By IANS/RIA Novosti,
New York : A diamond and emerald brooch owned by Empress Catherine II the Great of Russia went under the hammer for more than $1.6 million at a Christie’s auction.
The imperial gem was bought by an anonymous phone bidder, for the price which exceeded the pre-sale estimate of $1-$1.5 million.
The unique item is made of silver-topped gold, and combines a hexagonal-cut Colombian emerald of exceptional quality weighing between 60 and 70 carats and three rows of rose and old mine cut diamonds.
The brooch was presumably made in Russia and is believed to originally belong to Catherine II the Great, who was enthroned in 1762. She was known for her fondness of jewelry.
In 1776, the brooch was given as a wedding gift to Sophie Dorothea, princess of Wurttemberg, who became the second wife of Catherine’s son and successor, Emperor Paul I.
Another outstanding historic jewel, the Emperor Maximilian Diamond weighing almost 40 carat, was sold for $1.762 million.
Archduke Ferdinand Maximilian Joseph of Austria was proclaimed Emperor Maximilian I of Mexico in 1864 during the Second Mexican Empire, and ruled about three years before being captured and court-marshaled by republican forces.
According to a legend, the emperor wore the diamond ring in a small satchel tied around his neck when he was executed by a firing squad June 19, 1867. After the execution the ring was returned to his consort, Princess Charlotte of Belgium.