importance
  of Tiffany's diamonds. The 19.72 carat cushion-cut stone is elegantly mounted in platinum with delicate diamond-set shoulders.
  Typical of stones this size, the cushion-cut makes an understated and lovely outline.
  The cushion-cut is a transitional cut, linking the old mine with the old European.
  Most likely, Mrs. Duke's stone is of Golconda origin. This ledgendary Indian mine produced some of the most spectacular diamonds of the world including the Koh-I-noor, the Hope and the Agra which were all cut in the same cushion outline. According to Doris Duke's biography by Stephanie Mansfield, Mrs. Duke lost this diamond ring at a bridge party. Thankfully, it was returned to her.

The Duke Collection:

DIAMOND FRINGE NECKLACE, By CARTIER |Doris Duke Jewelry| Great Jewel Collector

EXQUISITE ART DECO DIAMOND AND ENAMEL EVENING BAG, BY CARTIER|Doris Duke Jewelry| Great Jewel Collector

DIAMOND HAIR SLIDES, BY CARTIER|Doris Duke Jewelry| Great Jewel Collector

MAGNIFICENT BELLE EPOQUE DIAMOND AND PEARL PENDANT NECKLACE, BY CARTIER|Doris Duke Jewelry| Great Jewel Collector

SPECTACULAR INDIAN DIAMOND NECKLACE |Doris Duke Jewelry| Great Jewel Collector

MAGNIFICENT ART DECO DIAMOND BRACELET, BY CARTIER|Doris Duke Jewelry| Great Jewel Collector

ELEGANT DIAMOND CLIP BROOCH, BY DAVID WEBB|Doris Duke Jewelry| Great Jewel Collector

EXQUISITE DIAMOND RING, BY TIFFANY & CO|Doris Duke Jewelry| Great Jewel Collector

IMPORTANT PAIR OF ART DECO DIAMOND BRACELETS, BY CARTIER|Doris Duke Jewelry| Great Jewel Collector

ELEGANT SAPPHIRE, DIAMOND AND SEED PEARL BRACELET, BY CARTIER|Doris Duke Jewelry| Great Jewel Collector

A PAIR OF DIAMOND AND CULTURED PEARL EAR PENDANTS, BY DAVID WEBB|Doris Duke Jewelry| Great Jewel Collector

AN ART DECO PEARL AND DIAMOND BRACELET, BY CARTIER|Doris Duke Jewelry| Great Jewel Collector

Pearl Earrings Pendants Perlenohrhänger |Doris Duke Jewelry| Great Jewel Collector

MAGNIFICENT TWO-STRAND EMERALD NECKLACE|Doris Duke Jewelry| Great Jewel Collector

AN ART DECO EMERALD, PEARL AND DIAMOND CLIP BROOCH, BY CARTIER|Doris Duke Jewelry| Great Jewel Collector

AN EXQUISITE ART DECO EMERALD AND DIAMOND BRACELET, BY CARTIER|Doris Duke Jewelry| Great Jewel Collector

A PAIR OF DIAMOND AND EMERALD EAR PENDANTS, BY DAVID WEBB|Doris Duke Jewelry| Great Jewel Collector

A MAGNIFICENT SINGLE-STRAND EMERALD NECKLACE |Doris Duke Jewelry| Great Jewel Collector

A SPECTACULAR RUBY AND CULTURED PEARL NECKLACE, BY DAVID WEBB |Doris Duke Jewelry| Great Jewel Collector

VERDURA BROOCH |Doris Duke Jewelry| Great Jewel Collector

RETRO DIAMOND AND GOLD FEATHER BROOCH, BY FULCO DI VERDURA|Doris Duke Jewelry| Great Jewel Collector

DIAMOND, TURQUOISE, FRESHWATER PEARL AND GOLD INDIAN HEAD BROOCH, BY FULCO DI VERDURA|Doris Duke Jewelry| Great Jewel Collector

RETRO SAPPHIRE, DIAMOND AND GOLD CUFF BRACELET, BY CARTIER |Doris Duke Jewelry| Great Jewel Collector

MULTI-STRAND SEED PEARL NECKLACE|Doris Duke Jewelry| Great Jewel Collector

Important Ruby and Diamond Sautoir Necklace made by DREICER & Cie | Rosie Bigelow Dodge Rosen | Gilded Age Jewels History

 

***
Back