LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 22: A Sotheby's employee holds an emerald, ruby and diamond broach created by Cartier in 1957, during a preview at Sotheby's Auction House on July 22, 2010 in London, England. This piece of jewellery is one of a collection going on sale including a selection of iconic jewels belonging to the Duchess of Windsor. The pieces are estimated to fetch in the region of £3 million GBP at the sale, which takes place at Sothebys Auction house on November 30, 2010 in London. (Photo by Dan Kitwood/Getty Images)
Yesterday, July 22, it was announced that jewelry and gifts once owned by Wallis Simpson, Duchess of Windsor, and her husband, the former King Edward VIII, are to be sold through Sotheby's auction house this Fall. The November 30, 2010 auction was preceded by a media showing of some of the historic valuables to be sold.
King Edward VIII, Queen Elizabeth's uncle, gave up his throne to marry Wallis Simpson, with whom he had been having an affair. The couple marked the milestones of their romance and 20 years of marriage with jeweled gifts, some inscribed with loving messages.
Cartier jewels from Wallis Simpson and King Edward VIII to be sold at auction
Among the pieces to be sold are a Cartier diamond bracelet that the Duchess wore on their wedding day; a set of cufflinks with the worlds "hold tight" inscribed on the back, dating from 1935, before the affair was public; and a charm bracelet with nine crosses, each commemorating an event such as an attempt on the King's life and the Duchess' appendectomy.
The jewelry was previously auctioned in 1987 in Geneva, Switzerland. While they were valued at $pound;5 million and actually sold for a record-breaking £31 million. Elizabeth Taylor bid by means of the first ever auction video link. The auction benefited the Pasteur Institute.
Jewelry marks milestones in the romance of the Duke and Duchess of Windsor
Twenty of those 306 lots are now to be sold by a French art dealer, who is reportedly acting for businessman Wafiq Said.
When the scandal of the affair broke, following Wallis Simpson's divorce, King Edward informed the nation "I have found it impossible to carry the heavy burden of responsibility and to discharge my duties as king as I would wish to do, without the help and support of the woman I love." The couple moved to France, where they married in 1937.
The throne then fell to King Edward's brother, King George V, and thence to Queen Elizabeth II, his eldest daughter, in 1952.
Update: Date for Duke and Duchess of WIndsor jewels auction announced
On September 23, 2010 the date for the auction of the Duke and Duchess of Windsor's jewels was announced as November 30. The jewels were displayed for news photographers and additional photos have been added to the slideshow. To view the slideshow, click the images below the article, not the slideshow title.
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Comments
Tacky.
I agree with the other comments...you can't click on the link to see the slideshow. Some of us 'common folk' without millions to spend wwould love the chance to have a peek at the collection!
To see the slideshow, click the image at the bottom of the article--the one with the woman holding up a necklace in front of her face. Then click the thumbnails to see the individual images.
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