The shade of Catherine the Great behind a pearl necklace

[Pierre Tavlitzki]

Bonhams announced well in advance the sale of this necklace, surrounding it with a halo of mystery. Estimated 500 K$, it contains 224 pearls with two Cartier diamond clasps.

Its history and legend began in 1920, when Dodge, the founder of the car brand, bought it to Cartier with the selling argument that the pearls would have belonged to Catherine of Russia. Since then, the origin seems to have never been proven, but the legend followed the necklace in its wanderings.

It was originally composed of five strands, for a total of 389 pearls weighing 4305 grains. At the second generation of Dodges, each of the five strands was attributed to an heir. Three of them just grouped together to reconstitute the necklace in its current state with three strands, to put it into Bonhams' sale.

Times have changed, I doubt that buyers of jewellery are interested in the legendary origin, as Dodge had been. I think this necklace, if sold, will price its true jewel value, and no more. To get the answer, we need a little patience: the sale is on December 16, in New York.

[tealasilverre]

This is the only picture I know of showing Catherine's Pearl necklace. Hope this helps some.

[Pierre Tavlitzki]

Recent results on ancient jewels gave me fears on the outcome of this lot, announced before the current financial panic. These fears have proved unfounded: the necklace sold exactly at its low estimate, $ 500 K excl.

The market for old pearls seems to behave differently from other ancient jewels. The expert from Bonhams is right to say that "pearls are never out of fashion".