Hello Jewelry Lovers! We have an interesting collection of jewels to review today. Each item herein has a history of problems and more than a few have a sad story to tell, so let’s get to it.
1. The 55.23 carat, teardrop Sancy Diamond is either a savior or a killer and it all depends on how you get your hands on the jewel, and even if you’re intentions are honorable – it can still kill you. The diamond is about an inch long, just over three-quarters of an inch wide, and just over half an inch deep (25.7mm x 20.6mm x 14.3mm).
Although the exact origins of the diamond are lost to time, modern jewelers agree it originated in India. Many of the Gentlemen and Kings who bought, or took the diamond as their own, came to ugly deaths before a year had passed. English King Henry IV was waiting for the stone to be delivered so he could use it to finance a war but on the way, the courier was mugged. The courier died and the thieves were caught, but still no diamond. Only after the autopsy, was the diamond located – inside the courier’s stomach. Today the diamond sleeps at the Lourve, safe and sound under lock and key.
2. La Peregrina Pearl is a teardrop-shaped pearl pendant hanging at the termination of a special commission, Cartier pearl, diamond and ruby necklace. Most recently the pearl necklace went for more than $10.5 million not counting sales fees, at Christie’s auction house in NY.
The pearl’s history begins in the 16th century off the coast of Central America. It was taken to Spain and sold to King Philip II. He bought it for his daughter, but found it so precious, he kept it himself and dubbed it one of the Royal Spanish jewels.
For generations, the pearl was gifted by Spanish Kings to Spanish Queens, but those love affairs never ended well. When king Jose I (Napoleon’s brother) was ousted in 1808 he took the pearl and a number of other jewels from the royal coffer. He sold the pearl in England and that is the only marriage the pearl left intact. Every other marriage the pearl was associated with ended in divorce, and with the most recent public owner – 2 divorces.
No matter who owned the pearl from that point on, it was like the pearl was trying to escape. It jumped from setting after setting. It was lost in the Winsor Castle, Buckingham Palace, and Caesar’s Palace. Each time it left, the pearl was recovered. It might have been better to let the pearl go, at least the Spanish Kings and Richard Burton (Elizabeth Taylor’s ex-husband, twice) might think so. Each divorce adds to the legend that the pearl is the antithesis of wedded bliss.
3. The third item on the list is the Graves Supercomplication: It is one scary pocketwatch. Not only does it kill the people who own it, but it also destroys their finances and kills their loved ones. Commissioned by Graves to outdo his friend James Packard, who at the time, had the most complicated watch ever made, the Supercomplication is an amazing piece of machinery. Shortly after the watch was delivered to Graves, his best friend died, and then his son died in a car crash. The watch went silent after exacting its blood price and remained in the Graves’ family until 1999.
The buyer, Sheikh Saud bin Muhammed Al Thani, and his family lost their hold on Qatar. The first Democratic elections were held in Qatar in 1999. But the trouble didn’t end there. Accustom to a lavish upbringing the buyer’s spending habits continued to outstrip his income and in 2012 London courts froze some of his assets. In response, the buyer decided to auction some of his collection in order to pay his debts, including the Supercomplication. However, 48 hours before the watch went up for auction, Sheikh Saud bin Muhammed Al Thani died unexpectedly at home.
Or is could just be coincidence. Either way, it’s an an astounding piece of craftsmanship.
Pendant and Ring 