February 09, 2010

Pearls of Wisdom

I recently read that on Wednesday 9th December, Bonhams Bond Street hosted 'The Art of Jewels: Fine Jewellery and Iconic Gems' sale. One of the major highlights of the sale was a stunning pearl necklace, belonging to Lady Houston, the renowned philanthropist and benefactor.
The double-row necklace with graduated pearls had an estimated price of £30,000 to £50,000, but sold for an impressive value of £311,200. It is made up of large natural pearls of outstanding quality, between 5.8 and 12.8mm. Interestingly, their erstwhile owner, Lady Houston, donated a considerable amount of her personal fortune in support of British aviation, which would eventually lead to the design of the Spitfire, an integral part of our national defence during WW2.

Posted: February 9, 2010 12:09 PM