Lot 65
Diana Princess of Wales, Swan Lake Suite Jewels
For centuries, British Royalty has had created amongst the world’s most magnificent jewelry. At any one time, a single person – the Crown Jeweler – is awarded the specific and enviable task of producing jewelry for the Crown as well as the responsibility, care and maintenance of the Crown Jewels, plate and regalia kept in Her Majesty’s Tower. And so it was that very early in nineteen ninety seven, The Crown Jeweler set out to produce what was hoped would be a magnificent suite of jewels worn by Diana, Princess of Wales.
The Crown Jeweler and Director of the prestigious firm Garrard, was to utilize the full resources of that centuries-old establishment to create pieces that reflected the elegance and great style of the person who was to be the jewelry’s recipient. With the knowledge of Princess Diana’s exquisite taste and specifically her affinity for South Sea Pearls, The Crown Jeweler selected elements that ultimately would result in the extraordinary necklace and matching earrings depicted on these pages.
In the spring of that year it was announced that on June third, a special performance of Swan Lake would be taking place at Royal Albert Hall. As Patron of the English National Ballet, Diana, Princess of Wales, was to be in attendance that evening.
The Crown Jeweler, aware of this special occasion, was pleased to offer Princess Diana his recently completed necklace for her appearance at the ballet. From the hands of The Crown Jeweler and the Garrard craftsmen came a stunning necklace replete with five matched diamonds. Diana looked resplendent as she arrived at Royal Albert Hall wearing the magnificent necklace and a pair of earrings from her own collection. (The earrings being made by Garrard remained unfinished at that time.)
Wearing a simple ice blue beaded silk shift by English designer Jacques Azagury, many photographers and film crews captured the Princess that evening. What is most evident from the resulting photography and press reports was that Diana was very pleased to have been honored by the performance and that she looked magnificent wearing the new necklace.
Although Princess Diana’s image had graced the covers of hundreds of magazines throughout the world, it was a photograph of the Princess, wearing this necklace at this gala occasion, that People Magazine selected for the cover of its Yearbook 1998, which included a 10-page memorial article “Goodbye, Diana”. People Magazine had used a similar photograph of Diana, also from this same evening, on the cover of its December 1997 issue titled “The 25 Most Intriguing People of the Year”.
Following the performance, Diana returned the necklace to Garrard where it could be mated with the matching earrings still in the process of being fabricated. Tragically, Diana did not have the opportunity to view the complete suite, as in August of that year, the world lost one of its most cherished beings.
After Princess Diana’s tragic death, The Crown Jeweler, in association with Garrard remained in possession of the nowcomplete set of the diamond and South Sea Pearl necklace worn by Diana and the matching earrings, now referred to as the Diana, Princess of Wales Swan Lake Suite.
And now, Guernsey’s proudly presents the Diana, Princess of Wales Swan Lake Suite...magnificent artifacts that touched the life of one of the most notable and beloved women of the twentieth century.
The Necklace
A brilliant cut diamond and marquise diamond scroll motif centre with a South Sea cultured pearl five stone and marquise diamond fringe drop, to a brilliant cut diamond two row collet backchain tapering to a single row; mounted in platinum, claw set, with an integral box clasp.
It contains: 5 matching cultured pearls 12 mm. 11 marquise diamonds 7.71 carat. 3 marquise diamonds 0.88 carat. 164 diamonds 42.35 carat.
The Earrings
A pair of brilliant cut diamond and marquise diamond fancy cluster top, South Sea cultured pearl drop earrings; mounted in platinum, claw set, to peg and clip fittings.
They contain: 2 matching cultured pearls 12 mm. 6 marquise diamonds
Estimate: $1,500,000 - $2,500,000