From Russian royalty to Hollywood red carpets, this 35ct diamond necklace brings a glittering legacy to Norwich
I was contacted recently via one of our London trade associates enquiring if we would be interested in purchasing a diamond necklace with a rather unique history. The necklace in question started life in the procession of a very wealthy Russian family forming part of their own personal collection. The family had connections with the Golden Triangle area of St Petersburg, having once lived in one of the most prestigious buildings on Inzhenernaya Street. Following the death of Tsar Alexander III in 1894, who was affectionately called ‘the peacemaker’ he was preceded on the throne by his son Nicholas II and on the grand occasion of the Tsar’s coronation the tiara was worn by the family’s principal female. The family referred to the tiara as ‘the mir’ meaning peace in Russian, in memory of Tsar Alexander.
Following the Russian Bolshevik revolution in 1917 led by the far-left party under Vladimir Lenin, the family escaped to Paris. Some time after that the tiara was remodelled into a necklace. The family then relocated to the United States on the outbreak of the Second World War. The necklace was still referred to as ‘the mir’, but was now comprised of old cut diamonds set in platinum. The various sized graduated old cut diamonds total in excess of 35cts of diamond weight. All are unilaterally graded as Colour F and Clarity VSI1 with excellent cut, polish and symmetry grading. The individual diamonds are then graduated and set in traditional claw collets all linkage joined by 950 platinum connection ribbons to a length of 18in.
The 35ct diamond necklace was sold via commission from a prestigious American jeweller to a Hollywood leading lady in the 1970s. The mir necklace adorned her neck on many of the most esteemed red carpet Hollywood occasions and social events. Hanging majestically around the neckline it contours and highlights the feminine beauty of the wearer. Once worn at a prestigious annual calander event in Cannes, a luxury lifestyle magazine described the necklace as ‘Mystérieusement belle et élégante au-delà de toute croyance’ – ‘Mysteriously beautiful and elegant beyond belief.’
The lady then sold the necklace in a fashionable Californian store after the Millennium and the necklace was then gemmology tested. It was only then discovered to have a unique origin and appears to be from two very different regions. The larger diamonds range from 3.1cts to 1.54cts and originate from the Aikhal diamond mine located in Yakutia, also known as the Sakha Republic in the far northeast of Russia. This now forms part of the state- owned Alrosa mining company.
The lesser diamonds under 1.5cts originated in Botswana. Probably from the Jwaneng diamond mine. This mine is the second largest in the world by volume but in terms of valued yield it is the considered the richest. Hence its nickname as ‘the prince of mines’. It is located in south-central Botswana about 110 miles southwest of the city of Gaborone.
Once back into the trade circulation the necklace eventually made its way to Hatton Garden in London. We were informed about the necklace from one of our London trade connections and purchased the necklace. It was in need of some minor restoration, which we had done in Birmingham’s Jewellery Quarter and the necklace now finds its way to our very humble Norwich store, forming part of our ever-growing window display here on London Street.
If anyone has any unique or period items of jewellery for sale we are always seeking to add to our collection. Our process cannot be simpler. Drop into store between Tuesday and Saturday from 9am to 4.30pm and we assess the items. Our terms for payment are by bank transfer, cheque or cash or any combination of the three.