Sotheby's Showcase: Sapphire and Diamond Ring

Oct 27, 2022 | From the “Sunrise Ruby” Collection, this superb and rare sapphire and ring diamond ring signed Cartier stuns with a step-cut sapphire weighing 20.16 carats, between shield-shaped diamond shoulders weighing 2.06 and 1.94 carats respectively. The sapphire is of Burmese origin and is “royal blue,” the most sought-after sapphire quality. This exquisite ring will be sold at the Magnificent Jewels and Noble Jewels auction on 9 November 2022 at 16:15 CET in Geneva.

Cartier Beautés du Monde: The Exhibition

Jun 30, 2022 From 13th June 2022 in Madrid, Cartier revealed the Beautés du Monde High Jewelry collection - in a setting that lives up to its shining light: the brutalist Embassy design by two architects, English WS Bryant and Madrid native Luis Blanco-Soler. Cartier entrusted the scenography of the event to the Madrid artist and design Jaime Hayon. In this succession built around a well of light, color is omnipresent, the design pure, which rounded arches that break up the space. A singular experience that invites exploration, and the discovery of the Beautés du Monde collection.

The Jewellery Editor’s Official Tiara Gallery
May 17 Sotheby's Auction, from the collection of Princess Katharina Henckel von Donnersmarck and probably the work of Chaumet. Photo: The Jewellery Editor
To the gallery »

Royal Crowns and Tiaras

French Finance Minister 'Has Jewellery Airbrushed from Photo'
THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: France's finance minister, Christine Lagarde, had her pearl earrings, bracelet and ring airbrushed out of a local publication in an apparent attempt to look more austere in the wake of protests against reforms to make the French work longer.

Front cover of Nouvelles du 12, left, and the original photo, with pearls, right. Photo: The Daily Telegraph
Mrs Lagarde appears on the front cover of Nouvelles du 12 – a local newsletter in Paris' 12th arrondissement where she is a councillor – smiling and standing in front of a viaduct in a red scarf but 'sans' jewellery.

However, it transpires that the cover is a Photoshop montage of a picture of her on a walkabout with journalists in which she is clearly adorned with bulky earrings and other jangly jewellery.

Jacques Kalifa, the editor of the local publication, said he had requested the photo from Mrs Lagarde's office for the cover of the magazine.

Mr Kalifa said: "Rather than take a photo ourselves, we asked for one from her private office then did a montage of her with the viaduct in the background." At first he said the ministry had sent the photo with the jewellery already removed. "Perhaps she wanted to have a softer image, to be seen without her jewellery," he told the Le Poste website. But he later claimed the newsletter's picture editor had taken the initiative to remove the lavish objects himself.

The photo edit was spotted by Le Canard Enchaîné, the satirical weekly, which said the jewels were no doubt viewed as too "bling-bling". >>> Henry Samuel in Paris | Wednesday, November 03, 2010

The Princess’ Knickers ’n’ Things
THE TELEGRAPH: One of the most senior members of Saudi Arabia's royal family, Princess Maha al-Sudairi, is claiming diplomatic immunity in France after running up unpaid shopping bills of more than £15 million including £60,000 on designer lingerie.

Maha al-Sudairi is ignoring her furious debtors and has locked herself in her £2,500-a-night suite at the George V Hotel in Paris. Photo courtesy of The Telegraph
She has ignored her furious debtors and locked herself in her £2,500-a-night suite at the George V Hotel in Paris.

When a royal aide was approached about settling the underwear bill he replied: "I'm afraid we can't go around settling bills for the Princess's knickers."

Princess Maha, whose husband, Prince Nayef, is interior minister and second-in-line to the Saudi throne, is said to have spent millions on designer clothes, jewels and other luxury products in the French capital over the past year. Her weekly dry cleaning bill alone was said to be £30,000.

Every time the Princess and her entourage visited a shop a representative would offer staff an embossed document stating "Payment to Follow".

Jamila Boushaba, who runs the O Caprices De Lili lingerie store in Paris, confirmed that she was still waiting for £60,000 spent on a range of hugely expensive undergarments. Saudi princess runs up £15 million shopping bill >>> By Peter Allen in Paris | Friday, June 12, 2009