The Duchess of Windsor's Jewels Head To Auction

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed)
Jul 23rd 2010 at 12:01AM

In the annals of jewelry collecting there are few with the taste and means to purchase like the late Wallis Warfield Simpson. When King Edward VIII proposed to the twice-divorced American socialite he caused a royal scandal. The man who give up his kingdom for love never stopped lavishing his wife with jewelry. It's been 23 years since the auction of the Jewels of the Duchess of Windsor and now Sotheby's will offer twenty pieces for sale in London on November 30. The total sale is expected to bring in around £3 million ($4.582 million). Shown above is a diamond bracelet by Cartier, that once belonged to Wallis Simpson displayed in front of a Cecil Beaton portrait of her. The bracelet is expected to raise 350,000-450,000 pounds.

Jeanne Toussaint, Cartier's High Jewelry Director, created this realistic onyx and diamond panther bracelet designed in 1952. It's considered one of the best of her "three dimensional "great cats jewels.

The bracelet is expected to fetch 1,000,000-1,500,000 pounds ($1,520,000- 2,300,00). The completely articulated piece forms a "stalking pose" when clasped.

Jeanne Toussaint also created this flamingo brooch, decorated with rubies, sapphires, emeralds, citrines, and diamonds. It was bought by the Duchess in 1940. During the 1987 sale, this brooch caught the imagination of the world and became the emblem of the sale. It is listed with an estimate of 1,000,000-1,500,000 pounds ($1,520,000- 2,300,00).

The Windsors often incorporated their initials into the designs as shown in this emerald, ruby and diamond brooch by Cartier. This brooch is expected to realize 100,000-150,000 pounds ($152,000- 230,000). This piece was commissioned by the Duke in 1957 to mark their 20th wedding anniversary (note the Roman numerals at the base of the piece).

In addition to the Cartier pieces, the auction will also include a gold, mesh, ruby, turquoise and diamond purse by Van Cleef & Arpels and a series of silver items and medals that were once the property of Edward, the Prince of Wales.

Tags: sothebys, wallis warfield simpson

Filed under: Jewelry, Auctions

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)

dorothy Jul 23rd 2010 6:58AM

this jewelry reflects the value system of another time- while it isnt my taste some pieces are beatiful - poignant end to a different era i guess

RYAN Jul 23rd 2010 7:26AM

I think the reason I like these pieces so much is that I am a goldsmith and I know that I cant make any piece I see here.After 27 years being a goldsmith what I see in the photos is over my head and think of the technology difference of today and when those pieces were hand made.The machines and tools of today are so much better than when these were made but the talent it took to design and make those pieces is far better than what I could ever do.Id love to have all these things in the photo but that will never happen.

clayelle Jul 23rd 2010 12:46PM

Looks remarkably like the sort of junk that is given away at Mardi Gras balls in New Orleans.

isabeaurose6 Jul 23rd 2010 10:21AM

THESE JEWELS ARE SO BEAUTIFUL IT WOULD VE GREAT TO DONATE ONE RO MY FAMILY SO WE CAN LIVE A VETTER LIFE. MY HUSBANS IS A NON PROFIT MINISTER AND HE SAID HELP THY NEIGHBOR BUT PEOPLE ARE SO GREEDY NOW DAYS IT LEAVES US TRYING TO KEEP HIS CHURCH GOING AND OUR FAMILY GOD WILL SEE TO THAT

LADY LORETTA ISABEAU MCCLURE

Momper Jul 23rd 2010 10:48AM

Typing in all caps make you look like a 10 year old...

bopeep Jul 23rd 2010 11:28AM

WOW--talk about greed---"someone should donate them to your family"!!! are you kidding? get a job like the rest of us!!!!

shelly Jul 23rd 2010 1:46PM

People are generous, if you are faithful Jehovah God will provide!?

