ADAM'S Fine Jewellery & Ladies Watches 13th May 2025

TUESDAY 13 TH MAY 2025 . STARTING AT 2PM 46 45 A LATE 19TH CENTURY PAIR OF AMETHYST AND DIAMOND PENDENT EARRINGS Of girandole design, each set with three pear-shaped amethyst drops, to the old-cut diamond foliate motif and circular-cut amethyst and old-cut diamond cluster surmount, mounted in silver and gold, with partial Russian assay mark ‘?56’, amethysts approximately 35.00cts total, diamonds approximately 3.30cts total, length 4.9cm € 30,000 - 40,000 The Romanov dynasty ruled Russia from 1613 until 1917, when the Revolution abruptly ended their em - pire. The last years of the 19th and the early 20th century was a period of elegance and excess for the Tsars and the wealthy families of Russia. The Imperial family’s jewellery was amongst the most precious in the world. These jewels were tangible symbols of the power of the Romanovs and their deep ties to European aristocracy and culture and were once the epitome of Russian opulence. After the Bolshevik Revolution, the fate of these precious treasures would become one of the most captivating chapters in the story of the Russian Empire’s fall. The Bolsheviks, in their sweeping promis - es of equality, claimed that the jewels once hoarded by the aristocracy would be used for the benefit of the people. “Diamonds, pearls, and precious stones that have cost workers endless suffering for centu - ries are now in safe hands. The proletariat will be able to use them wisely,” they boasted in the 1920s. Yet, while the Soviet government officially denied any sale of the Romanov collection, they could not entirely escape the growing rumours that began circulating in the West. In response to these whispers, the Bolsheviks organised a lavish exhibition of the Russian Crown Jewels in Moscow on December 18, 1925, to counter the belief that the revolution had torn apart the cultural and material legacy of Russia’s royal family. But less than a year later, the treasures were quietly sold, and the secrets of their dispersal would only emerge later. In a remarkable twist of history, American antiquarian Norman Weiss acquired a substantial portion of the Crown Jewels exhibition in 1926, purchasing 9 kilograms of imperial treasures for $50,000. Among the pieces were two pairs of magnificent 18th-century girandole earrings, a quintessential example of Russian royal jewellery, that soon entered the international market. One of these pairs, set with vibrant Ural amethysts, is famously associated with Empress Catherine the Great. The earrings are prominently featured in a portrait of the young Catherine, then still a Tsarevna and Grand Duchess, long before she assumed the throne. Though not yet immersed in imperial luxury, the gift, commissioned by Empress Elizabeth Petrovna from her court jeweller, Jérémie Pauzié, already reflected the grandeur of the 18th-century Russian court. Crafted by Pauzié, renowned for his meticulous attention to detail and his intricate, heavy designs, the earrings became a significant part of Catherine’s early life. When time came for Cathrine’s coronation, the soon-to-be crowned empress entrusted Pauzié with the creation of the Imperial Crown of Russia. The jeweller collaborated closely with the court’s most skilled artisans, and together, they fashioned the exquisite crown, adorned with nearly 5,000 diamonds and 75 large pearls, a feat that has since become an iconic piece of Russian history. After the earrings were sold to Weiss, they resurfaced in 1929 when JS Phillips purchased them at Christie’s London for 135 pounds. Decades later, in 2007, they appeared again at Christie’s in Geneva, fetching 433,000 Swiss francs and reaffirming the enduring allure of Russian imperial jewellery. The sale of the Romanov jewels remains a poignant and fascinating story, illustrating the complex intersection of revolution, power, and history. These jewels, symbols of a vanished world, continue to captivate collectors, historians, and admirers offering a glimpse into the opulence of the Russian Empire before its collapse.