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Russian Crown Jewel Stuns at Auction Sale
Newser • • business
Key Points:
- A 197.80-carat Romanov sapphire on a diamond bracelet sold for over 4.1 million Swiss francs ($4.9 million) at a Sotheby's auction in Geneva, far exceeding its estimated value of 850,000 to 1.7 million francs ($1 million to $2 million).
- The cushion-shaped sapphire, likely originating from the Mughal Empire, was part of Russia's imperial jewels and worn by Dowager Empress Maria Feodorovna at the 1903 Winter Palace Ball, a significant event in Romanov history.
- The gemstone is considered one of the most important surviving pieces from the Russian court and was documented in Soviet inventories before being sold off during the dispersal of imperial treasures after the Russian Revolution.
- The buyer of the sapphire was a private collector who chose to remain anonymous.