B. Taylor Jul 23rd 2010 2:26PM

Donate to me! I'll, umm, find a REALLY NICE charity to fund. Something along the lines of supportkaren'shabits.com. Seriously, that cat piece was meant for me...

isabeaurose6 Jul 23rd 2010 10:21AM

GREED IS THE EVIL OF MONEY AND WE CAN DO GOOD FOR OUR ENTIRE FAMILY FROM FAMILY 86 YRS. TO 8 MONTHS PREGNATE

LADY ISABEAU MCCLURE

Maria Jul 23rd 2010 11:04AM

The money should go to charities in England as they English people
problably paid for them. They are unique. Kind of gaudy and not my
taste in jewelry. Art deco was popular then and the craftmanship is
unbelievable.

John Jul 23rd 2010 11:31AM

A titled "Lady" begging for money from others online? Get a job, Isabeau.

mrspalmreader000 Jul 23rd 2010 12:25PM

Who has that diamond ring, that my sister and I found when we was little kids back in 1957, We found in a old paint pail with other jews and jewerly in the bath house / womens. At the old seven mile bridge in Marathon, Florida. The ring was a man size 13 with over 1,000 Diamonds in it. Who has it now?

Angela Jul 23rd 2010 12:57PM

I would kill for the Cartier bracelet with diamonds and crosses. (Actually, that's the only way I could get it.) And while the stalking panther bracelet is a very interesting piece, I wouldn't kill for it.

L Jul 23rd 2010 1:19PM

I lost two solver rings at the Dartmouth mall in Massachusetts back around 1973-1974 timeframe. Both were sterling silver and one was a mother of pearl cameo and the other all silver - size 6 or 7 - and they were family heirlooms. I took them off to wash my hands. I didn't realize it til after I got home that night that I did not put them back on and left them there.
The woman that came in as I was leaving is a thief. She knew they did not belong to her and she stole them. I mean I was right there and so was she. She could have called me back. She should have turned them in to lost and found.
It must be nice looking down at your hand ever day for all these years and realizing each time you look at the rings you stole property from someone else that did not belong to you and you have no morals and are a slimy thief.

Cutie Jul 23rd 2010 7:46PM

i agree. I took a ring off one night and put it on the nightstand. We were sharing a "hootch" with some Australian band singers, I went out for a walk on the beach and when I returned the ring was gone.

Celiene Jul 23rd 2010 1:12PM

People who say these are 'gaudy' have absolutely NO clue. The panther makes my mouth water. Stunning.

Patti Jul 23rd 2010 2:14PM

The ENGLISH people DID NOT pay for these, they were bought by the Duke of Windsor who had to make a living and did so by profitting on his name and status, as well as I'm sure having money from his family early on- and I'm not talking from English servitude. Edward's mother Queen Mary was a shrewd businesswoman and she bought and sold many jewelry items that she either kept or sold. In fact when the Romanov's were killed, it was Queen Mary who quietly bought up as much of the deceased families royal jewels as possible. Quite the slap from the wife of the man who refused to give his Russian cousins refuge when things became ugly in their country.

melkuhl Jul 24th 2010 11:11AM

Also, the flamingo was bought during WWII. How Patriotic....all for his country...Thank goodness for Elizabeth and her father! Their values were in the right place.

dorothy Jul 24th 2010 4:34AM

The Duke did resigned but received considerable stipends from the Royal family he was on the royal payroll. The whole story is sad = he was ostracized for marrying Wallace- and their life was an endless round of traveling - one place in the winter - one in the summer - another in fall and spring- they were like nomads- they both died sadly - I think the royal family had alot to answer for at that time in the way they treated him

Eleanor Peters Jul 23rd 2010 1:58PM

No matter what the style, it is unbelieveablely beautiful. Now there is a man who loved his wife and gave up everything for her. You don.,t see that any more. I think he must have been guite the man. Men of today do not even open thecar door for any one any more. GOD save the Queen. They still have manners. Of course they are called odd, but it sure beats [get in ]. Think the Engish have terrific manners and ways about the royal Family. Wish Obama did.

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